Award

Purchase of The Balfour Collection (Archive of the Balfour family of Whittingehame, East Lothian, Earls of Balfour)

NATIONAL RECORDS OF SCOTLAND

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

06 Apr 2022 at 09:26

Summary of the contracting process

The National Records of Scotland conducted a tender for the purchase of The Balfour Collection, an archive of significant historical value associated with the Balfour family from Whittingehame, East Lothian. This procurement process, classified under the goods category, was executed through a limited method without prior publication of a call for competition, culminating in the contract award on 21 March 2022, with a total contract value of £501,650. The process is now complete, having encountered one bid from a foreign supplier, Christie's, who acted as the selling agent on behalf of the collection's owners.

This tender presents a unique opportunity for businesses engaged in historical, archival, or cultural heritage services, particularly those with expertise in art valuation or auction services. The choice of a limited procurement method suggests a focus on specialised providers capable of handling significant collections with exclusive rights. Companies positioned in the art and historical documentation sectors, particularly those with a track record in similar acquisitions, will find opportunities for growth by collaborating with or supplying to key institutions like the National Records of Scotland to deliver on future projects related to cultural preservation.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Purchase of The Balfour Collection (Archive of the Balfour family of Whittingehame, East Lothian, Earls of Balfour)

Notice Description

Purchase of The Balfour Collection (Archive of the Balfour family of Whittingehame, East Lothian, Earls of Balfour)

Lot Information

Lot 1

NRS have directly awarded the purchase of The Balfour Collection from Christie's. The purchase has been made to preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations.

Procurement Information

The collection owners informed NRS that they wished to sell The Balfour Collection to NRS as a private treaty sale and advised that Christie's were working as agents for the owners. NRS contracted for an independent valuation of the collection and established that the offer price is reasonable. HMRC are aware and have given the necessary approvals. This was a rare opportunity to purchase a collection which NRS staff regard as one of the "crown jewels" amongst the deposited collections of which we are custodians, being of both national and international significance. The NRS valuation report confirms that the collection is one of pre-eminent importance on a local, national and international level. The purchase has been made to preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-032a90
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009205-2022
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment


CPV Codes

32353100 - Records

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£501,650 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Apr 20223 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Mar 20223 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL RECORDS OF SCOTLAND
Contact Name
Derrick Welsh
Contact Email
procurement_queries_mailbox@nrscotland.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH12 7TF
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Corstorphine/Murrayfield
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CHRISTIE'S

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-032a90-2022-04-06T10:26:43+01:00",
    "date": "2022-04-06T10:26:43+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-032a90",
    "description": "(SC Ref:688320)",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-032a90",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Purchase of The Balfour Collection (Archive of the Balfour family of Whittingehame, East Lothian, Earls of Balfour)",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "32353100",
            "description": "Records"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "description": "Purchase of The Balfour Collection (Archive of the Balfour family of Whittingehame, East Lothian, Earls of Balfour)",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "NRS have directly awarded the purchase of The Balfour Collection from Christie's. The purchase has been made to preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations.",
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "price"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "cancelled"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKM75"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "limited",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition",
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL",
                "id": "D_PROTECT_RIGHTS",
                "description": "The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationale": "The collection owners informed NRS that they wished to sell The Balfour Collection to NRS as a private treaty sale and advised that Christie's were working as agents for the owners. NRS contracted for an independent valuation of the collection and established that the offer price is reasonable. HMRC are aware and have given the necessary approvals. This was a rare opportunity to purchase a collection which NRS staff regard as one of the \"crown jewels\" amongst the deposited collections of which we are custodians, being of both national and international significance. The NRS valuation report confirms that the collection is one of pre-eminent importance on a local, national and international level. The purchase has been made to preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations."
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "009205-2022-17/11/001-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-49063",
                    "name": "Christie's"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-8349",
            "name": "National Records of Scotland",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "National Records of Scotland"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Ladywell House, Ladywell Road",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "region": "UKM75",
                "postalCode": "EH12 7TF",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Derrick Welsh",
                "email": "Procurement_Queries_Mailbox@nrscotland.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer",
                "centralPurchasingBody"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk",
                "buyerProfile": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00474",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "MINISTRY",
                        "description": "Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "01",
                        "description": "General public services"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-49063",
            "name": "Christie's",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Christie's"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "8 King Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "region": "UKI32",
                "postalCode": "SW1Y 6QT",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "telephone": "+44 02073892725"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-675",
            "name": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "27 Chambers Street",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "postalCode": "EH1 1LB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-8349",
        "name": "National Records of Scotland"
    },
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "009205-2022-17/11/001-1",
            "awardID": "009205-2022-17/11/001-1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 501650,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2022-03-21T00:00:00Z"
        }
    ],
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 1
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "measure": "smeBids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 0
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "measure": "foreignBidsFromEU",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 0
            },
            {
                "id": "4",
                "measure": "foreignBidsFromNonEU",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 1
            },
            {
                "id": "5",
                "measure": "electronicBids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 1
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}