This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 16:32

Tender

21 Feb 2025 at 16:06

Summary of the contracting process

The Natural History Museum procured a multi-supplier framework for consumables used to support two Government-funded projects and the care and management of its collections. The awarded requirements cover bespoke botanical herbarium capsules, paper packets, folders and covers, plus herbarium mounting paper, all to exacting standards and quality requirements. Delivery is to the Museum’s facilities in Inner London – West. The wider requirement also concerned entomology drawers for pinned insect specimens, wet-specimen preservation glassware and acid-free trays for collection storage, although those requirements were not awarded. This is a goods procurement involving museum collection-storage supplies, specialist paper products and preservation materials. Suppliers serving museums, herbaria or other collection-holding institutions are the most directly relevant.

This is an awarded framework procurement conducted by open procedure, with written submissions in English. The tender deadline was 28 March 2025 at 17:00, and the award period began that day. Lots 1 and 2 were awarded to Conservation By Design Limited and Conservation Resources (UK) Ltd. Each resulting contract is valued at GBP 2,200,000 and was signed on 29 July 2026. Both contracts have a duration of 1,440 days, based on an initial two-year framework with extensions of up to a further two years. For both awarded lots, evaluation was 50% quality, 10% social value and 40% price. Lots 3, 4 and 5 were unsuccessful and discontinued: entomology drawers, wet-specimen preservation glassware and acid-free trays.

This procurement demonstrates sustained Museum demand for specialist collection-storage consumables, particularly botanical herbarium materials and paper manufactured to exacting specifications. The successful suppliers are both recorded as SMEs, showing that participation is not limited to large national organisations. A credible competitor would need reliable production and supply capacity for bespoke capsules, packets, folders, covers and mounting sheets, together with consistent quality control suitable for botanical collections. Relevant experience in museum, archive, herbarium or conservation supply would help demonstrate understanding of preservation requirements and the consequences of unsuitable materials. Suppliers should also be able to deliver at scale to a major London museum, support framework call-offs, meet written tender requirements and provide evidence of social value alongside technical quality and price.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Museum Consumables for Collection Storage Framework

Notice Description

**Please note that this is an award notice. Lots 1 and 2 were awarded. Lots 3, 4 and 5 were not awarded** The Museum wishes to create a framework agreement with several suppliers to cover the supply a number of consumables required by the Museum to support two large Government-funded projects and the care and management of our collection.

Lot Information

Botanical Herbarium Consumables (folders, covers, packets and capsules)

The supply of Herbarium bespoke capsules, paper packets, folders and covers to very exacting standards and qualities for our botanical collections. Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3957X926RP

Options: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Renewal: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Botanical Paper (herbarium mounting sheets)

The supply of Herbarium mounting paper to very exacting standards and qualities

Options: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Renewal: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Entomology Drawers

Supply of entomology drawers that are designed for the storage and protection of insect specimens, preserved dry and mounted on pins.

Options: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Renewal: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Museum Wet Specimen Preservation Glassware

For the supply of wet specimen preservation glassware for the museum's wet collections.

Options: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Renewal: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Acid Free Trays

For the supply of acid free trays for the storage of collection specimens.

Options: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Renewal: The Framework will be established for an initial period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further period or periods up to a total of 2 years taking the contract term to a maximum of 4 years.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e744
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079638-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products


CPV Codes

30000000 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

33790000 - Laboratory, hygienic or pharmaceutical glassware

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

39000000 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,400,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,368,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£2,200,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
28 Mar 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 Jul 20264 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Natural History Museum
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW7 5BD
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI33 Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham
Delivery Location
TLI3 Inner London - West

Local Authority
Kensington and Chelsea
Electoral Ward
Brompton & Hans Town
Westminster Constituency
Kensington and Bayswater

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Conservation By Design Limited

Conservation Resources (UK) Ltd

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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