Tender

Design Architect for a New Wing at the National Gallery

NATIONAL GALLERY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

10 Sep 2025 at 09:57

Summary of the contracting process

The National Gallery in London has initiated a public procurement process to select a Design Architect for the development of a new wing at their Trafalgar Square location. This ambitious project marks a key milestone following their 200th anniversary celebrations, aiming to create a transformative, sustainable space that enhances the public realm between Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. The procurement, currently in the tender stage, employs a competitive flexible procedure and seeks expressions of interest by 17th October 2025. The project falls under the category of architectural design services, with a total expected contract value of £18 million. The award decision is anticipated by early April 2026, with the contract period commencing shortly thereafter and extending through the end of 2031.

This tender offers an exceptional opportunity for architectural firms to engage in a project that not only promises substantial business growth but also positions participants at the forefront of contemporary design innovation in a prestigious cultural setting. Firms with strong capabilities in architectural design, particularly those with experience handling projects of significant scale and public interest, are well-suited to respond. The tender process is designed to encourage proposals from architects who can demonstrate high-quality design concepts, social value, and effective delivery methodologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, making this an inclusive opportunity for a wide range of architectural businesses. The project requires the selected architect to transform a historic site, further embedding the National Gallery within London's renowned arts quarter, thus raising the profile of involved firms both nationally and internationally.

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

Design Architect for a New Wing at the National Gallery

Notice Description

Following our 200th anniversary celebrations, we are launching a landmark architectural competition for the design of a transformative new wing and public realm. Our ambition is to create an architecturally distinguished, sustainable, and state-of-the-art new wing and public space. The new wing will be built on the last remaining part of the National Gallery campus: St Vincent House. The property was acquired nearly 30 years ago, for the purpose of expanding gallery space, and currently houses a hotel and office complex. The project aims to invigorate this corner of central London, connecting Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. Embedding the Gallery as a cornerstone within London's arts quarter, it will also cement our reputation as a leader in the art world and the UK's commitment to culture and heritage. The purpose of this competition is to find exceptional architects to take on the extraordinary responsibility that designing this new wing will entail. The selection of an architectural team will take place in two stages: Stage 1: An open call for expressions of interest from architects that believe they meet the criteria specified in the competition brief. Stage 2: Up to six architects will be shortlisted and will be asked to expand on how they might approach this specific project.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059759
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055288-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

71220000 - Architectural design services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Apr 2026 - 31 Dec 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL GALLERY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
contracting@nationalgallery.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
WC2N 5DN
Post Town
Central London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLI32 Westminster

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

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-059759-2025-09-10T10:57:03+01:00",
    "date": "2025-09-10T10:57:03+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-059759",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PGYR-7259-GLQG",
            "name": "National Gallery",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PGYR-7259-GLQG"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Trafalgar Square",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "WC2N 5DN",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "contracting@nationalgallery.org.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PGYR-7259-GLQG",
        "name": "National Gallery"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-059759",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Design Architect for a New Wing at the National Gallery",
        "description": "Following our 200th anniversary celebrations, we are launching a landmark architectural competition for the design of a transformative new wing and public realm. Our ambition is to create an architecturally distinguished, sustainable, and state-of-the-art new wing and public space. The new wing will be built on the last remaining part of the National Gallery campus: St Vincent House. The property was acquired nearly 30 years ago, for the purpose of expanding gallery space, and currently houses a hotel and office complex. The project aims to invigorate this corner of central London, connecting Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. Embedding the Gallery as a cornerstone within London's arts quarter, it will also cement our reputation as a leader in the art world and the UK's commitment to culture and heritage. The purpose of this competition is to find exceptional architects to take on the extraordinary responsibility that designing this new wing will entail. The selection of an architectural team will take place in two stages: Stage 1: An open call for expressions of interest from architects that believe they meet the criteria specified in the competition brief. Stage 2: Up to six architects will be shortlisted and will be asked to expand on how they might approach this specific project.",
        "status": "active",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "71220000",
                        "description": "Architectural design services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKI32",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 18000000,
            "amount": 15000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "selective",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "procedure": {
            "features": "Stage 1: -submission of PSQ to meet conditions of participation -down selection of suppliers based on technical capability and capacity -5 / 6 suppliers invited to tender Stage 2: -mid-tender technical meeting to review initial ideas -tender submission -site visit to all compliant suppliers -optionally, to be determined, an exhibition of submission material -interview of all compliant bids"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-title/C2Z8RA73MZ",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "expressionOfInterestDeadline": "2025-10-17T12:00:00+01:00",
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-09-26T18:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-04-03T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 18000000,
                    "amount": 15000000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Design concept",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 40,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Social Value",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 10,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Design delivery methodology and resourcing",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 15,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "cost",
                            "name": "Fees",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 30,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Interview",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 5,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "secondStage": {
                    "minimumCandidates": 5,
                    "maximumCandidates": 6
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "economic",
                            "description": "as stated in the documentation"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "technical",
                            "description": "as stated in the documentation"
                        },
                        {
                            "description": "Assessment as set out in the documents",
                            "forReduction": true
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-15T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2031-12-31T23:59:59Z"
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "L-1",
                "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
                "description": "All queries and submissions must be made through the eProcurement portal. Information is also available at https://colander.co.uk/architectural-competitions/colander-competitions/the-national-gallery",
                "url": "https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-title/C2Z8RA73MZ"
            },
            {
                "id": "future",
                "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
                "accessDetails": "Stage 2 documentation will be issued to the shortlisted suppliers"
            },
            {
                "id": "055288-2025",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055288-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-09-10T10:57:03+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "riskDetails": "Delays may occur due to external issues such as planning, archaeology, on-site discoveries etc. This could lead to an extension of the overall programme."
    },
    "language": "en"
}