Tender

Fine Art Transportation and Storage Framework for National Gallery and others

NATIONAL GALLERY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

06 Nov 2025 at 10:59

Tender

06 Nov 2025 at 10:51

Summary of the contracting process

The National Gallery, in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery, Historic Royal Palaces, and the Wallace Collection, has announced a tender for a Fine Art Transportation and Storage Framework. This active procurement process aims to facilitate the transportation of fine art and other objects within their collections or borrowed from other lenders. The procurement stage is currently in the tender update phase, with submissions open until 9 January 2026. Located in the UK, these renowned institutions seek to engage transport agency services under a competitive flexible procedure. The estimated contract value is £23 million, with a gross amount of £27.6 million. Potential suppliers are invited to participate in this open and extensive framework agreement, which provides opportunities via both competitive and non-competitive processes.

This tender offers a substantial opportunity for companies specializing in art transport, logistics, and storage solutions. Businesses with expertise in managing complex logistical arrangements, including road, sea, and airfreight, as well as those experienced in handling high-profile exhibitions, will find this framework especially relevant. Companies able to offer competitive pricing below the framework ceiling rates can enhance their chances of securing contracts. With options to extend the service for up to four years, this procurement process provides a long-term growth opportunity for businesses looking to expand their portfolios in the art sector, including partnerships with significant UK and international cultural institutions.

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Notice Title

Fine Art Transportation and Storage Framework for National Gallery and others

Notice Description

Transportation of fine art and other objects with the collections or borrowed from other lenders for the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, Historic Royal Palaces and the Wallace Collection. Other major museums and galleries may choose to use the framework.

Lot Information

Land Transportation in Great Britain

Transport arrangements involving road transportation only where there are no customs requirements. This may be for simple point-to-point transportation, transportation between different Gallery sites, or a small exhibition. Objects will be sourced and transported by road within Great Britain only ; transportation shall involve some planning and scheduling considerations.

Renewal: options to extend to a maximum four years subject to performance

UK & International Transportation

Transport arrangements involving road, sea or airfreight for small one-off or exhibition projects such as international loans involving months of detailed advanced planning, security measures and some scheduling and customs requirement considerations. The Galleries require the Contractor to have expertise in co-ordinating the transport for UK and international loans and exhibitions of Objects; to provide a range of technical services for museums both nationally and internationally; to have knowledge of institutional and private Lenders; and experience arranging supervised airfreight and occasional coordination of accompanying lender couriers. The Contractor shall have the expertise, authorisations and guarantees required to deal with the temporary or permanent import and export of Objects which may be for temporary exhibition, for long loan, study or acquisition, and the Contractor should have knowledge of Customs and export licensing procedures.

Renewal: options to extend to a maximum four years subject to performance

Complex International Transportation

Transport arrangements involving road, sea or airfreight for major multi-partite international exhibitions (typically involving a high number of couriers - physical and virtual) including exhibition tours or high-profile projects involving many months of detailed advanced planning, stringent security measures, requirements set out by institutional lenders and skilful orchestration of scheduling considerations. The Galleries require the Contractor to have substantial expertise in co-ordinating the transport for major international loans, complex exhibitions with numerous Objects; to provide highly skilled technical services, experienced coordination and technical staff; be well resourced for the scope of work with museums both nationally and internationally; to have extensive knowledge of institutional and private Lenders; and substantial experience arranging supervised airfreight and extensive coordination of large numbers of accompanying lender couriers. The Contractor shall have the expertise, authorisations and guarantees required to deal with the temporary or permanent import and export of Objects which may be for temporary exhibition, for long loan, study or acquisition, and the Contractor should have extensive knowledge of Customs and export licensing procedures.

Renewal: options to extend to a maximum four years subject to performance

Medium and Long Term Storage

Storage arrangements for complex and one-off collection moves requiring advance planning and skilful orchestration throughout. The Galleries require the Contractor to have substantial experience, expertise in providing and coordinating storage for a wide range of Objects, as reflected by the broad scope of the Galleries collections and projects. The Galleries require the Contractor to be well resourced for the safe storage, tracking, environmental monitoring and management of a wide range of Objects, as well as empty crates and packing materials. The Galleries require the Contractor to have facilities which meet museum and UK Government Indemnity standards for the storage and management of a range of Objects or equipment as appropriate. The Galleries require the Contractor to have viewing room facilities as well as sufficient staff to enable audits, viewings including handling and wrapping of works at agreed times and short notice viewings.

Renewal: options to extend to a maximum four years subject to performance

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05db9c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071536-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services


CPV Codes

63520000 - Transport agency services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£23,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£23,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2027-11-01

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL GALLERY
Additional Buyers

HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

WALLACE COLLECTION

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
contracting@nationalgallery.org.uk, melanie.newlands@wallacecollection.org, procurement@hrp.org.uk, procurement@npg.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
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
Marylebone
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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