Planning

Gallery 33 Strip Out and Refurbishment Heritage Principal Contractor

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

19 Nov 2025 at 19:05

Summary of the contracting process

The Natural History Museum, located in London, is currently in the planning stages for a significant procurement process titled "Gallery 33 Strip Out and Refurbishment Heritage Principal Contractor." This procurement falls under the works category, specifically dealing with the construction work for art and cultural buildings. The project is planned to take place at the museum's South Kensington site, and it aims to replace the Creepy Crawlies gallery in the Grade 1 listed Waterhouse East Building. The tender exercise is set to commence during the week commencing 24 November 2025, with key dates including a due date for the engagement process by 8 January 2026. The entire project is scheduled to run from 2 March 2026 to 30 April 2027. Interested parties must complete a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to participate in the tender process.

This tender represents an excellent opportunity for businesses specializing in heritage construction, museum services, and cultural building renovations to expand their portfolio and gain significant exposure. The ideal candidates are companies experienced in handling works related to museum construction and refurbishment as they are well-suited to engage with the requirements of this high-value project, budgeted at £1.8 million. Involvement in this project offers businesses a chance to work on a prestigious contract in the public authority central government sector, enhancing their reputation and market reach. To gain access to the tender documents and participate in the competition, compliant businesses need to ensure the timely completion and submission of the NDA through the specified eSourcing portal.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Gallery 33 Strip Out and Refurbishment Heritage Principal Contractor

Notice Description

The Natural History Museum is tendering for a Heritage Principal Contractor (Strip Out and Refurbishment) to deliver our vision for the building and its new permanent exhibition in Gallery 33, replacing the current Creepy Crawlies gallery on the ground floor of the Grade 1 listed Waterhouse East Building. This new, permanent gallery at South Kensington will be dedicated to building a positive connection to nature in our very youngest audiences - aged 4-7 years old - and their adults. The Gallery 33 Strip Out & Refurbishment Project will be split into two key phases: *Phase 1: Strip Out of the existing 1980's exhibition *Phase 2: Internal refurbishment of the gallery In order to participate in the tender exercise for the Strip Out and Refurbishment Heritage Principal Contractor, an NDA must be signed by an appropriate representative of the tendering company and returned to the Museum for countersignature. Once the NDA has been completed by both parties, it will be sent to tenderers for record keeping. The tenderer will then be added to the Tenderbox stage, where the tender documents will be made available. To access the NDA, please use the following link: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3ZP5KV7RS5 For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Construction-work-for-art-and-cultural-buildings./3ZP5KV7RS5 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3ZP5KV7RS5

Planning Information

The engagement has not yet been carried out.Engagement process description: In order to participate in this tender exercise, an NDA must be completed by an appropriate representative of the company. The NDA must be signed and returned to the Museum for countersignature. Once countersigned, the completed NDA will be sent back the tenderers for record keeping. The tender exercise is intended to be published w/c 24 November 2025.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e4e3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075445-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services


CPV Codes

45212300 - Construction work for art and cultural buildings

45212310 - Construction work for buildings relating to exhibitions

45212313 - Museum construction work

92500000 - Library, archives, museums and other cultural services

92521000 - Museum services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Nov 20252 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Jan 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Mar 2026 - 30 Apr 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Contact Name
Chloe Higgins
Contact Email
c.higgins@nhm.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW7 5BD
Post Town
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
Not specified

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

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-05e4e3-2025-11-19T19:05:32Z",
    "date": "2025-11-19T19:05:32Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05e4e3",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PJBJ-4723-MZPX",
            "name": "Natural History Museum",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PJBJ-4723-MZPX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Cromwell Road",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW7 5BD",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI33"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Chloe Higgins",
                "email": "c.higgins@nhm.ac.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PJBJ-4723-MZPX",
        "name": "Natural History Museum"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "The engagement has not yet been carried out.Engagement process description: In order to participate in this tender exercise, an NDA must be completed by an appropriate representative of the company. The NDA must be signed and returned to the Museum for countersignature. Once countersigned, the completed NDA will be sent back the tenderers for record keeping. The tender exercise is intended to be published w/c 24 November 2025.",
                "dueDate": "2026-01-08T23:59:59+00:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "075445-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075445-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-11-19T19:05:32Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05e4e3",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Gallery 33 Strip Out and Refurbishment Heritage Principal Contractor",
        "description": "The Natural History Museum is tendering for a Heritage Principal Contractor (Strip Out and Refurbishment) to deliver our vision for the building and its new permanent exhibition in Gallery 33, replacing the current Creepy Crawlies gallery on the ground floor of the Grade 1 listed Waterhouse East Building. This new, permanent gallery at South Kensington will be dedicated to building a positive connection to nature in our very youngest audiences - aged 4-7 years old - and their adults. The Gallery 33 Strip Out & Refurbishment Project will be split into two key phases: *Phase 1: Strip Out of the existing 1980's exhibition *Phase 2: Internal refurbishment of the gallery In order to participate in the tender exercise for the Strip Out and Refurbishment Heritage Principal Contractor, an NDA must be signed by an appropriate representative of the tendering company and returned to the Museum for countersignature. Once the NDA has been completed by both parties, it will be sent to tenderers for record keeping. The tenderer will then be added to the Tenderbox stage, where the tender documents will be made available. To access the NDA, please use the following link: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3ZP5KV7RS5 For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Construction-work-for-art-and-cultural-buildings./3ZP5KV7RS5 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3ZP5KV7RS5",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "45212300",
                        "description": "Construction work for art and cultural buildings"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "45212310",
                        "description": "Construction work for buildings relating to exhibitions"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "45212313",
                        "description": "Museum construction work"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "92500000",
                        "description": "Library, archives, museums and other cultural services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "92521000",
                        "description": "Museum services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 1800000,
            "amount": 1500000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "works",
        "aboveThreshold": false,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-03-02T00:00:00+00:00",
                    "endDate": "2027-04-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}