Planning

Bayeux Tapestry Showcase

BRITISH MUSEUM

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Nov 2025 at 14:01

Summary of the contracting process

The British Museum is planning a procurement process for an intricate project titled "Bayeux Tapestry Showcase," which is centred around designing, manufacturing, delivering, and installing a bespoke showcase for the Bayeux Tapestry. This operation falls under the industry categories of exhibition stands, display cases, engineering design services, and museum exhibition services. The project will commence with the Tender Notice publication on 8th January 2026, followed by key submission deadlines by 23rd January 2026. The procurement is currently at the planning stage, set to advance through an open procedure. Key date markers include the planned operational start on 23rd February 2026, with completion slated for 3rd September 2027, all situated in London, UK.

This tender provides substantial opportunities for businesses skilled in exhibition design and manufacturing, particularly those focusing on high-security and climate-controlled showcases. SMEs with expertise in bespoke engineering and design services, capable of executing time-sensitive, high-profile projects, will find this an opportune venture. The procurement method favours an open procedure, encouraging wide participation. Companies that incorporate circular economy principles into their design and have experience in collaborating with public sectors and museums are particularly well-suited for this bid. This project promises engagement with multiple stakeholders, presenting an excellent platform for business growth and demonstration of innovative capabilities in a prestigious venue.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bayeux Tapestry Showcase

Notice Description

The Museum seeks to award a contract for the design, manufacture, delivery and installation of a bespoke showcase to display the Bayeux Tapestry during its temporary exhibition at the British Museum, on display to the public from September 2026 - July 2027 (final dates to be confirmed). The appointed supplier will also be required to provide flexible and responsive support, conducting any necessary maintenance to the showcase for the duration of the exhibition. They will facilitate showcase access to enable the de-installation of the tapestry at the conclusion of the show and carry out the disassembly of the showcase. Circular economy principles should be applied throughout the design of the showcase to enable the most efficient reuse or recycling of components at the conclusion of the exhibition. The contract must be delivered to a demanding timescale with key milestones for the production of shop drawings, prototyping, and provision of material samples. The showcase must comply with stringent environmental control and monitoring requirements to maintain the tapestry in optimal conditions for its conservation throughout the installation, display and deinstallation periods. The showcase must meet, or exceed, the security requirements established under the UK Government Indemnity Scheme (GIS), or equivalent, for the loan of collection objects. Details of the GIS scheme can be found at: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-arts-museums-and-libraries/supporting-collections-and-cultural-property/government-indemnity . The design will need to accommodate physical and technological security measures details of which will be provided by the Museum as part of the tender documentation. The appointed supplier will collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. The design will be developed in collaboration with the Museum's exhibition design team for this project. A dynamic and iterative approach to design development will be essential to the development of the showcase. The intended form of contract will be from the Joint Contracts Tribunal 2024 suite, given the extent of design input required from the appointed supplier the contract will use either the Intermediate Build Contract with Contractors Design Portion or the Design and Build template, the version will be confirmed in the tender documents. Pre Construction Information, to be included in the tender documentation, will contain all of the site information including the Principal Contractor, this role is subject to a separate appointment, in relation to obligations under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 , details of which may be found here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/index.htm The site installation period will be limited and the appointed supplier must allow for sufficient installation teams to ensure that the showcase is constructed and commissioned completely, prior to the installation of the Bayeux Tapestry. No extensions of time will be granted for late delivery. Due to the confidential/commercially sensitive nature of information that will be included in the associated tender documents we require that interested suppliers enter into a confidentiality agreement before they are given access to the tender pack. A copy of the confidentiality agreement is available by request via email to procurement@britishmuseum.org. The terms of the confidentiality agreement are not subject to negotiation. This Planned Procurement Notice is being issued to provide advance information to interested suppliers about this opportunity. Interested suppliers should contact the Museum to request, and then return, a signed copy of the confidentiality agreement in order to receive the tender pack when the Tender Notice is published. The confidentiality agreement can be requested and signed now - there is no need for interested suppliers to wait until the Tender Notice is published. The Museum intends to conduct the procurement by way of the Open procedure under section 20(2)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023. To submit a tender in response to the Tender Notice, interested suppliers will need to be registered on Find a Tender service (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search ) and, following registration, will need to upload their core supplier information, including basic information, economic and financial standing information, connected person information, and exclusion grounds information. Interested suppliers who are not already registered may wish to do so ahead of publication of the Tender Notice. The Tender Notice will be published on 8th January 2026. The tender documents will be made available immediately to those interested suppliers who already have signed confidentiality agreements in place by that point. Other interested suppliers will have the opportunity to request and complete confidentiality agreements by 23:59 on 12th January 2026. Please note it will not be possible to request and complete a confidentiality agreement after this deadline. As soon as practical after the receipt of completed confidentiality agreements, interested suppliers will be granted access to the tender documents. The submission time/date for all tender responses will be 17:00 on 23rd January 2026. Due to programme constraints, it will not be possible to grant any extension beyond the proposed submission date. We strongly encourage interested suppliers to request and complete the confidentiality agreement as soon as possible. For the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to provide additional information relating to the scope or specification of the requirement at this stage, all details will be provided with the associated tender documents.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05eb1c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078108-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services


CPV Codes

39154100 - Exhibition stands

39171000 - Display cases

71320000 - Engineering design services

92521100 - Museum-exhibition services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Nov 20256 days ago
Submission Deadline
23 Jan 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
8 Jan 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
23 Feb 2026 - 3 Sep 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BRITISH MUSEUM
Additional Buyers

FRASER RANDALL LIMITED

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
louise@fraserrandall.co.uk, procurement@britishmuseum.org
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
WC1B 3DG
Post Town
Central London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
TLI London

Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
Chaucer
Westminster Constituency
Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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.

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