Planning

Science Museum Group Security Services

SCIENCE MUSEUM GROUP

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

09 Jan 2026 at 13:37

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

05 Jan 2026 at 15:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

05 Jan 2026 at 15:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

10 Dec 2025 at 10:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

02 Dec 2025 at 17:11

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Dec 2025 at 17:08

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Science Museum Group (SMG) is currently in the planning stage for the re-tendering of its security services, with an expected market entry in early 2026. The procurement process involves preliminary market engagement to explore the potential structure of contracts, focusing on single or multiple lots. The engagement process also aims to gather insights into market capabilities and technology use, particularly from small and medium-sized enterprises. Located in the United Kingdom, mainly across regions such as London, York, and Manchester, the contract is set to commence on 1 April 2027, lasting for 3-5 years with a potential extension of up to three additional years. This project falls under the services industry category, estimated at approximately £6 million per year, and invites responses by 9 January 2026. A supplier webinar promising further insights into SMG operations is scheduled for 16 December 2025.

This procurement opportunity represents a significant business growth proposition, especially for companies specialising in security services that can cater to a broad and diverse portfolio of responsibilities, including access control, incident response, and event security. The tender is tailored to attract bids from individual suppliers and consortia, encouraging collaboration if multiple lots are awarded. SMG's preference for bidders includes those from SMEs, highlighting inclusivity in the procurement process. With the focus on technology integration and a structured, collaborative service provision, businesses poised to leverage these aspects can position themselves favourably to secure one or more lots, thereby expanding their market footprint within the prominent cultural institutions of the Science Museum Group.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Science Museum Group Security Services

Notice Description

The Science Museum Group (SMG) is conducting this preliminary market engagement exercise in relation to its security services requirements. The Science Museum Group comprises the Science Museum in London, the National Railway Museum in York, Locomotion in Shildon, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester and the Science and Innovation Park in Wiltshire. You can find out more about SMG here: https://www.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/about-us The current security contract is held as part of a Consortium with the V&A Museum and Natural History Museum which expires in March 2027. SMG has decided to leave the Consortium and proceed alone for the re-tendering of its security services in early 2026. The contract is expected to be for a duration of 3-5 years with the option of extending for up to an additional three years. The expected contract value is approximately PS6m per year (ex. VAT). Service provision will be divided into multiple lots. Exact lot structures are to be agreed but they will be site-based, and it is expected that there will be three or possibly four lots. Bidders will be permitted to bid for one, multiple, or all lots and will need to work collaboratively with other security providers if multiple contracts are awarded. SMG requires the security provider(s) to provide services to include (but not limited to): * Access control: monitoring entry/exit points, preventing unauthorised access, and enforcing visitor/staff protocols; * Patrol duties: conduct scheduled patrols, with a focus on high-risk areas, ensuring compliance with security standards; * Incident response: respond promptly to alarms, emergencies, and security incidents, escalating in line with SMG procedures; * Event security: support exhibitions, VIP visits, and special events by managing crowd control, safeguarding assets, and ensuring compliance with event-specific risk assessments, participate in event briefings and adapt to dynamic requirements. * Reporting and documentation: accurately log patrols, incidents, and event-related observations using agreed systems to maintain transparency and consistency in reporting; * Emergency support: assist with fire evacuations and emergency procedures and participate in drills and readiness exercises; * Compliance and standards: adhere to SIA licensing requirements, cybersecurity requirements, SMG policies, and relevant legislation and maintain uniform standards and professional conduct; * Asset protection: safeguard collections and high-value items during normal operations and special activities (e.g. object moves, exhibitions).

Planning Information

We are looking to go out to market for security services in early 2026 for a start date of 1 April 2027. The purpose of this engagement is to support SMG’s decision on the operating model moving forwards. We would welcome your views to aid the decision and are issuing this survey as part of our preliminary market engagement. The aims of the survey are to: • Support SMG’s understanding of the market appetite for contracting in a single or multiple lots. • Support SMG’s understanding of the market capability for contracting with the Group, particularly from small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”). • Support SMG’s understanding of the use of technology by companies. The survey can be accessed using the following Microsoft Form link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=wLxn6XDAyEGffoBgafYzC1scmsTAxOVDhY9jNuLBokBUM1JUT1dDWU9QQ0hNOFNOQ0hVREY0N1NHWC4u&route=shorturl The survey will close on Friday 9th January 2026 so please submit your responses by this date. Responses are for information only and will not be scored or influence future evaluation. We will not share responses to this survey with any third parties except in an anonymised format. We have carried out a conflicts interest assessment for all individuals that will have sight of the responses received. To fulfil our duty under the Regulation 16(3) of the Procurement Act 2023 we will include in the tender pack an aggregated summary of all responses received once we go out to market for these services, but the summary will not contain any personally identifiable information. SMG will also be holding a supplier webinar on Tuesday 16th December 2025 between 1:30PM and 2:30PM, where suppliers will be able to hear more about SMG and how we operate in relation to security. To join the webinar, please use this link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MWRlZGEwYjgtZjc2OC00ZjJjLWI5NzUtMzhkYjA4ODA5YzRh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22e967bcc0-c070-41c8-9f7e-806069f6330b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22c49a1c5b-c4c0-43e5-858f-6336e2c1a240%22%7d Microsoft Teams Meeting ID: 379 254 908 728 27 Passcode: sB6X3xC9 Suppliers are welcome to send any questions in advance using this Microsoft Form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=wLxn6XDAyEGffoBgafYzC5cE-X9GfdpPiWXWqlTsfOBUREgxRk42QkFLVVZQMkJGMFFSTk0xMU9MWi4u&route=shorturl Please submit all your questions by 15th of December 2025 12:00PM. We will also try and answer any questions on the day. Access to the questions and responses will be made available to potential bidders in the tender pack. UPDATE!! You can also view the Supplier Webinar Recording here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/6kuswxkosq3a5bplzehfp/AHPVaJGdCRhGerwox0BXJrM?rlkey=nrk5y1pfrae9uje2lmw2x1ssq&st=wfbqdb3x&dl=0

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ed68
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001874-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79710000 - Security services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£48,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jan 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 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
SCIENCE MUSEUM GROUP
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@sciencemuseum.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW7 2DD
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
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLI London, TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Kensington and Chelsea
Electoral Ward
Brompton & Hans Town
Westminster Constituency
Kensington and Bayswater

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. 

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