Planning

NHM150 Western Galleries - Base Build Lead Architect

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Apr 2026 at 13:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Natural History Museum in London is currently in the planning stage of a significant procurement process titled "NHM150 Western Galleries - Base Build Lead Architect," associated with transforming its gallery spaces ahead of its 150th anniversary in 2031. The industry category involves construction work for art and cultural buildings, specifically museum construction. The process anticipates an exciting transformation of the Western Galleries, with notable renewals such as the Dinosaur Gallery and other pivotal internal spaces. The planning includes an online Bidder Briefing Session set to occur in the week commencing 4th May 2026. Interested parties must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) by 1st May 2026 to register for this briefing. The procurement method is documentation-led, with significant documents accessible from 11th May 2026, enabling bidders to engage effectively in the tender process, which runs from September 2026 to March 2032.

This tender represents a formidable opportunity for growth and engagement in the art and cultural construction sector, particularly for businesses specialising in architectural services and conservation. The appointed consultant will play a pivotal role as Lead Architect, tasked with developing and supervising the base build designs across RIBA stages 2-7, alongside other consultants, ensuring the cohesion of the overall transformation plan. Ideal bidders would be those with expertise in historical buildings conservation, structural engineering, sustainability, and heritage consultancy. This project, with a gross budget of £2,400,000, offers substantial opportunities for businesses that can contribute to the fabric and function upgrades required in enhancing the museum's historical spaces.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NHM150 Western Galleries - Base Build Lead Architect

Notice Description

The Natural History Museum has announced important transformations of its internal spaces ahead of the 150th anniversary of the opening of the South Kensington site, occurring in 2031. As part of these transformations, the popular Dinosaur Gallery will be restored, and the Origins Gallery, the Old General Herbarium and the Swing Space, currently closed to the public, will be reopened and returned to public use. These galleries are identified collectively as the' Western Galleries'. The works in each gallery will be articulated in two phases: base build, which is the object of this tender, and fit out, which will be tendered separately. The first works to commence will be the Swing Space in Autumn 2027 (base build) for an opening in 2028, followed shortly after by the Botany Library and the Old General Herbarium, due in 2029, Dinosaur Gallery, opening in 2030, and Origins Gallery that will be completed in 2031. A Feasibility Study has just been completed both for base build and fit-out leading to the identification of a set of recommended options for the base build and a set of design principles for the fit-out. The base build works for all the galleries in scope will encompass design and works for (high-level scope, including but not limited to): - Conservation of the gallery spaces - Making good of the fabric of the building - New ventilation and heating / cooling system and associated Building Works in Connection (BWIC) - Mechanical, electrical and public health systems - Creation of new plant rooms to support the increased needs of the spaces - Required structural works Additional works (including but not limited to): - clearance of existing spaces - Dismantling and removal of Dinosaur Gallery walkway - Decant and recant of Botany Library contents - Temporary relocation of Dino Shop - Decant and relocation of offices to make room for the new circulation core - Relocation and enlargement of ground floor cafe - Conservation of existing fixtures and finishes (e.g. cabinets and bookcases) in Old General Herbarium and Botany Library - Removal of existing Dino shop and dog leg corridor in the Swing Space - Creation of 2 new vertical circulation cores (lifts and staircase) - Decant and relocation of offices to make room for the new circulation core - Creation of new toilets and ancillary spaces - Relocation and enlargement of ground floor cafe - Creation of new cafe on the first floor - Fit out of new Dino Shop and the two cafes. The appointed consultants will be asked to act as Lead Architect, developing the base build design for the galleries and ancillary spaces across RIBA stages 2-7, supervising and coordinating the works of the other base build consultants, such as, but not limited to, MEP consultants, circulation consultants, accessibility consultant and fire consultant and coordinating the fit-out consultants to ensure continuity between the projects. They will also be asked to provide Heritage consultancy, structural engineer, sustainability and BSA Principal Design services for the base build and fit out projects. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Construction-work-for-art-and-cultural-buildings./64839M3UD2 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/64839M3UD2

Planning Information

Bidders are invited to an online Bidder Briefing Session and Q&A (to be held on Microsoft Teams) in w/c 4th May 2026. In order to register for this session bidders should sign the NDA which is available in the SQ stage document library. This must be returned by 5pm, Friday 1 May. The NDA must be signed by an appropriate representative of the tendering company and returned to the Museum for countersignature. To access the SQ stage, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/64839M3UD2 Once the NDA has been completed by both parties, it will be sent to tenderers for record keeping. The tenderer will then be invited to the briefing session. The date and time of the session will be confirmed shortly, and the invite will be sent out Tuesday 4 May. The session will be recorded and circulated to all bidders, including those who were unable to attend. All bidders who have completed the NDA will be given access to the tender documents, which are currently expected to be available from the 11th May 2026 (this date is subject to change).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06855f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035235-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

45212300 - Construction work for art and cultural buildings

45212311 - Art gallery construction work

45212313 - Museum construction work

45212350 - Buildings of particular historical or architectural interest

71200000 - Architectural and related services

92500000 - Library, archives, museums and other cultural services

92520000 - Museum services and preservation services of historical sites and buildings

92521000 - Museum services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 May 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 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
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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
TLI London
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

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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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