Tender

Exhibition design and fit out

SCOTTISH HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST (SHBT)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

22 May 2026 at 09:10

Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) is currently in the tender stage of a public procurement process for a project titled "Exhibition design and fit out". This initiative focuses on the design, fabrication, and installation of an exhibition at Leith Custom House in Edinburgh, Scotland, marking 900 years of Leith's history. Valued at £180,000, the project falls under the "services" category, specifically "museum-exhibition services". The selective procurement process follows a restricted procedure, with submissions to be made electronically by 22nd June 2026. Key dates include the start of the tender period on 22nd May 2026 and the second stage commencing on 23rd June 2026. The exhibition is slated to open in Spring 2027 and run until the end of 2028.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for design teams skilled in innovative exhibition solutions. Companies with expertise in museum design, audio-visual equipment, and construction work, especially those that can creatively overcome logistical challenges within limited timelines, are well-suited for this project. The emphasis on digital media offers a platform for businesses proficient in cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling. With explicit encouragement for local subcontracting, businesses in Edinburgh and the broader region around Leith stand to benefit from this community-focused initiative aimed at celebrating and redefining public engagement with Leith's rich historical narrative.

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Notice Title

Exhibition design and fit out

Notice Description

Design, fabrication and installation of exhibition interpretation including audio visual displays for a public exhibition.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is seeking designers to oversee the interpretation design (including audio-visual elements), fabrication and fit-out of a pilot exhibition to take place in a series of former offices and meeting rooms in the old Leith Custom House in Edinburgh, marking the 900th anniversary of the first written reference to Leith in 1128. The exhibition will engage the public as plans develop for the full restoration of Custom House, and its full transformation into a museum celebrating the historic port of Leith; this future museum is envisaged as utilising a collection of digital media to tell Leith's story, rather than a large collection of physical objects. The pilot exhibition will serve as a bridge to help people connect with this concept and see its potential as a means of infinite storytelling. Opening in spring 2027 and running until the end of 2028, the exhibition will highlight a wide range of stories spanning the centuries, in an accessible, light-touch way. It will have very few historic objects, and instead use historic images, scans, oral histories, film, and music to highlight Leith's history; it will utiise traditional interpretation (graphics, set dressing, etc.) but crucially, make use of digital interpretation to show the potential of a full museum which will ultimately lead with a digital rather than a physical collection, creating an immersive, innovative experience. We are seeking a design team excited by the potential of this project, and who can turn the limitations (time, spaces, etc.) into creative solutions.

Renewal: In unforeseen circumstances, a short extension or additional element may be required.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a066
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047561-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

45 - Construction work

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services


CPV Codes

32321200 - Audio-visual equipment

45212313 - Museum construction work

92521100 - Museum-exhibition services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£180,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£180,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 2026Today
Submission Deadline
22 Jun 20261 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTTISH HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST (SHBT)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 2PG
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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