Planning

NHM150 Western Galleries - Base Build Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

26 May 2026 at 10:20

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Natural History Museum in London is inviting tenders for the "NHM150 Western Galleries - Base Build Mechanical, Electrical, and Public Health" project, aimed at refurbishing several of its iconic galleries in preparation for its 150th anniversary in 2031. The procurement currently stands at the planning stage, with a preparatory Bidder Briefing Session scheduled online for 3rd June 2026, following the completion of a mandatory Non-Disclosure Agreement by 2nd June 2026. The contract period begins in September 2026 and spans until March 2032. The main industry category for this project is engineering services, particularly focusing on mechanical, electrical, and public health system designs and installations across various galleries. The total estimated value for this procurement is between £2 million and £2.4 million GBP.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in sound insulation, room acoustics consultancy, and mechanical and electrical engineering services. Organisations proficient in designing and executing large-scale infrastructure projects would be well-suited to compete, particularly with experience in conservation and transformation of gallery spaces. Engaging in this project allows businesses to partake in a prestigious assignment with a national museum, potentially enhancing their portfolio and expanding their influence within the engineering and construction sectors.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NHM150 Western Galleries - Base Build Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health

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 - Removal of redundant services - 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, with relocation of connected existing service. - 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 - 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), with all the related M&E works - Creation of new toilets and ancillary spaces, with all the related MEPH works - Relocation and enlargement of ground floor cafe and MEP service provision for it - Creation of new cafe on the first floor and MEP service provision for it - Fit out of new Dino Shop and the two cafes. The appointed consultants will be asked to act as Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health (MEPH) and Acoustics consultant, developing the MEPH design for the galleries and ancillary spaces across RIBA stages 2-7, working with the other consultants and Museum stakeholders to ensure the appropriate solutions are identified and developed. In order to access the documents for the tender exercise, all tenderers must complete the NDA available in the SQ stage document library. The 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. Once bidders have been added to the Tenderbox they will receive an automated e-mail from Delta. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Sound-insulation-and-room-acoustics-consultancy-services./6W773NBM42 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/6W773NBM42

Planning Information

Bidders are invited to an online Bidder Briefing Session and Q&A (to be held on Microsoft Teams) at 9am, Wednesday 3rd June 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 3pm, Tuesday 2nd June. 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/6W773NBM42 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 2 June. 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-06a2f4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048541-2026
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

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71313200 - Sound insulation and room acoustics consultancy services

71318000 - Advisory and consultative engineering services

71321000 - Engineering design services for mechanical and electrical installations for buildings

71333000 - Mechanical engineering services

71334000 - Mechanical and electrical engineering 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
26 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Jun 2026Expired
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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