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Sound Design and Recording Services - Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition

Science Museum Group

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

29 Sep 2026 at 16:13

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Tender

29 Jun 2026 at 09:02

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Science Museum Group procured sound design and recording services for its Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery exhibition. The work covers developing and delivering the exhibition’s overall soundscape and recording voiceovers, supporting the visitor experience and exhibition content. It is specialist audio production for a museum exhibition, including sound recordings and related sound equipment and editing services. The exhibition is due to be presented by the Science Museum Group in Manchester. The buyer is the Science Museum Group, a central government public body. This is a focused creative and technical services requirement rather than a general museum operations contract: suppliers need to deliver audio content tailored to an exhibition and coordinate sound design with its subject and visitor setting.

The procurement was run as a below-threshold open competition and is now complete, with Call & Response Studios Ltd selected. One lot covered the requirement. The tender evaluation considered both price and quality, with the most advantageous offer to be selected. The contract was signed on 25 September 2026 and runs from 25 September 2026 to 30 September 2027. Its value is £15,650 excluding VAT (£18,780 including VAT). The exhibition itself is due to open in March 2027. The original procurement estimate was £17,900 excluding VAT (£21,480 including VAT); this is distinct from the signed contract value. The award is active and the contract is active.

For sound studios and audio production specialists, this award demonstrates demand from the Science Museum Group for exhibition-specific soundscapes and voiceover recording, combining creative interpretation with reliable technical delivery. A credible competitor would need to show experience shaping sound for public-facing museum or cultural exhibitions, translating subject matter into an effective visitor sound environment, and producing polished recorded voice content. The work also points to the value of in-house or dependable capabilities in sound editing, recording and sound equipment, alongside close collaboration with exhibition teams. As a single, contained exhibition commission, it is suited to a supplier able to manage a defined creative production from development through delivery, balancing quality with competitive pricing. The completed competition shows that the buyer assessed quality as well as price when choosing its supplier.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Sound Design and Recording Services - Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition

Notice Description

SMG wishes to award a contract for the provision of sound design services, including the development and delivery of the overall exhibition soundscape and voiceover recording services for the Science Museum Group's Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition, due to open in March 2027.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06beb6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092038-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

32332300 - Sound recorders

32350000 - Parts of sound and video equipment

32353000 - Sound recordings

38434200 - Sound-measuring equipment

72212521 - Music or sound editing software development services

92370000 - Sound technician

92521000 - Museum services

92521100 - Museum-exhibition services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£17,900 Under £100K
Lots Value
£17,900 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£15,650 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
25 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Science Museum Group
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 2DD
Postcode Area
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Kensington and Chelsea
Electoral Ward
Brompton & Hans Town
Westminster Constituency
Kensington and Bayswater

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Call & Response Studios ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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