This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

16 Jul 2026 at 08:44

Tender

16 Jul 2026 at 08:35

Summary of the contracting process

The Tate has initiated a public procurement process for the "Tate Time Machine" project, focusing on enhancing the visitor experience at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London. This procurement seeks services within the multimedia software development sector, using an open procedure. Businesses have until 11 September 2026 to submit tenders, with an enquiry period ending on 2 September 2026. The project involves the design and delivery of a prototype for an immersive digital experience, with the potential to secure additional funding for a full rollout contingent upon the prototype's success. The contract, valued at £150,000, is set to start on 30 October 2026, with possible renewal opportunities if funding bids succeed.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in multimedia software development, particularly those with expertise in mixed reality and digital experience design. Successful tenderers will not only develop the prototype but may also be pivotal in securing further funding and executing a comprehensive project rollout, providing long-term growth potential. Companies that demonstrate strong scalability, technical insight, and the ability to contribute creatively to a cutting-edge cultural project will be well-positioned. This is a prime opportunity for SMEs, as the procurement process favours businesses with the capability to handle both immediate and future phases of the project.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Tate Galleries - Tate Time Machine

Notice Description

Tate Modern's Turbine Hall is one of London's most iconic artistic spaces, where anyone can come in, look around and encounter art. Since it opened in 2000, over 60 million people have experienced the Turbine Hall. We want visitors to feel that the Hall and Tate Modern are a welcoming space, where they can encounter surprising, exciting and accessible digital experiences that connect them to Tate and spark fun and amazement. We want visitors walking through the Turbine Hall to encounter an easy, direct, playful way of being transported back in time and seeing some iconic Turbine Hall commissions, experiencing 360 / 180-degree recreations of past Turbine Hall commissions through mixed reality. For those who remember the commissions this would spark a memory and sense of connection to Tate. For those who don't remember a commission, they would be surprised by what they see. The experience goes beyond passive viewing by including the option of designing your own commission and seeing the Turbine Hall come alive with your own ideas. Prototyping and Future Contract This tender is for the design and delivery of the Tate Time Machine prototype. It is the first phase of this opportunity, and we want to be clear from the outset about how the two are connected. The prototype is not an end in itself. It is what Tate will use to secure funding from our partners for the full rollout of the experience; this funding bid is currently estimated in the region of PS150,000. The successful supplier will play a central role in that effort: the quality and credibility of what you build will directly shape whether the funding bid succeeds, and we will look to you to support it by providing material, technical insight and, where helpful, taking part in conversations with prospective funders. If that funding is secured, Tate will award the full rollout to the awarded tenderers from this process as an option under this contract, without a further competition, subject to satisfactory completion of the prototype phase and agreement of Phase 2 pricing and terms. This is why the competition is evaluated based on the whole project rather than the prototype alone, and why we are asking you about scalability, extensibility and long-term maintenance: we are appointing a partner for the full experience, not a contractor for a single piece of work. If the bid to our partners is unsuccessful, the contract will conclude at the end of the prototype phase, the option will not be exercised, and no further work will follow. Tate gives no guarantee or commitment that the rollout will proceed, and Tenderers should plan and price the prototype phase on the basis that it may be the entirety of the work awarded.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: As above, the initial contract is for a prototype and if a funding bid is successful, there will be an option for the bidder to be awarded the full production and maintenance contract.

Renewal: As above, the initial contract is for a prototype and if a funding bid is successful, there will be an option for the bidder to be awarded the full production and maintenance contract for the full length of time.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cc71
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067055-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72212520 - Multimedia software development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jul 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
11 Sep 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Oct 2026 - 28 Feb 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TATE
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
SW1P 4RG
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)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
Vincent Square
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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