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ROG First Light Exhibitions Orrery Contractor

National Maritime Museum

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

20 Jul 2026 at 08:05

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The National Maritime Museum is procuring specialist museum-exhibition services for the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s First Light Project. The appointed Orrery Contractor will develop, engineer, fabricate, install and commission two mechanical models of the solar system: one kinetic and one interactive. The orreries will be installed at various points across the Royal Observatory Greenwich site. The scope includes elements of contractor design, together with coordination with exhibition designers and other contractors working both on and off site. This suits businesses delivering complex interpretive, scientific or cultural installations, particularly those able to combine mechanical engineering, interactive exhibit development, fabrication and site installation within a live exhibition project environment. The procurement covers the United Kingdom, with the work centred on London and the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers following a two-stage competitive flexible procedure. Contractors first go through a preliminary supplier questionnaire process, after which shortlisted contractors are invited to tender and site visits are arranged. Expressions of interest are due by 21 August 2026 at 12:00, and enquiries close on 14 August 2026 at 17:00. The single lot has an estimated value of £155,000 excluding VAT, or £186,000 including VAT. The contract period is 15 March 2027 to 17 July 2028, with the award decision due by 1 March 2027 at 23:59. Evaluation is weighted 60% technical quality and 40% commercial considerations. Electronic submissions in English are allowed through the eSourcing portal.

This opportunity is suited to an SME or larger specialist contractor with demonstrable capability across the full lifecycle of bespoke mechanical exhibits. Relevant strengths include concept development, contractor design, mechanical and interactive engineering, prototyping, fabrication, installation and commissioning. Suppliers will need to coordinate effectively with exhibition designers and other contractors, manage interfaces between off-site manufacture and on-site delivery, and produce reliable visitor-facing equipment for a museum setting. Experience delivering kinetic or interactive scientific, educational, cultural or heritage installations would be particularly relevant, as would the ability to develop accurate mechanical models of the solar system. The requirement favours a supplier able to manage two separate orreries as one coordinated project and provide the technical capacity needed through installation and commissioning.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

ROG First Light Exhibitions Orrery Contractor

Notice Description

This procurement exercise is to secure an Orrery Contractor to deliver orreries at various points of the Royal Observatory Greenwich site, as part of the ROG First Light Project. The Orrery Contractor will be responsible for the development, engineering, fabrication, installation and commissioning of two orreries (mechanical models of the solar system) across the ROG, both kinetic and interactive. The Contractor's responsibilities will include elements of Contractor Design as well as coordination with exhibition designers and other contractors, both off-site and on-site. This will be a two-stage procurement process including a PSQ process from which contractors will be shortlisted. Shortlisted contractors will be invited to Tender. Contractors will be invited to visit site. Full details of the procurement procedure can be found in the procurement documentation. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Museum-exhibition-services./FA79DWW9GC To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/FA79DWW9GC

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ce61
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068038-2026
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
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

92521100 - Museum-exhibition services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£155,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£155,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Mar 2027 - 17 Jul 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
National Maritime 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
SE10 9NF
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI5 Outer London - East and North East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI51 Bexley and Greenwich
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Greenwich
Electoral Ward
Greenwich Park
Westminster Constituency
Greenwich and Woolwich

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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