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PURCON 5107 - The Sainsbury Centre - Refurbishment

UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

07 Aug 2026 at 14:51

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

05 Aug 2026 at 17:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of East Anglia is procuring works to refurbish the Sainsbury Centre, a Grade II* listed museum on its campus in Norwich. The requirement is for a principal contractor to coordinate replacement of the original building’s external envelope and extensive replacement of its mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The project also includes roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, a safe roof access system, lift replacement, new carpeting and blinds, and refurbishment of existing toilets. The works are intended to address building-condition issues, improve energy efficiency, improve visitor comfort and experience, and reduce long-term maintenance liabilities. The Sainsbury Centre contains galleries, reception, research and education spaces, offices, a library, café, shop and restaurant, so the works concern a complex operational museum and education building.

The procurement has reached tender: the University invited offers through a selective competitive flexible procedure. The process comprises a preliminary selection questionnaire to identify five participants, an invitation-to-tender stage with qualitative and commercial assessment, and a final negotiation stage with two bidders, although the authority may omit that negotiation. The single lot has an estimated value of £70,000,000 excluding VAT (£84,000,000 including VAT). Expressions of interest were due by 7 September 2026 at 12:00, enquiries by 21 August 2026 at 12:00, and the award decision was due by 8 October 2026 at 23:59. The contract period is 4 May 2027 to 1 May 2029. Evaluation is 40% quality and 60% commercial.

This opportunity suits an experienced principal contractor able to lead a major refurbishment of a complex museum building and coordinate multiple specialist workstreams. Relevant capability includes external-envelope replacement, mechanical, electrical and plumbing system installation, roof photovoltaic systems, safe roof-access provision and internal building refurbishment. Suppliers should be able to manage interfaces between construction, building services, visitor-facing facilities and ongoing operational requirements, while protecting the character of a significant listed building. The scale and two-year delivery period favour businesses with substantial project-management, construction-management and supply-chain capacity, together with experience coordinating specialist subcontractors and delivering energy-efficiency and visitor-comfort improvements in technically demanding public, cultural or educational buildings.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PURCON 5107 - The Sainsbury Centre - Refurbishment

Notice Description

The University of East Anglia (UEA) is an internationally renowned university based in a campus that provides top quality academic, social and cultural facilities to over 17,000 students and 2,500 staff. The University of East Anglia (UEA) has been ranked in the top 20 in the UK for its research quality, in the Complete University Guide's UK top 30 and has achieved the green flag award for 9 years running. The Sainsbury Centre, positioned on the western side of the University of East Anglia Campus is a world-class museum designed by Norman Foster (now Foster + Partners) and opened in 1978. The building integrates a number of related activities within a single, light-filled space. Structural and service elements are contained within the double-layer walls and roof. Within this shell is a sequence of spaces that incorporates galleries, a reception area, research and education spaces, offices, library, cafe, shop and restaurant. Over the years, the building has undergone a number of improvements, refurbishments and extensions, including the addition of the Crescent Wing in 1991 and the Link Project in 2006, which connected the Crescent Wing to the main building and the main building to the Lasdun Wall. These interventions have enabled the building to respond to changing operational and visitor requirements while maintaining its distinctive architectural character. In 2012, the Sainsbury Centre was awarded Grade II* listed status in recognition of its exceptional architectural and historic significance. Its designation rests on several grounds: architectural innovation, as a defining late-twentieth century work by one of Britain's foremost modern architects, showcasing his signature engineering-led, prefabricated approach; celebrated design, reflecting its international standing as one of the best-known modern museum and education buildings; and historic association, as a purpose-built home for the globally significant Sainsbury Collection. This project involves seeking a principal contractor to co-ordinate the replacement of the external envelope and extensive works to the building's MEP systems to ensure the following key objectives are met: - Address multiple building-condition issues - Improve energy efficiency. - Improve visitor comfort and experience. - Minimise long term maintenance liabilities. In order to meet the above objectives, the envelope of the original building will be replaced and there will be extensive MEP replacement throughout. PV panels on the roof will be incorporated and a new safe roof access system will be provided to ensure ease of maintenance. The project will incorporate a number of other internal works packages to help improve visitor comfort and experience, including but not limited to replacement of lifts, carpet, blinds and refurbishments to the existing WC's.

Planning Information

A selection of contractors visited the Sainsbury Centre between 31st March and 15th April 2026 to view the building and provide advice on the scope of the project.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dcec
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075372-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45212313 - Museum construction work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£70,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£70,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
7 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 May 2027 - 1 May 2029 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
UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NORWICH
Postcode
NR4 7TJ
Postcode Area
Norwich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk
Delivery Location
TLH15 Norwich and East Norfolk
Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
University
Westminster Constituency
Norwich South

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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