Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

British Museum Round Reading Room Roof Oculus Works

British Museum

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

06 Aug 2026 at 16:34

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The British Museum intends to appoint a principal contractor for essential repair and replacement works to the Grade I listed Round Reading Room roof in London. The scope covers the Snow Gallery flat roof, conservation and repair of the copper dome, replacement of the bespoke patent-glazed lantern, repair of heritage windows and ironwork, and upgrades to access, heating, lighting and building-management systems. The works also include scaffold, temporary roof, lifting, logistics and evacuation arrangements. The Museum will remain open during construction, so the project requires protection of visitors, staff and collections, with controls on noise and vibration. The work is a major museum construction and specialist roofing, glazing and mechanical installation project.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has announced its intention to procure but has not yet invited tenders. It is expected to use a single-stage open traditional tender under a JCT Standard Building Contract 2024 with Contractor’s Design Portion. The anticipated contract value is £7 million to £9 million. A tender notice is currently expected on 24 August 2026, with submissions expected by 5 October 2026 at 1pm and contract appointment aimed for 16 November 2026. The contract is expected to run from 11 January 2027 to 31 March 2028. There is one planned lot. Site visits are strongly recommended and are expected during the week commencing 10 September 2026, with up to four attendees per tenderer.

This will suit principal contractors and specialist construction teams with experience delivering complex conservation projects in occupied public buildings. The buyer expects capability in Grade I or II* listed structures, heritage metal roofing, liquid-applied roofing, bespoke patent glazing, heritage window joinery and ironwork, and complex temporary works in constrained sites. Relevant experience must cover scaffold and temporary roof systems, access and fall protection, lifting and logistics, mechanical and electrical installations, and Contractor’s Design Portion work. Suppliers will need to manage asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint safely, protect historic interiors and collections, and work within restricted access and operational constraints. Tenderers must provide a compliant Carbon Reduction Plan, and the appointed contractor must hold Cyber Essentials or equivalent certification.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

British Museum Round Reading Room Roof Oculus Works

Notice Description

Project Overview The British Museum is seeking to appoint a Principal Contractor for a programme of essential roof repair and replacement works to the Grade I listed Round Reading Room, located at the centre of the Museum. The project has been designed to RIBA Stage 4, and the anticipated contract value is between PS7 million and PS9 million. Publication of a Tender Notice relating to the procurement is currently expected on the 24th August, with submissions currently expected by the 5th October. Site visits which are strongly recommended will take place w/c 10th September, with a maximum of four attendees from each tenderer being permitted. Details for arranging site visits will be shared in the tender documents. Building Context and Heritage Significance The Round Reading Room was designed by Sydney Smirke and completed in 1857. It is a structure of exceptional national heritage significance, combining iron primary construction with brick masonry, a copper-clad dome, and a fully glazed central lantern. The roofscape comprises three elements: a perimeter flat roof known as the Snow Gallery Roof; the copper dome in batten-roll standing seam; and a twenty-sided glazed lantern incorporating patent glazing, timber sidelights, and a decorative internal laylight. Scope of Works The works span four principal areas: * Snow Gallery Roof: Removal of an existing membrane and mineral wool flat roof build-up down to the concrete deck. Installation of a warm roof with cold-applied liquid waterproofing membrane, including upstands, penetrations, and new lightning protection. * Copper Dome Conservation and Repair: Close-quarters condition survey and conservation-led repair from temporary scaffold, including localised copper panel replacement, seam and flashing repairs, and full replacement of the lantern base apron. Works must be undertaken by heritage-accredited metal roofing specialists. * Lantern Glazing, Windows and Refurbishment: Full replacement of the existing patent-glazed lantern atop the dome with a bespoke tiered steel glazing bar system; repair and redecoration of external windows and internal sliding sashes; installation of BMS-linked actuators; and in-situ conservation of the historic internal laylight. * Maintenance Access and MEP: Upgrade of permanent access provisions including fall-arrest and restraint systems, internal walkway refurbishment, replacement heating, LED lighting, and BMS integration. The project includes a number of CDP items, including, but not limited to, scaffold and temporary works, tiered patent glazing, access systems and MEP systems. Key Project Constraints * Access and Logistics: The site is entirely enclosed within the Foster+Partners Great Court roof, with no direct external crane access, and the Round Reading Room is to remain open to staff and the public for the maximum time possible during the works. A Stage 4 design for a cable-restrained scaffold system and temporary roof has been developed by an access specialist and needs to be completed as a CDP item, alongside a full lifting, logistics and evacuation strategy. * Operational Environment: Although temporary periods of closure and exclusion will be possible in the Round Reading Room, the Museum will remain open without restriction throughout the construction period. Noise and vibration limits apply, and protection of the Reading Room interior and collections is mandatory throughout. * Hazardous Materials: Asbestos-Containing Materials and lead-based paints are confirmed present within the lantern and on historic ironwork. Safe methods of removal must be provided during the works. Procurement and Programme The project will be procured via a single-stage traditional tender under a JCT Standard Building Contract 2024 with Contractor's Design Portion. A contractor will be selected on capability, heritage experience, and commercial submission, with appointment aimed for November 2026, a start on site in January 2027 and Practical Completion targeted for Q1 2028. Contractors will be required to demonstrate CDP and construction experience across: conservation of Grade I or II* listed structures; heritage metal roofing; liquid-applied roofing; bespoke patent glazing fabrication; heritage window joinery and ironwork; works within live occupied public buildings; and complex temporary works in constrained environments. Due to the confidential/commercially sensitive nature of information that will be included in the associated tender documents we require that interested suppliers enter into a confidentiality agreement before they are given access to the tender pack. A copy of the confidentiality agreement is available by request via email to procurement@britishmuseum.org. The terms of the confidentiality agreement are not subject to negotiation. We strongly encourage interested suppliers to request and complete the confidentiality agreement as soon as possible and in advance of publication of the Tender Notice to enable immediate access to the documents at that point. Interested suppliers will still be able to request the agreement after the publication of the Tender Notice but this may reduce the time that they have available to respond. For the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to provide additional information relating to the scope or specification of the requirement at the current time, all details will be provided with the associated tender documents which will be made available to those interested suppliers who have returned a signed and completed confidentiality agreement

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06de58
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074960-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45212313 - Museum construction work

45260000 - Roof works and other special trade construction works

45350000 - Mechanical installations

45441000 - Glazing work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
5 Oct 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
24 Aug 2026Today
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
British 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
WC1B 3DG
Postcode Area
Central London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI36 Camden
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Camden
Electoral Ward
Bloomsbury
Westminster Constituency
Holborn and St Pancras

Further Information

Notice Documents

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.

Loading OCDS record...