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British Museum Round Reading Room Roof Oculus Works

The British Museum

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

24 Sep 2026 at 16:01

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

24 Aug 2026 at 17:23

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

06 Aug 2026 at 16:34

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The British Museum is procuring a principal contractor for essential repairs and replacement works to the Grade I listed Round Reading Room roof in central London. The work covers renewal of the Snow Gallery flat roof; conservation and repair of the copper dome; replacement of the glazed lantern with a bespoke steel glazing system; repair of windows and the historic internal laylight; and upgrades to access systems, heating, lighting and building-management controls. The Reading Room sits beneath the Great Court roof, so the work must be delivered within a constrained, enclosed site while protecting the interior and collections. The Museum is to remain open to visitors throughout construction, with temporary closures and exclusion periods within the Reading Room possible.

The buyer invited tenders through a single-stage open procedure for one contract, using a traditional JCT Standard Building Contract 2024 with Contractor’s Design Portion. The tender submission deadline was 19 October 2026 at 15:00; the estimated award date is 30 November 2026. The contract period is 4 January 2027 to 31 March 2028. The estimated contract value is £9 million excluding VAT (£10.8 million including VAT). Evaluation is weighted 70% quality and 30% price. Bidders must meet economic and technical participation conditions set out in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire. Suppliers must sign the Museum’s confidentiality agreement to access the tender pack, register on the Delta eSourcing portal, and maintain an up-to-date supplier information set.

This opportunity suits principal contractors able to coordinate specialist conservation, roofing, glazing, building-services and access work on a major heritage building. The contractor must demonstrate experience of conserving Grade I or II* listed structures, heritage metal roofing, liquid-applied roofing, bespoke patent glazing, heritage window joinery and ironwork, and construction in occupied public buildings. Strong capability in complex temporary works for constrained sites is important: the cable-restrained scaffold and temporary roof design must be completed, with a full lifting, logistics and evacuation strategy. The project also calls for safe methods for asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint, control of noise and vibration, and protection of collections and historic interiors. Contractors need the capacity to manage contractor-designed elements and specialist supply chains, while keeping the Museum operating throughout the works.

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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. 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.

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/090702-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender 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
£9,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£9,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
19 Oct 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
24 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 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
The 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

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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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