Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

RCC-1668 Palaeontology Gallery (Science Lab) Rutland County Museum

Rutland County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

26 Aug 2026 at 11:01

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Rutland County Council is procuring the design, build and installation of a permanent Palaeontology Gallery at Rutland County Museum in Oakham. The commission covers a dedicated “Science Lab” gallery, complementing a separate immersive box installation. It will present the history of life on Earth from approximately 400 million years ago to the period before the Stone Age, explain evolution, and show the role of palaeontologists. The required visitor environment should be informative, engaging and suitable for a broad and diverse audience, while supporting learning, discovery and curiosity. The scope is an integrated end-to-end service covering concept design, detailed design development, technical design, fabrication, installation, testing and handover. The completed gallery must be accessible, durable and high quality.

The process reached tender: Rutland County Council invited offers through a below-threshold open competition, with electronic submission allowed. There is one lot. The deadline for enquiries was 25 September 2026 at 4:00pm, and the tender submission deadline is 8 October 2026 at 12 noon. The contract period is from 30 November 2026 to 31 December 2027. The estimated value is £300,000 excluding VAT, or £360,000 including VAT. Evaluation is based on quality questions worth 50%, social value worth 10% and price worth 40%. The procurement is classified mainly as museum construction work, with museum services also included. The contract is intended to deliver the gallery as a completed installation.

This opportunity suits an experienced exhibition, museum fit-out or visitor-attraction contractor able to provide a genuinely integrated design-and-delivery service. Bidders need the capability to develop concepts into detailed and technical designs, fabricate bespoke gallery elements, install them on site, test the completed environment and manage handover. Relevant experience should include creating durable, accessible and engaging public-facing spaces, particularly galleries, science centres, museums or educational visitor environments. The requirement will favour businesses able to translate complex natural-history and palaeontological content into a clear visitor narrative for a broad audience, while coordinating the gallery with a separate immersive installation. It is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises, and places significant emphasis on quality and social value as well as price.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

RCC-1668 Palaeontology Gallery (Science Lab) Rutland County Museum

Notice Description

Rutland County Council ("the Council") is inviting proposals from suitably qualified and experienced suppliers to design, build, and install a new permanent gallery at Rutland County Museum. The proposed gallery will form a key part of the Museum's future offer, presenting Rutland's early natural history through a dedicated Palaeontology Gallery. Central to the wider visitor experience will be a 10m x 10m immersive box installation, which will be procured through a separate tender process. This commission relates specifically to the design and delivery of a "Science Lab" Gallery which needs to complement and contextualise the immersive experience. The gallery will explore life on Earth from approximately 400 million years ago through to the period preceding the Stone Age. It will provide visitors with a clear and engaging narrative of evolution, while also highlighting the role and work of palaeontologists in advancing our understanding of the natural world. The Council's vision is to create a high-quality, "Science Lab" type gallery environment that complements the digital experience of the immersive box. The space should deliver an informative and engaging visitor experience, supporting learning, discovery, and curiosity for a broad and diverse audience. The Council is seeking a supplier capable of delivering a fully integrated, end-to-end service, including concept design, detailed design development, technical design, fabrication, installation, and testing and handover. The completed gallery must be accessible, durable, and designed to a high standard, ensuring a long-lasting and impactful addition to Rutland Museum's offer. Providers can access the tender opportunity using the below links: https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=4d5c20ab-2da1-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True The tender submission deadline is: 12 noon 8th October 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ec29
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081143-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

45212313 - Museum construction work

92521000 - Museum services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
8 Oct 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Nov 2026 - 31 Dec 2027 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
Rutland County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
OAKHAM
Postcode
LE15 6HP
Postcode Area
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Delivery Location
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Local Authority
Rutland
Electoral Ward
Oakham South
Westminster Constituency
Rutland and Stamford

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...