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Kew Wakehurst Controlled Environment Facility

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

27 Aug 2026 at 10:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew intends to procure the design, supply and installation of environmental control chambers for a new controlled environment research facility at its Wakehurst site in Sussex. The chambers will provide precise, reproducible control of temperature, humidity, lighting and, where required, carbon dioxide concentrations. They are expected to support plant science activities including seed regeneration, germination studies, pollination experiments and accelerated breeding programmes. This is a laboratory and precision-equipment requirement with associated laboratory-equipment installation services. The buyer is a central government public authority responsible for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The work will be delivered at the Wakehurst controlled environment research facility in Sussex.

The procurement is at the planning stage. Kew is conducting voluntary preliminary market engagement before starting the formal procurement, to refine the specification, understand market capability and delivery approaches, and shape its procurement and commercial strategy. Interested suppliers are expected to complete the engagement questionnaire by 17:00 on 21 September 2026; responses will not be used to evaluate future tenders. Kew may also arrange a supplier engagement event and site visit. It anticipates publishing a further notice on 2 October 2026 and commencing a competitive procurement. The planned requirement is one lot, with an indicative contract period from 20 December 2026 to 31 August 2027. The estimated value is £600,000 excluding VAT and £720,000 including VAT.

This will suit suppliers that design, manufacture, integrate and install environmental control chambers or comparable controlled-environment laboratory systems. Relevant capability includes delivering reliable temperature, humidity and lighting control, with carbon dioxide control where required, and configuring systems for reproducible plant-growth and research conditions. Experience supporting seed regeneration, germination, pollination or accelerated breeding work would be directly relevant. Suppliers should be able to provide a complete design-and-installation service for a new research facility, understand laboratory equipment installation requirements, and demonstrate the technical capacity to deliver a substantial single-site system. The preliminary engagement is the opportunity to test the emerging requirements, identify innovation and influence the eventual delivery approach before the formal competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Kew Wakehurst Controlled Environment Facility

Notice Description

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is seeking to procure the design, supply and installation of environmental control chambers within a new controlled environment research facility at its Wakehurst site. The facility will support plant science research through the precise and reproducible control of environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, lighting and, where required, CO2 concentrations. The requirement is expected to include environmental control chambers capable of supporting a range of plant growth and research activities, including seed regeneration, germination studies, pollination experiments and accelerated breeding programmes. Prior to commencing the formal procurement process, RBG Kew is undertaking Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to refine its emerging requirements, understand market capability and potential delivery approaches, and inform the development of the final specification and procurement strategy. Interested suppliers are strongly encouraged to participate in the PME exercise and complete the Preliminary Market Engagement questionnaire. Responses will be used solely to inform RBG Kew's approach to the subsequent procurement and will not form part of any future tender evaluation. Following completion of the PME exercise, RBG Kew anticipates commencing a competitive procurement process. Further information regarding the final scope, procurement procedure and timetable will be published in due course. To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/RWD675SY4V If you experience any technical difficulties from accessing the above url, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com.

Planning Information

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to inform the development of a future procurement for environmental control chambers at its Wakehurst controlled environment research facility. The purpose of the engagement is to test and refine the emerging specification, understand market capability and innovation, identify potential delivery approaches, and inform the procurement strategy and commercial arrangements. Interested suppliers are invited to access the opportunity through the Delta eSourcing portal, **download and review the Preliminary Market Engagement document and complete the associated questionnaire**. Completed questionnaires should be submitted in accordance with the instructions contained within the PME documentation **by 17:00 on 21 September 2026**. Responses will be used to help RBG Kew develop its requirements and procurement approach and will not form part of any subsequent tender evaluation. Participation in the PME exercise is voluntary and suppliers will not be advantaged or disadvantaged by choosing whether or not to respond. RBG Kew may also organise a supplier engagement event and site visit to provide interested suppliers with further information regarding the proposed building, research requirements and anticipated scope of supply. Suppliers wishing to attend should register their interest in accordance with the instructions contained within the PME documentation. Attendance at any engagement session will not form part of the evaluation of any future procurement process. Following completion of the PME exercise, RBG Kew will review the feedback received and use the information gathered to finalise its requirements and determine the most appropriate procurement approach. To access the PME documentation and respond to this opportunity, please use the Delta eSourcing portal at the link provided below. To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/RWD675SY4V If you experience any technical difficulties from accessing the above url, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ed45
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081630-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

51 - Installation services (except software)

CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

51430000 - Installation services of laboratory equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Oct 20261 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Dec 2026 - 31 Aug 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SUSSEX,
Postcode
RH17 6TN
Postcode Area
Redhill
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ28 West Sussex (North East)
Delivery Location
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Local Authority
Mid Sussex
Electoral Ward
Ardingly, Balcombe & Turners Hill
Westminster Constituency
East Grinstead and Uckfield

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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