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Science and Industry Museum Wonderlab Group 2 Interactives Makers

Science Museum Group

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

03 Sep 2026 at 16:09

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

03 Sep 2026 at 15:18

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Science Museum Group is procuring museum and museum-exhibition services for Wonderlab interactive exhibits at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester (CPV 92521100). The requirement is divided into five lots: Heat Camera and Sound Waves; Bubbles, Guess Time and Weight Measurement; Cloud Rings, Turn Table and Wind Table; Build a Bridge, Heightometer, Maze and Sound Tubes; and Floating Magnets, Plasma Ball and Magnetic Fluid. The exhibits will be positioned throughout the visitor journey and must align with the wider gallery design overseen by the Lead Designer and Architect. They are intended to be playful, social, inclusive and inviting, supporting experimentation, questioning, reflection, open-ended play and testing. Exhibits must be intuitive and easy to manipulate, work without relying on written instructions, appeal to children and accompanying adults, encourage shared discovery, and be accessible to as many visitors as possible.

The procurement has reached tender: the Science Museum Group invited offers through an open procedure. Questions could be submitted until 25 September 2026 at 17:00, and offers were due by 2 October 2026 at 23:59. The planned award decision date was 20 October 2026 at 23:59:59. The overall estimated value is £182,500 excluding VAT (£219,000 including VAT). Five lots are available: Lot 1, £50,000 excluding VAT (£60,000 including VAT), from 4 November 2026 to 3 November 2028; Lot 2, £16,000 (£19,200), on the same dates; Lots 3 and 4, £30,000 (£36,000) and £35,000 (£42,000), respectively, from 10 November 2026 to 9 November 2028; and Lot 5, £51,500 (£61,800), from 17 November 2026 to 16 November 2028. Each lot is evaluated on price at 30% and quality at 70%. Electronic submission is allowed in English.

This opportunity suits small and medium-sized businesses able to design, make and deliver hands-on science-museum interactives. Relevant suppliers will need to demonstrate practical capability in creating robust, intuitive exhibits that visitors can operate independently, without written instructions, while supporting experimentation, curiosity and open-ended play. The work calls for experience translating science education principles into physical visitor experiences and designing for children, adults and intergenerational use. Strong candidates will be able to deliver inclusive, multisensory and accessible exhibits, with designs that welcome diverse audiences and encourage social interaction. Suppliers should also be able to work within an established gallery design, coordinate with a Lead Designer and Architect, and provide the required specialist exhibit combinations across one or more lots.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Science and Industry Museum Wonderlab Group 2 Interactives Makers

Notice Description

This tender invites suppliers to bid for Wonderlab interactives at Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. These interactive exhibits will provide moments of joy, fun, surprise and wonder throughout the visitor journey. They should be in keeping with wider, gallery designs which will be overseen by the Lead Designer / Architect. Interactives will embody the gallery's key principles: - Playful - inspires and celebrates active exploration, curiosity, fun and experimentation. - Social - appeals to both children and their accompanying adults, sparks intergenerational conversations and encourages sharing discoveries and ideas with others. - Inclusive - is multi-sensory, values diversity, strives to be 'Open for All' and is accessible to as many people as possible. - Inviting - welcoming, with a sprinkling of Manchester personality, intuitive to navigate and empowering independent exploration. Wonderlab interactive exhibits will be intuitive, easy to manipulate and importantly will not rely on written instructions to function. Exhibits will foster interaction in many different ways but will be based on the inquiry approach to science education, which allows for experimentation, questioning, reflection, open ended play and testing.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Heat Camera, Sound Waves

Lot 2

Bubbles, Guess Time, Weight Measurement

Lot 3

Cloud Rings, Turn Table, Wind Table

Lot 4

Build a Bridge, Heightometer, Maze, Sound Tubes

Lot 5

Floating Magnets, Plasma Ball, Magnetic Fluid

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f17d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083604-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

92521000 - Museum services

92521100 - Museum-exhibition services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£182,500 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£182,500 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
2 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
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
Science Museum Group
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
SW7 2DD
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI33 Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham
Delivery Location
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Local Authority
Kensington and Chelsea
Electoral Ward
Brompton & Hans Town
Westminster Constituency
Kensington and Bayswater

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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