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DC1 Solar Wall Principal Contractor

Natural History Museum

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Sep 2026 at 10:03

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Natural History Museum intends to appoint a principal contractor for the design-and-build upgrade and replacement of the DC1 Glass Solar Wall at its Darwin Centre Phase 1 estate in South Kensington, London. The works will cover façade design and engineering, procurement, manufacture, installation and completion, including specialist façade input, project management, supervision and coordination. The project responds to the failure of three glass panels on the south-facing solar wall, installed in 2002, and is intended to return this part of the Museum site to full operational use. This is a construction and specialist façade package involving cladding, glazing and engineering design, on a prominent museum building visible from Queens Gate and overlooking the UNP gardens.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Museum has announced its intention to procure and has not yet invited tenders. It expects to use a Design and Build arrangement and appoint a principal contractor, with the procurement classified as works and below the relevant threshold. The estimated contract value is £950,000 excluding VAT (£1,140,000 including VAT). The procurement is planned as one lot. The buyer’s indicative contract period is 2 November 2026 to 29 July 2027. Ahead of the tender, the Museum has planned an online market-engagement survey, with responses requested by 21 September 2026; it is intended to inform elements of the tender requirements and gather information on suppliers’ experience and capacity. The tender is expected to be published in late September 2026.

The planned work should suit principal contractors with proven experience delivering design-and-build façade replacements, particularly firms combining specialist façade engineering with construction delivery. Relevant capability includes designing, procuring, manufacturing and installing glazed curtain-wall or solar-wall systems, cladding and other complex façade components, together with managing interfaces, site supervision, coordination and completion in an operational museum estate. Businesses will need sufficient resources and capacity for a single, substantial façade package and the ability to respond to detailed performance specifications and Employer’s Requirements. Specialist glazing, façade and engineering subcontractors may be well placed to support a principal contractor. Potential suppliers should use the market-engagement survey to demonstrate comparable experience and delivery capacity and to help shape the future requirements before the tender is issued.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DC1 Solar Wall Principal Contractor

Notice Description

The Museum is undertaking a procurement process to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Principal Contractor with specialist facade expertise on a Design and Build basis for the design, engineering, procurement, manufacture, installation and completion of the works associated with the upgrade and replacement of the DC1 Glass Solar Wall within the Museum estate. The Contractor shall provide all resources, specialist facade design input, management, supervision and coordination necessary to deliver the works in accordance with the Contract, detailed performance specification and Employer's Requirements. The Darwin Centre Phase 1 (DC1) is a prominent building in the Museum complex visible from Queens Gate in South Kensington and overlooking the newly created and award winning UNP gardens. The replacement of this facade will enable this section of the site to be returned to operational functionality and integrated back into full use. An investigative study was commissioned by the Museum following the failure of three glass panels on the South Facing 'Solar Wall' elevation of the DC1. The solar wall was installed in 2002, and the secondary components within facade systems such as these usually have an expected service life of 25 years if correctly maintained.

Planning Information

An online survey has been created ahead of the tender being published on Delta in late September. We invite potential bidders to complete a short survey to provide some information about their experience and capacity, and to provide input into some elements of the tender requirements. Please use the following link to access the survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/RbefqHyRsv The deadline for completing this engagement is 21 September 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f657
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085686-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

45212313 - Museum construction work

45262000 - Special trade construction works other than roof works

45262650 - Cladding works

45441000 - Glazing work

45443000 - Facade work

71320000 - Engineering design services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£950,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 29 Jul 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
Natural History 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
SW7 5BD
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
TLI London
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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