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DC1 Solar Wall Principal Contractor

Natural History Museum

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

02 Oct 2026 at 15:31

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

10 Sep 2026 at 10:03

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Natural History Museum is seeking a principal contractor to replace and upgrade the Darwin Centre Phase 1 (DC1) glass solar wall at its London museum estate. This is a design-and-build works contract covering façade design and engineering, procurement and manufacture of components, installation, and completion. The contractor must provide the specialist façade design input and the resources, management, supervision and coordination needed to deliver the works against the performance specification and the Museum’s requirements. The solar wall is on a prominent building in the Museum complex; its replacement is intended to restore this part of the site to operational use and integrate it back into the wider estate. The work includes façade, cladding, glazing and associated specialist construction.

The Museum invited offers through an open competition for a single contract. The tender was published on 2 October 2026. The deadline for enquiries was 16 October 2026 at 17:00, and the bid deadline was 4 November 2026 at 12:00. The contract period runs from 13 December 2026 to 29 July 2027. The estimated value is £950,000 excluding VAT (£1,140,000 including VAT). Evaluation gives 55% to project-specific experience and expertise, 40% to price and 5% to social value. Small and medium-sized businesses are considered suitable to bid. An authorised representative must sign a non-disclosure agreement before tender documents can be accessed; electronic submission is permitted.

This opportunity suits principal contractors with proven specialist façade capability and the capacity to take responsibility for a complete design-and-build package. Suppliers will need to coordinate façade design and engineering with procurement, manufacture, installation and completion, and provide appropriate resources, management and site supervision. Experience and expertise specific to the project carry the greatest evaluation weight, so bidders should be able to demonstrate relevant delivery credentials for complex glass façade, cladding and glazing works, alongside effective coordination of specialist inputs. The scope calls for a contractor able to manage work on a prominent building within an operating museum estate and return the affected area to use. The Museum explicitly considers the contract suitable for SMEs.

How relevant is this notice?

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. And NDA will be required before access to the tender documents can be granted. Please ensure NDAs are signed by authorised person in your organisation and returned to the NHM via the Message Centre for counter signature. Access to the tender documents will be granted when both parties have signed the NDA. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Museum-construction-work./WHV9ZF52Y4 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/WHV9ZF52Y4

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/093466-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
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
£950,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
4 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
13 Dec 2026 - 29 Jul 2027 6-12 months
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
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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