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Art Programme Principal Contractor

Natural History Museum

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

11 Sep 2026 at 15:13

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

11 Sep 2026 at 15:12

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Natural History Museum engaged a principal contractor to build setworks for an upcoming exhibition featuring artwork by Sir John Akomfrah. This is a works requirement covering exhibition construction and museum construction work, classified under CPV 45212313. The buyer is the Natural History Museum, based at Cromwell Road in South Kensington, London. The requirement relates to the physical delivery of the exhibition rather than general museum services, so it is most relevant to contractors specialising in exhibition builds, art installations, set construction or comparable museum environments. The appointed supplier is Bild Studios Ltd, an SME, indicating that the work can be delivered by a specialist smaller contractor rather than only a large construction business.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. The Natural History Museum used a direct award below the applicable threshold without competition, under the Public Procurement Act 2023. Bild Studios Ltd was awarded the single lot on 11 September 2026. The award is worth £260,000 excluding VAT, or £312,000 including VAT. The contract period runs from 24 September 2026 to 21 May 2027, with signature scheduled for 23 September 2026. The procurement was evaluated through the direct-award route rather than a competitive tender, and the award is active. There was one completed lot, covering the principal-contractor setworks requirement for the exhibition.

For a supplier that did not win this requirement, the award provides a clear example of the Natural History Museum’s demand for specialist exhibition construction. A credible competitor for comparable work would need to act as a principal contractor and demonstrate the ability to build setworks for major exhibitions involving high-profile artwork. Relevant experience could include museum construction, exhibition fit-out, set design and fabrication, or art-led installation work. The appointed SME shows that a focused specialist business can match this type of requirement. Businesses should be able to evidence practical delivery of complex exhibition environments, appropriate project capacity and experience working to the standards expected by a national museum and its exhibition programme.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Art Programme Principal Contractor

Notice Description

The Natural History Museum wishes to secure the services of a Principal Contractor to undertake the build of setworks for an upcoming exhibition featuring art work from Sir John Akomfrah.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f85b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086538-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45212313 - Museum construction work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£260,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Sep 20265 days ago
Contract Period
24 Sep 2026 - 21 May 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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
SOUTH KENSINGTON
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Kensington and Chelsea
Electoral Ward
Brompton & Hans Town
Westminster Constituency
Kensington and Bayswater

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Bild Studios Ltd

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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