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ITT - Storage Design and Environmental Requirements Framework for Archaeological Archives in England - UID 369

Historic England

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

05 Oct 2026 at 16:45

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Historic England is seeking research and consultancy services to develop evidence-based storage design and environmental requirements for a proposed National Collection of Archaeological Archives in England. The work will define a suitable national repository model for whole archaeological archives that cannot be deposited regionally, addressing preservation, access and sustainability. It will examine storage environments, spatial organisation, sustainability and repository design, building on an existing options report and work on the operating model. Findings are intended to inform later infrastructure planning, including the business case, cost modelling, building design and site selection. The commissioning organisation is Historic England, the central government body responsible for the work. The proposed repository and its requirements relate to England; no specific delivery site is identified.

Historic England invited offers through an open competition. The tender period was set to close on 2 November 2026 at 09:30, with enquiries due by 23 October 2026 at 17:00. The contract was scheduled to run from 30 November 2026 to 19 March 2027, with an option to extend by three months, to a latest date of 19 June 2027. The stated procurement value is £24,000 excluding VAT and £28,000 including VAT. There is one lot. Evaluation is weighted 65% for quality and 35% for price. The contracting process has reached the tender stage, at which the buyer invited offers.

This opportunity suits research consultancies and specialists able to turn evidence into practical requirements for archaeological archive storage and repository planning. Relevant expertise includes environmental conditions for long-term preservation, spatial planning, sustainable storage, repository design and the needs of whole archaeological collections. Suppliers with experience in archaeological archives, museums, heritage preservation or comparable collection-storage projects are well placed to understand the operational and conservation challenges. The work also calls for clear analysis that can inform infrastructure decisions, including business-case development, cost modelling, building design and site selection. The strong quality weighting makes the quality of the proposed approach and relevant expertise particularly important alongside price. The resulting work is a defined consultancy assignment rather than construction or operation of the proposed national store.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

ITT - Storage Design and Environmental Requirements Framework for Archaeological Archives in England - UID 369

Notice Description

This a visionary project to define the ideal physical infrastructure for a National Collection of Archaeological Archives (NCAA) in England. It addresses the growing crisis in archaeological archive storage due to museum capacity limits and aims to establish a state-of-the-art national store that ensures preservation, accessibility, and sustainability for whole archaeological archives of England where regional deposition is not possible. The aim of this project is to define a best evidence-based storage system for a national store of archaeological archives. The baseline model for such a store has already been outlined in the Options for Sustainable Archaeological Archives Report and is described below. The Operating Model has also been explored. In addition to establishing a vision for a national archaeological archive repository, this project will provide an evidence base for future infrastructure planning, including storage environments, spatial organisation, sustainability, and repository design requirements. The findings will support complementary work on business case development, cost modelling, building design, and site selection.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07811f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093994-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

73210000 - Research consultancy services

92522200 - Preservation services of historical buildings

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£24,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£24,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
2 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Nov 2026 - 19 Mar 2027 1-6 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
Historic England
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 2EH
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Mannington and Western
Westminster Constituency
Swindon South

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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