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1894 Building Switch Room Architectural Design Phase 1

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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13 Oct 2026 at 10:23

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) commissioned architectural design services for Phase 1 of a central heating and plant building at the Royal Observatory on Blackford Hill, Edinburgh. The design is for an open-air enclosure housing packaged plant units, based on proposals prepared by LDN Architects. The appointment also includes early design work for Phase 2, to establish the overall building arrangement and support integration of the two phases. The scope covers the central plant building and routes for distributing building services across the site; it excludes work to the existing buildings. The requirement is architectural design for a specialist building project at the Edinburgh observatory.

The procurement is complete and the contract is active. UKRI used a below-threshold limited competition. One lot was awarded to CB3 Design Associates Ltd. The contract was signed on 1 October 2026 and runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £34,000 excluding VAT (£40,800 including VAT). The award is for architectural design services. The published procurement data does not set out the evaluation criteria, so the basis used to select the supplier cannot be described.

The award demonstrates demand from UKRI for architectural design that can translate plant requirements into a coordinated building arrangement and integrate phased construction. A credible competitor for a similar requirement would need architectural capability in designing plant enclosures and central heating or building-services facilities, and the ability to coordinate site distribution routes with the overall building design. The work is tightly scoped: it concerns the central plant building and site services routes, rather than alterations to the observatory’s existing buildings. Suppliers able to deliver early-stage design across linked project phases, working from an established proposal and aligning the design so that later construction phases fit together, would be relevant when UKRI next has a comparable need.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

1894 Building Switch Room Architectural Design Phase 1

Notice Description

Central heating/plant building, Phase 1, at the Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh. Design and construction of the central plant building is proposed to be split into 2 phases. Phase 1 (this Appointment) to be an open-to-air enclosure with packaged plant units as per LDN Architects 2024 proposals. This Appointment includes work stage 1 & 2 elements for Phase 2 with a view to establishing the general arrangement of the overall building during Phase 1, pursuant to efficient integration of the phases. This Appointment provides for the central plant building plus building services site distribution routes only; it does not include for any works to each of the existing buildings.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07863d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096396-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71220000 - Architectural design services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£34,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
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, WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN2 1FL
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
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CB3 Design Associates Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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