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Supply of Storage Boxes

Natural History Museum

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Oct 2026 at 12:14

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Natural History Museum plans to buy collection-storage materials for a new science and digitisation centre at Thames Valley Science Park, as well as for internal moves. The range includes lidded archival-card boxes and trays, lidded plastic boxes, plastic pallets, Plastazote and acid-free tissue. The containers will house Museum collections, including specimens and Library and Archive material being transferred from the Museum’s existing sites. Most boxes are expected to be between 5 cm by 5 cm and 1.5 m by 1 m, although some may fall outside that range. The work is a supply of storage and archival packaging products, rather than a services or construction contract; delivery is associated with the new centre and collection moves.

This is at the planning stage: the Museum has stated its intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It expects the physical collection moves to begin in 2028, with a contract period planned from March 2027 to December 2030. The estimated value is £2 million excluding VAT (£2.4 million including VAT). A framework agreement is envisaged. The Museum is conducting preliminary market engagement through a survey, which it expects to close on 13 November 2026; this is an engagement date, not a bid deadline. No procurement procedure, lot structure, eligibility rules or evaluation basis has yet been set out.

This is likely to suit suppliers of archival storage and specialist packaging products able to provide a varied range of box, tray and protective-material formats, including plastic and acid-free products. Suppliers should be prepared for differing container sizes, with most boxes within the stated range but some possible outliers, and for requirements linked to protecting museum collections over time. Some materials will need to pass an Oddy test, which checks whether they release harmful volatile compounds that could damage or corrode collections; the Museum says it will conduct the test on supplied samples. Businesses with product samples and the ability to demonstrate material suitability may find it useful to respond to the market survey as the Museum develops its procurement plans.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply of Storage Boxes

Notice Description

The Natural History Museum is one of the world's best-loved visitor attractions, as well as a leading science research centre and commercial event space. We use the unique collection of more than 80 million objects we look after and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. The Museum has been awarded a substantial government investment to create a new science and digitisation centre at Thames Valley Science Park (TVSP), which is owned by the University of Reading. This is a once in a century opportunity to shape the future of the Museum, protect and share our unique collection and further our science. The new centre will include large collections stores alongside new specialist laboratories and non-technical workspaces. As part of this development, the Museum will be moving over a third of its 80 million specimens and Library and Archive collections from its four sites to the new site, plus undertaking substantial internal moves. The physical moves are currently scheduled to take place from 2028, with an extensive programme of preparation that has already commenced. The Museum is seeking to procure containers for housing Museum collections. There will be a variety of types and sizes required including the following: -lidded archival card boxes -archival card trays -lidded plastic boxes -plastic pallets -plastazote -acid free tissue

Planning Information

To respond to our survey, please use this link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/ZZdJGRTrwP The Museum is seeking to procure containers for housing Museum collections. There will be a variety of types and sizes required including the following: lidded archival card boxes, archival card trays, lidded plastic boxes, plastic pallets, plastazote, acid free tissue. The majority of the boxes are likely to fall between 5cm x 5cm and 1.5m x 1m, but there might be some outliers. The materials used in some of these products will be required to pass an Oddy test, to confirm that they do not release harmful volatile compounds that could damage or corrode collections over time. The Museum will carry out this test on supplied samples. The survey closes end of the day GMT Friday 13th November 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-079490
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/103155-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

30199500 - Box files, letter trays, storage boxes and similar articles

39221160 - Trays

92500000 - Library, archives, museums and other cultural services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 31 Dec 2030 3-4 years
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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