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105156 - National Covid Memorial Wall (Design and Build)

DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA & SPORT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Nov 2026 at 14:21

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Culture, Media & Sport is exploring a design-and-build project to preserve the National Covid Memorial Wall, a Grade II-listed 19th-century boundary wall on the Albert Embankment opposite the Houses of Parliament in London. The 500-metre wall carries around 250,000 hand-painted red hearts created by bereaved families and commemorates people who died from Covid-19. The intended work is a physical construction project to support the wall’s long-term preservation as a national memorial and place for reflection and remembrance. The project is being developed with the Friends of the Wall and local partners. The site’s heritage status, memorial purpose and location beside the Thames are central to the project context.

This procurement is at planning: DCMS is conducting preliminary market engagement to test feasibility, supply-chain capacity and commercial delivery options. No tender invitation or commitment to procure has been issued, and the procedure remains undefined. A commercial and technical supplier webinar is planned for 24 November 2026, with a market engagement questionnaire to follow for participating suppliers. The buyer anticipates a construction project, with a proposed contract period from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. No estimated value or budget is stated. The project is presented as a single scope, with no award criteria or supplier eligibility conditions set out yet. Engagement is voluntary, will not affect eligibility for any later competition, and suppliers’ participation costs will not be reimbursed.

The engagement is relevant to suppliers able to contribute to a complex heritage-preservation project combining design, construction and long-term care of a prominent public memorial. Potentially useful capabilities include structural engineering, construction or restructuring of walls, conservation of listed historic structures, and experience working in constrained riverside locations. Suppliers should be prepared to consider how physical interventions can protect the wall and its painted hearts while respecting its Grade II-listed status and significance to bereaved families. DCMS is seeking market input on feasibility, the capacity of the supply chain, structural safety, practical delivery and long-term maintenance costs. Participation requires a signed non-disclosure agreement to access the engagement materials and webinar; participation is not required for any later procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

105156 - National Covid Memorial Wall (Design and Build)

Notice Description

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is undertaking a Market Engagement exercise under the Procurement Act 2023 to support the development of a Design & Build for the potential Tender for the long-term preservation of the National Covid Memorial Wall. The exact procurement process is yet to be defined. However, we anticipate the outcome of the process will be a physical construction project. The site of the National Covid Memorial spans a 500-metre, Grade II-listed, 19th-century river wall along the Albert Embankment, featuring approximately 250,000 hand-painted red hearts created by bereaved families. Site and Policy Context The National Covid Memorial Wall is a series of approximately 250,000 hand-painted hearts on a 500-metre stretch of a Grade II-listed boundary wall along the Albert Embankment opposite the Houses of Parliament. The Wall is a visual representation of all the individuals who died in the UK from COVID-19 and is significant due to its scale, striking red colour, and the fact that it was created by bereaved families for bereaved families. As part of the Government Response to the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, the Government committed to work alongside the Friends of the Wall and local partners to support the long-term preservation of the National Covid Memorial Wall as a national memorial to the lives lost to COVID-19. The Wall continues to provide a space for reflection, remembrance, and grieving for all those who lost a loved one to COVID-19 and serves as a reminder to the country of the scale of loss.

Planning Information

1. Purpose & Overview DCMS is conducting preliminary market engagement under the Procurement Act 2023 to test feasibility, supply-chain capacity, and commercial delivery options for the long-term preservation of the National Covid Memorial Wall along the Albert Embankment, London. 2. Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Requirement Due to the inclusion of sensitive project context, heritage considerations, and draft technical parameters, participation in this market engagement exercise including access to the Supplier Webinar and the Market Engagement Questionnaire is strictly conditional upon returning a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). To participate: a) Register your interest for the project within 'Find Opportunities' in Atamis, then navigate to 'My Proposals and Quotes' and download the standard NDA template available within the project documentation. b) Have the document executed by an authorised signatory of your organisation. c) Submit the signed NDA via the Atamis messaging function. d) Upon receipt and verification of your NDA, DCMS will issue the Market Engagement Questionnaire and the webinar registration form. 3. Commercial and Technical Webinar The Commercial & Technical Supplier Webinar will be held on Tuesday 24th November, 10:00-11:30. This is a virtual briefing session hosted by DCMS Commercial and project leads for interested suppliers. This session will likely cover the context of the memorial and its importance, site constraints along the Albert Embankment, structural parameters, stakeholder engagement, and procurement mechanics. Interested suppliers must submit their NDA no later than Friday 20th November at 4pm to receive the joining instructions. 4. Atamis You can find the NDA available in the DCMS procurement portal, please upload a completed copy via the procurement portal messaging system. To access the DCMS procurement portal follow the information below: The information and/or documents for this opportunity are available on the Atamis e-sourcing portal: http://dcms.my.site.com/ You must register on this site to respond. Register your interest for the project within 'Find Opportunities' in Atamis, then navigate to 'My Proposals and Quotes' and download the standard NDA template available within the project documentation. If you are already registered you will not need to register again, simply use your existing username and password. Please note there is a password reminder link on the homepage. If you experience any technical difficulties please contact the Atamis eSourcing Helpdesk at support@atamis.co.uk 5. Additional Information Important information This notice is issued solely for preliminary market engagement and does not constitute an invitation to tender or a commitment by DCMS to undertake the procurement. Nothing contained within this document or questionnaire or webinar constitutes a decision, commitment, or preferred policy option by HM Government. Any physical concepts, formats, unit sizes, or materials referenced are illustrative examples used solely to test supply-chain capacity, structural safety, long-term maintenance costs, and practical deliverability within public resources. No final procurement decisions have been taken. Participation is voluntary and will not be a condition of participating in any subsequent procurement. Suppliers will not receive unfair advantage as a result of taking part. DCMS may change or refine all aspects of the proposed procurement as set out in this notice, including its scope, procurement procedure, programme, contractual arrangements and requirements following market engagement, further consideration and internal approvals. Relevant information arising from engagement will be managed appropriately to support transparency, fair treatment and effective competition. DCMS will not reimburse suppliers for costs incurred in participating. Any subsequent procurement opportunity will be advertised separately through the appropriate statutory tender notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0795ac
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/103775-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

44212380 - Parts of structures

45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work

45454000 - Restructuring work

71200000 - Architectural and related services

71312000 - Structural engineering consultancy services

92520000 - Museum services and preservation services of historical sites and buildings

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Nov 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 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
DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA & SPORT
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
SW1A 2BQ
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)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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