Tender

National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings

HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

23 Feb 2026 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

Historic Environment Scotland is actively inviting tenders for the construction of the National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings in Stirling. This project, tagged under the Tender stage, aims to revolutionise the retrofit of traditional buildings using low-carbon materials and methods. The procurement process for this works contract follows an "open procedure," ensuring transparent competition. The centre will function from The Engine Shed in Stirling, with submissions closing on 24 March 2026 at 17:00. The tender is valued at £710,000 and encourages electronic submissions through the Public Contracts Scotland platform. Key project objectives include embodied and operational carbon reduction alongside extensive knowledge transfer activities.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses experienced in delivering complete building solutions. With a focus on sustainable practices, including modular off-site construction and integrating advanced low-carbon technologies, companies specialising in eco-friendly construction materials and methods are highly encouraged to apply. The lab seeks to showcase innovations in using Scottish timber products, aiming to boost Scotland's role as a leader in sustainable construction. This creates an ideal setting for contractors with expertise in using home-grown engineered timber and those interested in contributing to the circular economy within the built environment. Opportunities for knowledge transfer and educational interaction further position this project as a growth avenue for the involved business entities.

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Notice Title

National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings

Notice Description

National Centre for Retrofitting Traditional Buildings

Lot Information

Lot 1

This notice relates to a contract opportunity relating to the building of the Retrofit Lab, which is to be Historic Environment Scotland's new Scottish National Centre for Retrofit of Traditional Buildings. The new building is to be located next to and operated from The Engine Shed, Historic Environment Scotland's National Conservation Centre, in Stirling. HES has been awarded funding from Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through their Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) Fund to establish the Retrofit Lab, a centre for innovation in the retrofit of traditional buildings and the use of low carbon retrofit materials. This project is being developed in partnership with Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST). BE-ST is Scotland's national innovation centre for the built environment, working to accelerate the sector's just transition to zero carbon. BE-ST collaborates with industry, academia, the public sector, and communities to drive research, innovation, and commercialisation, through the adoption of advanced construction materials, products, and technologies. As part of this mission, BE-ST has launched the Mass Timber Centre of Excellence: a dedicated facility to advance the use of homegrown engineered timber in construction, strengthen the supply chain, and promote Scotland as a leader in sustainable building solutions. Project Objectives: The primary role for the Retrofit Lab is 'Knowledge Transfer' and will comprise of the following key components: 1. Welcome: Facilities to support the activities of the building and complement those at The Engine Shed. 2. Learning Space: Focus on improving the energy efficiency of traditional buildings through education, training, promoting best practice and demonstrating practical technical solutions. 3. Equipment Library: Train and educate on how to use scientific equipment associated with retrofit and provide equipment that can be used in other locations to inform understanding of buildings and success of interventions. Therefore, the primary Retrofit Lab activity will include: - Lectures, presentations, classroom learning; - Display, exhibition; and - Demonstration, workshops, interaction with equipment. Project Opportunities: The Retrofit Lab project is to be a demonstrator for 1. Embodied Carbon: - Prioritisation of local and low carbon material specification, in particular: home-grown Scottish engineered timber structure, Scottish timber internal linings and external cladding, Scottish natural insulation products and floor finishes. - Prioritisation of circular economy design and specification: reduce, reuse, recycle; and - Modular off-site construction: prefabrication, designed for disassembly, demountable for reuse, minimum waste. 2. Operational Carbon: - Fabric first approach: High levels of airtightness and insulation, control of solar gains; - Highly efficient technologies utilising low-carbon energy: Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR), LED Lighting; - On-site renewables: PV solar panels; - Provision of battery storage to align the use of solar energy generation to suit demand; and - Responsive Local Controls HES is seeking a supplier experienced in developing and delivering complete building solutions to achieve the project objectives and realise the project opportunities.. HES was granted Planning Permission for the Retrofit Lab by Stirling Council on 16th May 2025, Ref: 25/00141/FUL

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000811294
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB550180
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work


CPV Codes

45000000 - Construction work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£710,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£710,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Feb 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
24 Mar 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
21 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH9 1SH
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM77 Perth and Kinross, and Stirling

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Southside/Newington
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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