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Framework Agreement for the Provision of Specialist Art Transportation Services

National Galleries of Scotland

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

03 Nov 2025 at 00:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Galleries of Scotland established a multi-lot framework for specialist art transportation services. The requirement covers the movement of works and objects for exhibitions and individual transfers, from UK journeys to international and worldwide movements between multiple venues. Services include specialist packing, transport, storage, airport handling where relevant, technical assistance, technical advice, logistics coordination and project management. The four service areas are international and worldwide exhibition transport, UK exhibition transport excluding airport requirements, transport for specialist requirements such as large sculpture or objects containing hazardous substances, and UK single transfers excluding airport requirements. The buyer is National Galleries of Scotland, based in Edinburgh, with work involving its exhibition and loan activity in the UK and overseas. The procurement is for services, classified under art and exhibition transport.

This completed open-procedure procurement resulted in a multi-contractor framework with up to five participants per lot. The submission deadline and bid opening were 12 January 2026 at 12 noon, and the contracts were signed on 3 August 2026. The framework’s estimated value across all four lots is £450,000. Each of the four recorded contracts also has a value of £450,000; these figures are reported separately and should not be added together. Crown Fine Art Limited, Constantine Ltd and Momart Ltd were awarded Lot 1. Crown Fine Art Limited, C’ART, Constantine Ltd and Momart Ltd were awarded Lots 2, 3 and 4. Each lot has an initial 24-month contract period, with up to two further 12-month extensions. Evaluation weighted quality at 60% and price at 40%.

This award demonstrates recurring demand from a national gallery for specialist art logistics across both routine UK movements and complex international exhibition programmes. Credible competitors would need to coordinate complete end-to-end movements, including secure packing, handling, storage, airport and part-load transfers, technical advice and project management. Lot-specific capability matters: international exhibition logistics, UK loan exhibitions, specialist handling of large or hazardous objects, or UK single transfers. Suppliers should be able to provide appropriately qualified staff and demonstrate robust operational capacity for multi-venue work. The procurement also required Cyber Essentials Basic or an equivalent certification, professional risk indemnity insurance, employer’s liability, public liability and cyber liability cover, alongside sound financial standing and relevant professional authorisations or memberships where applicable.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Specialist Art Transportation Services

Notice Description

National Galleries Scotland (NGS) "The Authority" wish to award a multi-lot, multi-Contractor Framework for the Provision of Specialist Art Transportation Services. There are 4 Lots under the Framework Agreement covering the provision of business-as-usual UK movements of works/objects through to multi-national transportation of many works/objects to/from multiple venues across the world. Services will include (but not limited to) packaging, transport, storage, technical assistance, technical advice and project management. Framework Contractors must have a clear understanding of the Contract Requirements and the organisational needs of NGS. For full details of the Contract Requirements, please refer to the associated Invitation to Tender and Framework Agreement documents. There will be no commitment to a minimum volume of work or spend under the Agreement. Mini competitions for Call-Off Contracts will be conducted on an as required basis. Contractors will have no claim against NGS if they are not awarded any work through Call-Off Contracts. There is no commitment to a minimum spend over the duration of the Framework Agreement. Under this Agreement, no minimum spend is guaranteed. It is a requirement that Framework Contractors as a minimum, hold or commit to obtain prior to the award of contract, a valid Cyber Essentials Basic Certification (or equivalent) in place throughout the duration of the Framework Agreement.

Lot Information

Exhibition Transport within the UK (excluding airport requirements)

To provide exhibition transport including co-ordination of the complete logistics package associated with exhibitions from collection from lenders to return at the end of the exhibition for UK loans exhibitions. The procurement will be conducted through the use of the Open (single stage) procedure. A position on Lot 2 will be awarded to the 5 Tenderers who score the highest overall marks in accordance with our Tender Evaluation Methodology detailed within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document. Bidders must complete and return an SPD (Scotland) form along with their tender submission for Lot 2 (and any other lots they are tendering for). Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: NGS reserves the right to issue a contract modification in terms of Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The initial duration of the Framework Agreement will be 24 months, with the option to extend by up to two (2) additional periods of up to twelve (12) months each.

Transport for Specialist Requirements

To provide fine art and object packing, occasional storage and transportation services for works requiring specialist handling and removal (for example large sculpture, works containing hazardous substances etc.). The procurement will be conducted through the use of the Open (single stage) procedure. A position on Lot 3 will be awarded to the 5 Tenderers who score the highest overall marks in accordance with our Tender Evaluation Methodology detailed within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document. Bidders must complete and return an SPD (Scotland) form along with their tender submission for Lot 3 (and any other lots they are tendering for). Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: NGS reserves the right to issue a contract modification in terms of Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The initial duration of the Framework Agreement will be 24 months, with the option to extend by up to two (2) additional periods of up to twelve (12) months each.

UK Single Transfers (excluding airport requirements)

To provide fine art and object packing, occasional storage and transportation services, including part-load transfer where appropriate, excluding airport requirements and restricted to the UK. The procurement will be conducted through the use of the Open (single stage) procedure. A position on Lot 4 will be awarded to the 5 Tenderers who score the highest overall marks in accordance with our Tender Evaluation Methodology detailed within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document. Bidders must complete and return an SPD (Scotland) form along with their tender submission for Lot 4 (and any other lots they are tendering for). Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: NGS reserves the right to issue a contract modification in terms of Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The initial duration of the Framework Agreement will be 24 months, with the option to extend by up to two (2) additional periods of up to twelve (12) months each.

International & Worldwide Exhibition Transport & Single Transfers (including airport requirements)

To provide international and worldwide exhibition transport including co-ordination of the complete logistics package associated with exhibitions from collection from lenders to return at the end of the exhibition, including airport requirements. International & worldwide single transfers, including packing, storage and part-load transfer where appropriate, and associated airport requirements, are also included under this Lot 1. The procurement will be conducted through the use of the Open (single stage) procedure. A position on Lot 1 will be awarded to the 5 Tenderers who score the highest overall marks in accordance with our Tender Evaluation Methodology detailed within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document. Bidders must complete and return an SPD (Scotland) form along with their tender submission for Lot 1 (and any other lots they are tendering for). Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: NGS reserves the right to issue a contract modification in terms of Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The initial duration of the Framework Agreement will be 24 months, with the option to extend by up to two (2) additional periods of up to twelve (12) months each.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000814498
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562775
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

33952000 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

60400000 - Air transport services

60410000 - Scheduled air transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£450,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£450,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
12 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
National Galleries Scotland may re-let this Framework Agreement prior to the end of the initial 24 month period. A Contract Notice will be published circa. 12-18 months prior to the end of the initial period. If not, the option to extend will be used.

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
National Galleries of 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
EH4 3DS
Postcode Area
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
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Inverleith
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
4
Supplier Names

C'ART

Constantine Ltd

Crown Fine Art Limited

Momart Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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