Tender

Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire Exhibition Transport

NATIONAL MUSEUMS SCOTLAND

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

10 Apr 2026 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

The National Museums Scotland is seeking a contractor for the transport and coordination services related to the "Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire" exhibition. This tender falls under the "Recreation, culture and religion" industry category and is at the tender stage. The procurement process is an open procedure, encouraging electronic submissions. Important dates include the tender closing on 8th May 2026 at 12:00 PM and the award period commencing on the same day. The contract, valued at £80,000, is set to run from 1st June 2026 to 31st May 2027, with services to be performed primarily in Edinburgh, Scotland, within the UKM75 region.

This procurement presents a significant opportunity for businesses specializing in specialist shipping and logistics services. Companies proficient in handling museum exhibitions, particularly those accustomed to managing the delicate transportation and packing requirements of museum objects, are well-suited for this contract. The scope includes coordinating complex logistics across the UK and Europe, adhering to the UK Government Indemnity Scheme standards, and managing customs for international items. This contract could enhance a company's portfolio by associating with a prestigious institution like National Museums Scotland and augmenting business relationships across cultural and logistics sectors.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire Exhibition Transport

Notice Description

The National Museums Scotland ('NMS') wishes to engage a contractor ('Contractor') to co-ordinate and complete specialist museum shipping for the collection and return of objects to the temporary exhibition 'Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire' (14 November 2026 - 18 April 2027)

Lot Information

Lot 1

NMS is seeking a suitably qualified contractor to provide a range of services which include: - Communicate directly with lenders to finalise transport and packing arrangements, including courier requirements. - Supply of packing material and appropriate packing of up to 82 items from up to 20 lenders. - Transportation of 82 objects from 20 institutional lenders based in the UK and Europe to NMS during the period 5 October - 6 November 2026 (install) to UK Government Indemnity Scheme (GIS) Standards. - Transportation of 82 items from NMS to 20 institutional lenders based in the UK and Europe, during the period from 19 April to 31 May 2027 (deinstall) to GIS standards. - Arrange transport, accommodation and subsistence for lender couriers, as required. - Prepare customs paperwork for the import and export of loan material from non-UK lenders. - Storage of loan items in a secure, clean, environmentally controlled, pest-free and GIS approved facility, where necessary, for transportation. - Co-ordination of the above.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000829127
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR553648
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services


CPV Codes

92521100 - Museum-exhibition services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Apr 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
8 May 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jun 2026 - 31 May 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL MUSEUMS 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
EH1 1JF
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
TLM75 City of Edinburgh

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR553648
    Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire Exhibition Transport - The National Museums Scotland ('NMS') wishes to engage a contractor ('Contractor') to co-ordinate and complete specialist museum shipping for the collection and return of objects to the temporary exhibition 'Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire' (14 November 2026 - 18 April 2027)

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000829127-2026-04-10T00:00:00Z",
    "date": "2026-04-10T00:00:00Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000829127",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "org-1",
            "name": "National Museums Scotland",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "National Museums Scotland"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Chambers Street",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "region": "UKM",
                "postalCode": "EH1 1JF"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "y.brownlee@nms.ac.uk",
                "telephone": "+44 3001236789",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer",
                "centralPurchasingBody"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "Body governed by public law",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "08",
                        "description": "Recreation, culture and religion",
                        "scheme": "COFOG"
                    }
                ],
                "url": "http://www.nms.ac.uk"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "org-2",
            "name": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Sheriff Court House, 27 Chambers Street",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "postalCode": "Eh1 1LB"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "url": "http://"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "name": "National Museums Scotland",
        "id": "org-1"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-r6ebe6-0000829127",
        "title": "Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire Exhibition Transport",
        "description": "The National Museums Scotland ('NMS') wishes to engage a contractor ('Contractor') to co-ordinate and complete specialist museum shipping for the collection and return of objects to the temporary exhibition 'Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire' (14 November 2026 - 18 April 2027)",
        "status": "active",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "92521100",
                        "scheme": "CPV"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKM75"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amount": 80000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "submissionMethod": [
            "electronicSubmission"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/",
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-05-08T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2026-05-08T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "APR553648",
                "documentType": "contractNotice",
                "title": "Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire Exhibition Transport",
                "description": "The National Museums Scotland ('NMS') wishes to engage a contractor ('Contractor') to co-ordinate and complete specialist museum shipping for the collection and return of objects to the temporary exhibition 'Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire' (14 November 2026 - 18 April 2027)",
                "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR553648",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "economic",
                "documentType": "economicSelectionCriteria"
            },
            {
                "id": "technical",
                "documentType": "technicalSelectionCriteria"
            },
            {
                "id": "APR553648-1",
                "title": "1. ITT Instructions To Tenderers & Appendix A",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "format": "application/msword"
            },
            {
                "id": "APR553648-2",
                "title": "2. ITT Tenderer's Submission",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "format": "application/msword"
            },
            {
                "id": "APR553648-3",
                "title": "3. Procurement Specifications",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document"
            },
            {
                "id": "APR553648-4",
                "title": "4. ITT Tenderer's Pricing Schedule",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"
            },
            {
                "id": "APR553648-5",
                "title": "Standard T+Cs Goods + Services",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "dateModified": "2026-04-10T15:52:02Z",
                "format": "application/pdf"
            }
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "NMS is seeking a suitably qualified contractor to provide a range of services which include: - Communicate directly with lenders to finalise transport and packing arrangements, including courier requirements. - Supply of packing material and appropriate packing of up to 82 items from up to 20 lenders. - Transportation of 82 objects from 20 institutional lenders based in the UK and Europe to NMS during the period 5 October - 6 November 2026 (install) to UK Government Indemnity Scheme (GIS) Standards. - Transportation of 82 items from NMS to 20 institutional lenders based in the UK and Europe, during the period from 19 April to 31 May 2027 (deinstall) to GIS standards. - Arrange transport, accommodation and subsistence for lender couriers, as required. - Prepare customs paperwork for the import and export of loan material from non-UK lenders. - Storage of loan items in a secure, clean, environmentally controlled, pest-free and GIS approved facility, where necessary, for transportation. - Co-ordination of the above.",
                "status": "active",
                "hasOptions": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-06-01T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2027-05-31T00:00:00Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": false
            }
        ],
        "bidOpening": {
            "date": "2026-05-08T12:00:00Z",
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh"
            },
            "description": "Head of Collections Services to open submissions received to electronic inbox"
        },
        "contractTerms": {
            "performanceTerms": "Refer to tender documentation"
        },
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "otherRequirements": {
            "requiresStaffNamesAndQualifications": true
        },
        "selectionCriteria": {
            "criteria": [
                {
                    "type": "suitability",
                    "description": "Not applicable"
                }
            ]
        },
        "submissionTerms": {
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ],
            "bidValidityPeriod": {
                "durationInDays": 120
            }
        },
        "classification": {
            "id": "92521100",
            "scheme": "CPV"
        },
        "hasRecurrence": false
    },
    "language": "EN",
    "description": "NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=829127. The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx. Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems. (SC Ref:829127) Download the copy of the online SPD document here (to be completed online through postbox submission): https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=829127",
    "links": [
        {
            "rel": "canonical",
            "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000829127"
        }
    ],
    "noticetype": "PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice"
}