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Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire Exhibition Transport

National Museums Scotland

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

19 Aug 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Tender

10 Apr 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Museums Scotland procured specialist museum shipping services for the temporary exhibition Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire in Edinburgh. The appointed contractor is responsible for coordinating lenders, packing up to 82 objects from up to 20 institutional lenders in the UK and Europe, transporting them to the museum for installation and returning them after deinstallation, and arranging courier travel where required. The scope also covers customs paperwork for non-UK loans, secure environmentally controlled and pest-free storage where necessary, and compliance with UK Government Indemnity Scheme standards. This is a specialist cultural-sector logistics and collections-transport requirement, classified under CPV 92521100. The work is centred on National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through an open procedure. One lot covered the full requirement, with submissions evaluated under the stated selection arrangements and no variants allowed. The tender deadline and bid opening were 8 May 2026 at noon, and bids had to remain valid for 120 days. The estimated value was £80,000. The contract was awarded to Constantine Ltd on 19 August 2026 and signed on the same date for £88,360.93. The contract period runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027. Installation transport is scheduled for 5 October to 6 November 2026, with return transport for deinstallation from 19 April to 31 May 2027. Two bids were received, both from SMEs and submitted electronically.

This award demonstrates demand from National Museums Scotland for end-to-end movement of museum loans across the UK and Europe. A credible future competitor would need specialist fine-art or museum logistics capability, including careful packing of multiple objects from institutional lenders, coordinated collection and return journeys, and reliable handling of courier arrangements. Experience of UK Government Indemnity Scheme standards would be important, together with the ability to prepare import and export customs paperwork for international loans. Suppliers would also need access to secure, clean, environmentally controlled, pest-free and GIS-approved storage where required, as well as staff whose names and qualifications can be provided. The requirement suits an SME with the operational capacity to coordinate a multi-lender exhibition transport programme.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

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.

Notice Details

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=AUG562646
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

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

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
£88,360 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
8 May 2026Expired
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
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

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
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
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Constantine Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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