---
title: "Fine Art and Object Transportation and Storage Framework Agreement"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02ea28"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02ea28"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ea28.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ea28.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY"
published: "2021-10-08"
---

# Fine Art and Object Transportation and Storage Framework Agreement

Buyer: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02ea28

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## Summary

The National Gallery is currently seeking tenders for a Fine Art and Object Transportation and Storage Framework Agreement, with a total estimated value of £10 million. This procurement falls within the services category, specifically targeting transport agency services for artistic objects. The tender is at the planning stage and submissions must be made by 30 November 2021. The contract period is set to run from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2026, largely covering activities within the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, although worldwide services may also be included.

This opportunity provides significant growth potential for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the transport and logistics sector, particularly those with experience in handling high-value art and cultural objects. Prospective bidders should possess expertise in coordinating complex transportation logistics, as well as knowledge of regulatory compliance concerning the movement and storage of fine art. With multiple lots available covering everything from routine domestic transports to complex international exhibitions, businesses specialising in secure transport, storage solutions, and art handling could greatly benefit from participating in this procurement process.

## Notice

The Galleries require fine art transport agents to provide all services associated with the transportation of works of art between various sites. Works of art may be from the permanent collections of the Galleries or may be borrowed from other institutions, organisations and private individuals. Most movements of Objects are within the UK and mainland Europe but all regions of the world can be included. The Galleries have categorized their transportation requirements into three Lots, which increase increase in complexity, plus a fourth lot for the medium to long term storage of objects The Galleries are committed to ensuring that the works of art in the collections and the cultural objects it borrows are handled, transported, stored and displayed in the safest and most appropriate ways possible, and the successful suppliers shall be able to demonstrate understanding and experience of the handling and transportation of high value fine art objects.

### Lot Information

Land Transportation within Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Transport arrangements involving road transportation only. This may be for simple point-to-point transportation, transportation between different Gallery sites, or a small exhibition. Objects will be sourced and transported by road within UK & Ireland only; transportation shall involve some planning and scheduling considerations. The Galleries expect the Contractor to have expertise in co-ordinating the transport of Objects, scheduling with small-scale projects and provide a range of technical services for museums nationally and to have knowledge of security measures and institutional and private Lenders.

Renewal: on expiry

Routine UK and International Transport

Transport arrangements involving road, sea or airfreight for small one-off or exhibition projects such as international loans involving months of detailed advanced planning, security measures and some scheduling considerations. The Galleries require the Contractor to have expertise in co-ordinating the transport for UK and international loans and exhibitions of Objects; to provide a range of technical services for museums both nationally and internationally; to have knowledge of institutional and private Lenders; and experience arranging supervised airfreight and occasional coordination of accompanying lender couriers. The Contractor shall have the expertise, authorisations and guarantees required to deal with the temporary or permanent import and export of Objects which may be for temporary exhibition, for long loan, study or acquisition, and the Contractor should have knowledge of Customs and export licensing procedures. The Contractor shall act as a Regulated Agent and shall ensure full compliance with the requirements of the Regulated Agent and Known Consignor Schemes

Renewal: on expiry

Three

Transport arrangements involving road, sea or airfreight for major multi-partite international exhibitions (typically involving a high number of couriers - physical and virtual) including exhibition tours or high-profile projects involving many months of detailed advanced planning, stringent security measures, requirements set out by institutional lenders and skilful orchestration of scheduling considerations. The Galleries require the Contractor to have substantial expertise in co-ordinating the transport for major international loans, complex exhibitions with numerous Objects; to provide highly skilled technical services, experienced coordination and technical staff; be well resourced for the scope of work with museums both nationally and internationally; to have extensive knowledge of institutional and private Lenders; and substantial experience arranging supervised airfreight and extensive coordination of large numbers of accompanying lender couriers. The Contractor shall have the expertise, authorisations and guarantees required to deal with the temporary or permanent import and export of Objects which may be for temporary exhibition, for long loan, study or acquisition, and the Contractor should have extensive knowledge of Customs and export licensing procedures

Renewal: on expiry

Four

Storage arrangements for complex and one-off collection moves requiring advance planning and skilful orchestration throughout. The Galleries require the Contractor to have substantial experience, expertise in providing and coordinating storage for a wide range of Objects, as reflected by the broad scope of the Galleries collections and projects. The Galleries require the Contractor to be well resourced for the safe storage, tracking and management of a wide range of Objects, as well as empty crates and packing materials. The Galleries require the Contractor to have facilities which meet museum and UK Government Indemnity standards for the storage and management of a range of Objects or equipment as appropriate. The Galleries require the Contractor to have viewing room facilities as well as sufficient staff to enable audits, viewings including handling and wrapping of works at agreed times and short notice viewings.

Renewal: on expiry

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025275-2021 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Oct 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 30 Nov 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2022 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | on expiry |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £10,000,000 |
| Lots value | £10,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY |
| Additional buyers | HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES; THE NATIONAL GALLERY |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | Central London |
| Postcode | WC2N 5DN |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

### Codes

- 60100000 - Road transport services
- 60400000 - Air transport services
- 63120000 - Storage and warehousing services
- 63520000 - Transport agency services

## Release History

- 8 Oct 2021 at 17:15 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025275-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.hrp.org,uk
- http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk
- http://www.npg.org.uk
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/M6H687E282
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Transport-agency-services./M6H687E282
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-title/5746SPW8JK

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02ea28. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ea28.json.