---
title: "Exhibition Design Consultancy"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-051250"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051250"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051250.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051250.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ROYAL ARMOURIES MUSEUM"
published: "2026-05-12"
---

# Exhibition Design Consultancy

Buyer: ROYAL ARMOURIES MUSEUM  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051250

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## Summary

The Royal Armouries Museum, based in Leeds, has successfully completed a public procurement process for an Exhibition Design Consultancy titled "Armed with Hope & Understanding". This procurement falls under the services category, specifically in design consultancy for exhibition spaces. The process involved several planning and tender stages, concluding with the award to ZMMA LIMITED, a supplier based in London. The procurement used an open competitive flexible procedure and is covered by the GPA and CPTPP agreements. Notably, the contract value is up to £2,802,252.72, including VAT, with a maximum contract duration of 93 months, encompassing RIBA Stages 2-7. The contract is structured into various phases, with subsequent phases contingent on secured funding, allowing for descoping as required. The final contract was signed on 5 May 2026 and will run until February 2034.

This tender creates significant opportunities for businesses in the field of exhibition design, particularly those with expertise in managing culturally focused projects. The contract's focus on design consultancy services presents ample scope for SMEs and multidisciplinary teams experienced in creative, innovative, and flexible project execution. Businesses that can offer comprehensive services such as architectural design, project management, museum services, and interactive digital solutions will find this opportunity ideal for growth. Companies well-versed in providing sustainable and accessible design solutions, while adhering to industry best practices, will be particularly suited for engaging in the extensive and phased nature of this project, ultimately contributing to the redisplay and reinterpretation of gallery spaces at a national level.

## Notice

The Royal Armouries Museum established an Agreement for the provision of Lead Design Consultant (LDC) services for RIBA Stages 2-7 with a twelve-month Defects Period, for the Armed with Hope & Understanding project. CONTRACT STRUCTURE: This contract is awarded for a maximum estimated value of PS2,335,210.60 (ex VAT), PS2,802,252.72 (inc VAT) and a maximum duration of 93 months. Phasing and Descoping: The contract is structured in phases. Phase 1 is confirmed at a value of PS106,515 (ex VAT), PS127,818 (inc VAT). Subsequent phases are optional and strictly contingent upon secured funding. The contract includes provisions for the Authority to descope or scale down these optional phases (up to 100%) to align with final funding allocations without this constituing a substantial modification, as the potential for such a downward variation was explicity provided for in the initial procurement design and in the tender documents.

### Planning Information

The Royal Armouries is preparing to procure a multi-disciplinary exhibition design consultancy to deliver a major, phased redisplay of its permanent galleries at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, as part of the Armouries 700 capital programme. To inform the forthcoming procurement strategy and foster early collaboration, we are undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) with interested suppliers.
This engagement invites responses from exhibition design consultancies, design-led consortiums, and specialist collaborators experienced in delivering ambitious, inclusive and collection-focused cultural projects. Through this process, we aim to refine our approach, test market capacity, and promote strong alignment between our vision and the delivery model proposed by the market.
Scope of Engagement
The purpose of this engagement is to:
•Introduce the design opportunity for the Armouries 700 gallery redisplay project (approx. 4,740m² of gallery space)
•Share a draft Design Brief for early comment and refinement
•Gain insight into market capability, appetite, and delivery models
•Invite early feedback on potential challenges or risks associated with the proposed timeline, scope or budget
•Support the development of an informed procurement approach and tender documentation
•To obtain feedback on the draft Design Brief, scope or timeline
•Initial thoughts on potential delivery risks or constraints
Engagement is non-evaluative and non-competitive and does not form part of any future selection process.
Planned Engagement Activities
Suppliers will be invited to participate in the following activities as part of the PME process:
•Virtual Market Engagement Briefing Webinar
Monday 17th June 2025 at 2:30 PM (BST)
Hosted via Microsoft Teams
A live session open to all interested parties, presenting the project scope, procurement timeline, and key requirements. There will be an opportunity to ask questions, share comments, and request further clarification on the design brief.
•Design Brief Distribution
A full version of the draft Design Brief will be sent to interested parties ahead of the webinar to enable informed discussion and feedback.
How to Express Interest
Suppliers who wish to participate in the engagement process, attend the webinar, or submit questions and comments should contact:
martin.hughes@armouries.org.uk
Subject line: PME – Exhibition Fit-Out Design
Please include in your email:
•Contact name, organisation, and role
•Contact details (email and telephone)
•Indication of availability for the webinar on 17th June 2025
Important Dates
•Deadline for Expression of Interest (to attend webinar or request briefing pack):
12:00 Noon on Thursday 12th June 2025
•Virtual Market Engagement Webinar:
Monday 17th June 2025 at 2:30 PM (via Microsoft Teams)
•Distribution of Briefing Pack and Teams Invitation:
Beginning immediately and finishing Thursday 13th June 2025
•Deadline for Feedback :
Friday 28th June 2025 at 5:00 PM
Location and Format
All engagement events will be conducted virtually. Please note:
• All sessions will be held online via Microsoft Teams
• No site visits will be held at this stage of the process
• A preliminary design briefing pack will be issued electronically upon registration
Who Should Respond
This engagement is open to:
•Multi-disciplinary exhibition design consultancies
•Creative partnerships or consortiums
•Architects or interpretive designers with relevant museum or gallery experience
•Organisations or individuals specialising in digital media, accessibility, lighting, sustainable design, or co-creation strategies relevant to gallery design
We particularly encourage responses from teams with demonstrable experience working on high-value, phased cultural or heritage capital projects, including those involving co-creation, storytelling, live performance, and inclusive interpretation.
Future Procurement
This engagement is for information and planning purposes only and does not commit the Royal Armouries to any course of procurement or award. Participation in this process will not affect any future application to a formal procurement procedure.
Details of the tender opportunity, selection criteria, and contract structure will be confirmed in the Invitation to Tender Documents.
If you have any questions regarding this PME or wish to clarify the opportunity before responding, please get in touch using the email address provided.
We look forward to engaging with the market and exploring innovative, inclusive, and sustainable ideas to help deliver this once-in-a-generation transformation of the Royal Armouries Museum.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043623-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 1 Dec 2025 |
| Future notice date | 30 Jun 2025 |
| Award date | 18 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 5 May 2026 - 1 Feb 2034 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,500,000 |
| Lots value | £2,500,000 |
| Awards value | £2,335,210 |
| Contracts value | £2,335,210 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ROYAL ARMOURIES MUSEUM |
| Locality | LEEDS |
| Post town | Leeds |
| Postcode | LS10 1LT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE4 West Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE42 Leeds |
| Local authority | Leeds |
| Electoral ward | Hunslet & Riverside |
| Westminster constituency | Leeds South |
| Delivery location | TLE42 Leeds |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ZMMA |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

### Codes

- 45212310 - Construction work for buildings relating to exhibitions
- 45300000 - Building installation work
- 71220000 - Architectural design services
- 71324000 - Quantity surveying services
- 71520000 - Construction supervision services
- 72224000 - Project management consultancy services
- 79415200 - Design consultancy services
- 79421200 - Project-design services other than for construction work
- 79930000 - Specialty design services
- 92520000 - Museum services and preservation services of historical sites and buildings
- 92521000 - Museum services
- 92521100 - Museum-exhibition services

## Release History

- 12 May 2026 at 15:47 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043623-2026
- 18 Mar 2026 at 16:24 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024809-2026
- 21 Nov 2025 at 16:20 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076176-2025
- 14 Nov 2025 at 10:52 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073864-2025
- 23 Oct 2025 at 09:09 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067697-2025
- 13 May 2025 at 15:06 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020959-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043623-2026
  12th May 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024809-2026
  18th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076176-2025
  21st November 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073864-2025
  14th November 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067697-2025
  23rd October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020959-2025
  13th May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.delta-esourcing.com
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-051250. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051250.json.