--- title: "The supply and installation of a fixed-dome planetarium at North Wales Science (trading as Xplore! Science Discovery Centre)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0595ef" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0595ef" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0595ef.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0595ef.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "WREXHAM UNIVERSITY" published: "2025-09-08" --- # The supply and installation of a fixed-dome planetarium at North Wales Science (trading as Xplore! Science Discovery Centre) Buyer: WREXHAM UNIVERSITY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0595ef [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0595ef) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0595ef.json) ## Summary Wrexham University is inviting bids for the supply and installation of a fixed-dome planetarium at North Wales Science, trading as Xplore! Science Discovery Centre. This tender is part of an active procurement process under public authority with a focus on goods within the museum-exhibition services category, located in Wrexham, United Kingdom. The project involves creating an immersive planetarium with advanced AV equipment and software licences for STEAM content delivery. The procurement method is open, and businesses can submit their proposals electronically through the Sell2Wales Portal. The enquiry period ends on 26 September 2025, and the tender submission deadline is 3 October 2025. The project aims for the planetarium to be operational by March 2026, also incorporating necessary building enhancements such as a platform lift and stairwell refurbishment with a contract period starting on 3 November 2025. This tender presents significant opportunities for companies specialising in AV equipment supply, construction, or museum exhibition services, especially those with experience in delivering digital content tailored to educational environments. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate, given the project's alignment with local economic objectives. The contract requires collaboration with construction contractors during the planning and installation phases, offering businesses a platform to enhance their portfolios by contributing to a culturally significant and technically advanced project. Companies that excel in innovative solutions and can offer competitive pricing will find this tender particularly promising. ## Notice Xplore! has recently been awarded Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF)-Transition Fund capital and revenue awards. Xplore! is therefore now looking to create an immersive fixed-dome planetarium with associated AV equipment and appropriate software licenses for high quality STEAM content delivery to a minimum capacity of 30 visitors in each viewing. The planetarium will be the only fixed-dome planetarium in north-east Wales, providing a unique attraction for Wrexham. It aligns with the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act by ensuring future prosperity of Xplore!, its employees, and a cohesive community by contributing positively to STEAM capital for the people of Wrexham. In this way it will provide a platform for Xplore! to develop the personal interest of participants and connect them to the local space industries and potential careers. We have the full support of John Whalley CEO of Space Wales and Rachael Blackburn of Aerospace Wales, with our engagement activities aligning with the needs of the local space sector and associated supply-chain. Our activities will also compliment the activities of Jeremy Howitt at Snowdonia Aerospace, providing a strong link between North West Wales and North East Wales schools, who in time will have access to space-related activities through both organisations. The planetarium will be situated on the first floor of Xplore's city centre building, which is not currently accessible to all. The project will therefore also enable the installation of a platform lift, as well as refurbishing the stairwell, and re-locating the staff offices from the ground floor to the first-floor space. The planetarium is expected to be fully operational by March 2026. It is expected that the planetarium supplier will work with the construction contractor through 2025 and early 2026 to ensure successful completion of the overall project. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054706-2025 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Sep 2025 | | Submission deadline | 3 Oct 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 3 Nov 2025 - 13 Mar 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £185,000 | | Lots value | £185,000 | | 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 | WREXHAM UNIVERSITY | | Locality | WREXHAM | | Post town | Llandudno | | Postcode | LL11 2AW | | Country | Wales | | ITL 1 | TLL Wales | | ITL 2 | TLL3 North Wales | | ITL 3 | TLL34 Flintshire and Wrexham | | Local authority | Wrexham | | Electoral ward | Grosvenor | | Westminster constituency | Wrexham | | Delivery location | TLL23 Flintshire and Wrexham | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products - 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services ### Codes - 39300000 - Miscellaneous equipment - 92521100 - Museum-exhibition services ## Release History - 8 Sep 2025 at 13:54 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054706-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054706-2025 8th September 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=345460 Appendix 1a WPSQ Award Criteria Evaluation Methodology - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=345461 Appendix 1b Sell2Wales Supplier Post Box Guidance - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=345462 Appendix 1c_TechnicalSpecification - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=345463 Appendix 1d General contract Terms & Conditions WU standard goods contract - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=345464 Appendix 1e Planetarium pricing schedule - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=345465 Invitation to Tender (ITT) Instructions - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=345466 ITT Response Document PART A (WPSQ) TEMPLATE - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=345467 ITT Response Document PART B - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Assets/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=345468 ITT Response Document Part C Other Declarations ## Notice URLs - http://www.wrexham.ac.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0288 ## 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-0595ef. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0595ef.json.