--- title: "Construction of a new laboratory building (Holt 2 Lab), designed and built to operate at Containment Level 3 (CL3) standards" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-067e4a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067e4a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067e4a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067e4a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "FORESTRY COMMISSION" published: "2026-04-08" --- # Construction of a new laboratory building (Holt 2 Lab), designed and built to operate at Containment Level 3 (CL3) standards Buyer: FORESTRY COMMISSION Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-067e4a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067e4a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067e4a.json) ## Summary The Forestry Commission is inviting tenders for the construction of a new laboratory building, "Holt 2 Lab," at their Alice Holt Research Station in Farnham, Surrey, UK. This facility, designed to operate at Containment Level 3 (CL3) standards, aims to expand research capabilities for tree pests and pathogens. This active tender stage requires submissions by 6th May 2026, with the Tender Invitation anticipated around mid-July 2026. Enquiries are open until 28th April 2026. The project spans a contract period from January 2027 to March 2029. The tender is being carried out under a competitive flexible procedure, seeking a fixed lump sum priced contract with a focus on both quality and cost. Key documents include detailed design plans provided at RIBA Stage 4. This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, particularly for firms experienced in laboratory building construction and environmental sustainability. With a gross value of £20 million, companies with a strong financial and operational background in infrastructure projects, aligning with BREEAM Excellent standards, are well-suited. The contract necessitates robust public liability and professional indemnity insurances, reflecting the project's complexity and scale. Firms with prior experience as Principal Contractors under CDM Regulations and a certified Quality Management System (ISO9001:2015) will find themselves advantaged in meeting the selection criteria for this substantial public authority project. ## Notice SCOPE OF WORKS: Construction of a new laboratory building designed and built to operate at Containment Level 3 (CL3), on a greenfield site within the existing boundary of Forest Research's Alice Holt Research Station in Farnham, Surrey, UK. The new 'Holt 2' research facility will be a purpose-built expansion of existing facilities at Forest Research's Alice Holt Research Station, designed to significantly enhance the UK's capability and capacity to study tree pests and pathogens in controlled environments. The new facility will significantly increase the capacity of the existing Holt 1 containment laboratory. Full specifications will be provided in the Specification Documents once the Invitation to Tender is released. The project overview document is attached to this notice. CONTRACT STRATEGY: Traditional construction works, turnkey contract (Client-supplied detailed design & specification) on a fixed lump sum basis using the NEC4 ECC Main Option A - Priced contract with Activity Schedule. Performance Bond (10%), and Parent Company Guarantees (where applicable). Liquidated damages for delay are anticipated to be set at PS700 per day, subject to confirmation in the ITT. DESIGN STRATEGY: At the time of issuing the ITT, detailed design and specification for all elements (RIBA Stage 4) will have been completed (and included in the ITT); the appointed turnkey contractor will take responsibility from, and progress from, the start of RIBA Stage 5 onwards. It is anticipated that the ITT may include an option (or alternative) for the novation of client-supplied designs to the turnkey contractor. Note that certain proprietary equipment and supply chain requirements will be specified within the ITT where necessary to meet technical and operational requirements of the contract works. The new building is required to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, demonstrating a high standard of environmental performance and sustainability. Note: A Planning Application has been submitted for this build. The contract scope includes all works and services required to deliver the laboratory as a fully operational, CL3-validated containment facility, as outlined above, on a turnkey basis. This includes traditional building construction works--such as foundations, structural steelwork, cladding, building services and landscaping--as well as specialist laboratory and containment facility works. Included with this Notice are the following documents and drawings, which provide further information on the location and the overall laboratory building structure: 1.3434001 A (Location Plan) 2.3434009 (Proposed Block Plan) 3.3434010 D (Proposed Ground Floor Plan) 4.3434011 D (Proposed First Floor Plan) 5.3434012 C (Proposed Roof Plan) 6.3434015 B (Proposed North Elevation) 7.3434016 B (Proposed South Elevation) 8.3434017 A (Proposed East Elevation) 9.3434018 A (Proposed West Elevation) 10.8492PLGA110 (Proposed Site Plan) 11.G28553PERHL2XXDRS06001 P04 12.G28553PERHL2XXDRS06002 P04 13.Holt 2 project overview for tender - rev01 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032066-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Apr 2026 | | Submission deadline | 28 Apr 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 4 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £16,666,667 | | Lots value | £16,666,667 | | 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 | FORESTRY COMMISSION | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | BS16 1EJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire | | Local authority | South Gloucestershire | | Electoral ward | Stoke Park & Cheswick | | Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 45 - Construction work ### Codes - 45214610 - Laboratory building construction work ## Release History - 8 Apr 2026 at 14:42 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032066-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032066-2026 8th April 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-14398 ## Notice URLs - https://app.panacea-software.com/ForestryCommission/eRFX-Suppliers/OpenReq.aspx?requirementId=437958a9-fb02-4edf-b218-d06bff93c6e2 - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forestry-commission - 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-067e4a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067e4a.json.