---
title: "Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition - Fit Out and Graphics"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e6af"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e6af"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e6af.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e6af.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Science Museum Group"
published: "2026-08-18"
---

# Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition - Fit Out and Graphics

Buyer: Science Museum Group  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e6af

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## Summary

The Science Museum Group is procuring a main contractor for the fit-out and graphics of the temporary Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. The work covers high-quality fabrication, graphics production, installation and deinstallation of the exhibition. It is a works contract involving museum construction and exhibition services, including professional organisation services. The appointed contractor will therefore need to deliver physical exhibition elements as well as associated graphics and installation activity at the Manchester museum. The requirement is suited to a specialist exhibition fit-out contractor able to manage the complete delivery and later removal of a temporary museum exhibition.

The procurement has reached tender: the Science Museum Group invited offers through an open, below-threshold competition. There is one lot. The overall estimated value is £300,000 excluding VAT, or £360,000 including VAT; the lot record separately gives a value of AED 300,000. The contract period set out for the lot runs from 28 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. Potential suppliers could submit enquiries until 8 September 2026 at 5:00pm, and offers were due by 11 September 2026 at 5:00pm. Responses had to be submitted electronically through the Science Museum Group Procurement Portal, using the required Tender Response Document and signed by an authorised representative. Evaluation combines weighted quality and price scores, with detailed criteria in the invitation to tender.

This opportunity suits an experienced main contractor specialising in museum, gallery or exhibition fit-outs, particularly businesses combining fabrication, graphics production, installation and deinstallation under one delivery team. Suppliers should be able to produce high-quality bespoke exhibition components, coordinate graphic outputs and install them safely and accurately within a working museum environment. The temporary nature of the exhibition also requires the capability to plan and carry out an orderly later deinstallation, including removal of the installed displays. Contractors with relevant experience delivering cultural, heritage or public-facing exhibition projects will be well placed to demonstrate the required quality and professional competence. The buyer will assess both quality and price, so bidders need a credible delivery approach as well as competitive commercial pricing.

## Notice

SMG seeks to appoint a skilled and experienced Main Contractor to provide services including high-quality fabrication, graphics production, installation and deinstallation of the temporary exhibition titled Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078604-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 11 Sep 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 28 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £300,000 |
| Lots value | £300,000 |
| 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 | Science Museum Group |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | South West London |
| Postcode | SW7 2DD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI33 Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham |
| Local authority | Kensington and Chelsea |
| Electoral ward | Brompton & Hans Town |
| Westminster constituency | Kensington and Bayswater |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work
- 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 45212313 - Museum construction work
- 92500000 - Library, archives, museums and other cultural services
- 92521000 - Museum services
- 92521100 - Museum-exhibition services
- 98112000 - Services furnished by professional organisations

## Release History

- 18 Aug 2026 at 15:03 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078604-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078604-2026
  18th August 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/sciencemuseumgroup/aspx/Home
- 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-06e6af. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e6af.json.