Open12 days left · closes midday, Wednesday 25 November 2026

Collections Store Refurbishments - Logistics Hub - Principal Contractor

Natural History Museum · Local or regional public body

In brief

Natural History Museum is looking for suppliers for construction and leisure and events work (London).

The estimated value is £1,000,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 6 months, starting 1 April 2027.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Bids close at midday, Wednesday 25 November 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by
midday, Wednesday 25 November 2026
Bids by
midday, Wednesday 25 November 2026

How bids are scored

Relevant Experience 45% · Management and Coordination of Specialist Delivery Teams 20% · Logistics 20% · Programme 15%

Quality matters most. You can win without being the cheapest.

Competition

Usually high: a median of 9.5 bids per contract for this buyer (from 14 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

The Collection Store Refurbishment (CSR) Project forms part of both the wider NHM Unlocked Programme and NHM 150th Anniversary Campaign Programme, which supports: -The internal moves of 11 million specimens -The moves of 28 million specimens to our new facility at Thames Valley Science Park -The 150th Anniversary Campaign to open previously closed galleries to the public -The sale of our South London Collections facility The NHM Unlocked Programme represents the largest ever move of natural history specimens worldwide. The wider CSR project has been tasked with refurbishing collections stores and rehousing five collections across five locations across the South Kensington Estate in…Read the full description
The Collection Store Refurbishment (CSR) Project forms part of both the wider NHM Unlocked Programme and NHM 150th Anniversary Campaign Programme, which supports: -The internal moves of 11 million specimens -The moves of 28 million specimens to our new facility at Thames Valley Science Park -The 150th Anniversary Campaign to open previously closed galleries to the public -The sale of our South London Collections facility The NHM Unlocked Programme represents the largest ever move of natural history specimens worldwide. The wider CSR project has been tasked with refurbishing collections stores and rehousing five collections across five locations across the South Kensington Estate in suitable collections conditions. The business case for the NHM Unlocked Programme is predicated on limited space and historic, ageing buildings; meaning that globally important specimens are being kept in conditions that hamper access and sometimes fail to meet minimum environmental standards. Moreover, the insights locked up in the collection remain largely untapped. From tackling climate change and meeting the mineral needs of a net zero world, to restoring biodiversity and achieving food security, the collection offers insights into the planetary emergency and how we might realise a brighter future where both people and planet thrive. The CSR Project supports this endeavour. Initially we will be tendering for works on the Osteology Store, this will convert a collections store in the basement of the Grade I Listed Waterhouse Building into a temporary “Logistics Hub” and future end state store for heavy and large specimens coming from our South London Store. As a separate tender there will be a further opportunity to express an interest in tendering for the Main Works package which covers refurbishment works to the other four areas around the South Kensington Estate, including subsequent areas of the Waterhouse Basement (two locations), Darwin Centre Phase 1 and in the Palaeontology Building. This tender relates to the initial works package located in the Osteology Store. The works comprise: -refurbishment and alteration of Rooms B.03, B.07, B.07B-H, B.07J and BC05, -demolition of non-original partitions and raised floors, offices and removal of associated finishes and furnishings (excluding items retained on the eastern wall). -Internal works include the construction of a new security lobby with dry-lined partitions and a powered door, -repairs to damaged fabric and flooring, and measures to prevent pest ingress. -Window and door works including repairs and redecoration to historic partitions and doors, installation of secondary glazing to three north-facing windows, adaptations for building services, and a new powered external door, -Building services works include the removal and rebalancing of existing ventilation systems, strip-out of redundant electrical and data services, and the Stage 4 design and installation of new HVAC, electrical, fire alarm, security, BMS and controls systems. -All works will be undertaken in accordance with the fire strategy, maintaining the integrity of existing 120-minute compartment walls, and will include temporary protection of historic features, cleaning and making good on completion. This phase of the project will initially prioritise the early conversion of the existing basement Osteology Store to a 'Logistics Hub', supporting the sequencing of moves and works in other areas and to reduce programme risk. It is critical that the Logistics Hub is made available early to enable the decant of the Old General Herbarium, the former Origins Gallery, the moves to Thames Valley Science Park (TVSP) and the sale of the South London Collections Facility. Following completion of the decant activities, the Logistics Hub will transition to its permanent configuration and use as a collections store accommodating the Heavy and Large Objects of the Mineralogy and Palaeontology Material Collection. Wherever possible, a 'light-touch' approach has been adopted to support the programme, minimise cost and impact to the significant historic fabric. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Construction-work-for-art-and-cultural-buildings./B5UZ8E6DM5 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/B5UZ8E6DM5

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Submit your bid through the buyer's e-tendering portal: www.delta-esourcing.com.
  4. Send clarification questions before midday, Wednesday 25 November 2026.
  5. Make sure your bid arrives before midday, Wednesday 25 November 2026. Late bids are usually rejected.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 095361-2026
  2. Tender notice · UK4, notice 102479-2026

Last time this was bought

NHM Collections Store Refurbishments- Architect, Principal Designer (BSA) and Sustainability services, RIBA Stages 2-7

Awarded
2 October 2025
Value
£475,000
Bids
10

Matched on Natural History Museum, the type of work and the title; it may be a related contract rather than the same one. Check the notice to be sure.

About the buyer

Procurements

40

Awards

22

Suppliers it has used most for construction

Similar open tenders

All open construction tenders
  1. Care and Support Investment Programme(CSIP) Refurbishment Works at 2 Arlington Road

    The Riverside Group LimitedLondonConstruction, Building maintenance and repairs

    Closing soon12 hours leftSmall contract

    Value not stated
  2. Asbestos Management Framework

    Home GroupNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, ScotlandArchitecture and engineering, Construction

    Closing soon12 hours leftExpress interest8 lotsSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £5mframework ceiling
  3. Asbestos Management Framework

    Home GroupNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, ScotlandArchitecture and engineering, Construction

    Closing soon12 hours left8 lotsSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £5mframework ceiling
  4. Bbv sublot 4 - hsst1020 - saltley viaduct gabion wall

    Balfour Beatty VINCI JV HS2North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South WestConstruction, Highways and street lighting

    Closing soon17 hours leftSuitable for SMEs

    £1mestimated
  5. Hendon Library: School Libraries and Resources Service (SLRS) refit 2026/27

    London Borough of BarnetLondonFurniture, Construction

    Closing soon3 days leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £60kestimated

From notice 095361-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 8 October 2026, last updated 29 October 2026. We last checked for changes on 29 October 2026.