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DC1 Solar Wall Principal Contractor

Natural History Museum · Central government

In brief

Natural History Museum has announced plans to buy construction and building maintenance work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The estimated value is £950,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 9 months, starting 2 November 2026.

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

Can I win this?

Competition

Usually high: a median of 10 bids per contract for this buyer (from 9 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

The Museum is undertaking a procurement process to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Principal Contractor with specialist façade expertise on a Design and Build basis for the design, engineering, procurement, manufacture, installation and completion of the works associated with the upgrade and replacement of the DC1 Glass Solar Wall within the Museum estate. The Contractor shall provide all resources, specialist façade design input, management, supervision and coordination necessary to deliver the works in accordance with the Contract, detailed performance specification and Employer’s Requirements. The Darwin Centre Phase 1 (DC1) is a prominent building in the Museum complex visible from Queens Gate in South Kensington and overlooking the newly created and award winning UNP gardens. The replacement of this façade will enable this section of the site to be returned to operational functionality and integrated back into full use. An investigative study was commissioned by the Museum following the failure of three glass panels on the South Facing ‘Solar Wall’ elevation of the DC1. The solar wall was installed in 2002, and the secondary components within façade systems such as these usually have an expected service life of 25 years if correctly maintained.

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. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 085686-2026

Last time this was bought

OGH Beta Principal Contractor

Awarded
25 June 2026
Value
Not stated, or split across lots
Contract ends
31 August 2026

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

41

Awards

22

Suppliers it has used most for construction

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From notice 085686-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 10 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.