Upcoming

Gallery 33 - Principal Contractor

Natural History Museum · Central government

In brief

Natural History Museum has announced plans to buy construction and leisure and events 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 £1,400,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 8 months, starting 4 January 2027.

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

In September 2027, we will open a new, permanent gallery at South Kensington dedicated to building a positive connection to nature in our very youngest audiences - aged 4-7 years old - and their adults. This brand-new gallery will be a place where visitors delight in the dazzling variety of life on Earth, from the very small to the very tall, and discover that all life – including us! – share the same needs. We all need to breathe, eat, move, communicate and grow to survive and often depend on each other to do this. Together, we are all part of this great, big, weird and wonderful natural world. It will deliver inspiring stories that celebrate diversity and welcome in the widest possible…Read the full description
In September 2027, we will open a new, permanent gallery at South Kensington dedicated to building a positive connection to nature in our very youngest audiences - aged 4-7 years old - and their adults. This brand-new gallery will be a place where visitors delight in the dazzling variety of life on Earth, from the very small to the very tall, and discover that all life – including us! – share the same needs. We all need to breathe, eat, move, communicate and grow to survive and often depend on each other to do this. Together, we are all part of this great, big, weird and wonderful natural world. It will deliver inspiring stories that celebrate diversity and welcome in the widest possible audience of children and their adults. It will combine our world-leading collections, with hands-on and multi-sensory interactives that evoke joy, empathy and care. This project supports our Strategy and Mission to 2031 and our vision of a future where both people and the planet thrive, with a mission to create advocates for the planet. By appealing to visitors’ sense of kindness, their curiosity, and their imagination, this gallery will lay the foundations of advocacy for nature at a young age, foster a lifelong appreciation of the natural world and build a positive connection to nature in early childhood. Gallery 33 (working title) will replace the current Creepy Crawlies gallery on the ground floor the Grade 1 listed Waterhouse East Building and refurbishing the space for the new exhibition. It will open in September 2027 as a free, permanent gallery, and is expected to welcome millions of visitors over a 25-year lifespan. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a new gallery which positions children at the heart of our Museum and inspire the next generation of children to start their lifelong journey of advocacy for the planet. The Natural History Museum wishes to secure the services of a Principal Contractor to undertake the exhibition fit-out, including sub-contracting the services of an AV Integrator and specialist showcase manufacturer.

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 086415-2026
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 086793-2026

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. Check the notice to be sure.

About the buyer

Procurements

28

Awards

19

Suppliers it has used most for construction

Similar open tenders

All open construction tenders
  1. IMAX Escalator Refurbishment

    Science Museum GroupLondonLifts and escalators, Construction

    Closing soon4 hours leftSmall contract

    £105kestimated
  2. Fire Safety and Planned Programme Works (Interim)

    Harlow CouncilLondonConstruction

    Closing soon43 hours left

    £15mestimated
  3. For the Provision of Surfacing Works

    LondonEnergy LtdLondonConstruction, Highways and street lighting

    Closing soon2 days left

    £100kestimated
  4. Stansfield Road SuDS Project, Construction partner

    London Borough of HounslowLondonConstruction

    Closing soon3 days leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £275kestimated
  5. Automatic Fire Detection and Associated Equipment Installation, Maintenance and Reactive Repair at Windsor and London Estates

    The Royal HouseholdLondonFire safety, Construction

    Closing soon4 days leftSuitable for SMEs

    £8mestimated

From notice 086415-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 11 September 2026, last updated 14 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.