Official UK procurement notice
Art Programme Principal Contractor
Authority: Natural History Museum (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Natural History Museum wishes to secure the services of a Principal Contractor to undertake the build of setworks for an upcoming exhibition featuring art work from Sir John Akomfrah.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 14 Sept 2026, 17:55 BST
- Last source update
- 20 Oct 2026, 15:10 BST
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-099106- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f993Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights; Additional Repeat Extension Partial Replacement
- Published justification
•
Bild is already mobilised on site, undertaking the deinstallation of Our Story within the same gallery space.
•
The services required for Arcadia closely align with those currently being delivered by Bild.
•
Appointing Bild will generate efficiencies and reduce hire costs, as equipment and resources can be utilised across both projects.
•
Through their installation of rigging and setworks for Our Story, Bild has developed proven methodologies for working at height within the Jerwood Gallery. Their familiarity with the gallery's conservation-related restrictions, particularly the limitations on scissor lift size and weight, removes the need for additional familiarisation and planning, enabling them to meet the compressed construction and building control approval programme.
•
The Arcadia exhibition design retains the lighting layout provided by BIld for Our Story, with some replacement of the hardware required. As Bild is already familiar with the lighting specification, power distribution, and installation requirements, appointing them reduces the extent of electrical works required and mitigates technical risk.
•
Deinstallation efficiency at the end of Arcadia will also be improved by having a single contractor responsible for all setworks, both reused and newly installed. This avoids the complexity of coordinating multiple contractors and provides clear accountability for removal and reinstatement works.
Summary
Appointing Bild as Principal Contractor provides continuity of responsibility for proprietary setworks that they own and will reclaim, while also delivering cost, programme, and operational efficiencies through the reuse of existing resources and their familiarity with the site.
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 14 Sept 2026- Transparency notice published14 Sept 2026, 17:55 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published14 Sept 2026, 18:04 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected24 Sept 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published20 Oct 2026, 15:10 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BILD STUDIOS LTD25 Sept 2026 – 21 May 2027 | £273,798 | 14 Sept 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · BILD STUDIOS LTD
- Signed
- 24 Sept 2026
- Value
- £273,798
- Period
- 25 Sept 2026 – 21 May 2027
- Status
- active
No agreed KPIs: Not mandatory
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- BILD STUDIOS LTDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender