Tender for the Appointment of an Architect for the International Slavery Museum & Maritime Museum Transformation Project

This procurement is for the appointment of an Architectural practice which will consist of Lead Designer (the Architect) and would work with National Museum Liverpool (NML), our community partners, and other consultants, in developing the transformation project for both the International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum (ISM and MM).

This would entail the refurbishment of both the Martin Luther King Jr Building and the Hartley Pavilion, the creation of a two new entrance structures to facilitate entry to the buildings and a link bridge between both buildings at first floor level.

The external team will work with NML's internal Project delivery team, technical consultants such as environmental, civil and structural engineers, external Exhibition Design Team, and NML's internal and external stakeholders and community groups to co-produce, shape and develop the project by closing out RIBA Stage 3 and guiding the project through RIBA Stages 4 - 7. They will produce all required deliverables as detailed within the full scope of service, Project brief and in the accompanying procurement documents.

Our ambition is to create a new venue of the Martin Luther King Jr and Hartley Pavilion buildings and the two museums they house, that allows both to flourish and achieve NML's vision for them. This transformation will be led by our communities in a co-production approach that will define how we develop our vision. We will do this through refurbishing and developing the MLK as a dedicated space for the International Slavery Museum and its communities with a link-bridge into re-interpreted galleries within the Hartley Pavilion. Alongside this, we will re-interpret the Maritime Museum, which is also housed in the Hartley Pavilion and ensure it achieves its vision as one of the key museums in NML, and create a new, open and more accessible venue for commercial purposes.

The Architect will act as 'Lead Designer' for the project. They will coordinate and liaise with the client team and other consultants for the project. These others will also be contracted direct to the client. The architect will work alongside this team of building design consultants for the services outlined below and in Annexes 3-6 detailed in Document 1.3 (Architects Scope of Services). The Architect shall deliver the services and deliverables outlined in Annexes 1 and 2, detailed in the same Scope of Services document. These are in line with the RIBA Plan of Work 2020.

Further details are set out in the procurement documents.

Currently the scope of this project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). In addition to this funding support, funding applications have been made to several key funders such as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Liverpool City Region and other funding trusts and foundations and philanthropic sources. Accordingly, elements of this project may be funded by external funders upon additional funding being secured. The total cost of the capital project, including all elements such as direct works by NML, the exhibition development, and the enabling and main build, is up to an anticipated £58m. The total value of this contract, which will form a part of this total cost and will comprise the totals fees for the Architect, is estimated at between £0.8m and £1.1m, excluding VAT.

The Contract is anticipated be let until the end of December 2024, with potential to be extended to Autumn/Winter 2028. Please note this is subject to funding and is dependent on NML securing full grant funding for the project as detailed in the procurement documents.

Please note actual contract term and contract value is subject to funding being secured and therefore no guarantee can be given with regards the final value of business to be awarded. Additional information: Currently the scope of this project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Further funding applications are being sought and details are provided in the procurement documents. Accordingly, various elements of this project may be funded by external funders upon additional funding being secured.