Find a TenderPast planning noticePreliminary market engagement notice
Published 29 Jul 2025, 08:24 BST

Official UK procurement notice

UKRI-5027 1894 Main Works

Official notice

Authority: UK Research and Innovation (Central government)

WorksAbove thresholdSME suitable
Planned pipeline value£12,000,000pipeline notice, not a live tender
Tender notice expected 9 Jan 2026from the planned procurement notice
Contract term 2 yrsends 31 Mar 2028 · starts 1 Apr 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) have a requirement for the refurbishment of the 1894 Building at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) in Edinburgh and will be undertaking a preliminary market engagement exercise in advance. We are seeking to procure a main contractor to deliver the full refurbishment works. This follows an earlier phase of early contractor engagement during RIBA Stage 3, where a consultant contractor was appointed to advise buildability and logistics. This project forms part of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS) Pilot Programme and aims to deliver a comprehensive refurbishment of the Category A-listed 1894 Building. The works will target Net Zero Carbon (NZC) in operation while preserving the building’s historic character and enhancing its functionality for future scientific and operational use. The Scope of Works Includes:

  • External Repairs and Envelope Upgrades
  • Conservation and repair of the external fabric
  • Thermal performance improvements to meet NZC targets
  • Internal Remodelling and Fit-Out
  • Reconfiguration of internal layouts
  • Installation of several new lifts
  • Creation of new meeting rooms and spaces within the West Tower
  • Rooftop Extension
  • Small-scale rooftop extension to house a lift and stairwell
  • Sustainability Integration
  • Delivery in line with UKNZCBS energy and embodied carbon targets
  • Coordination with the design team and sustainability consultant

CPV: Refurbishment work

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Planned 2 yrsSME
Contract period: 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 (2 yrs)
Delivery: ScotlandEligibility: SME eligible

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Works
Notice status
Past planning notice
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
29 Jul 2025, 08:24 BST
Last source update
29 Jul 2025, 08:24 BST
Authority reference
UKRI-5027
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-043670
Latest notice
Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Classification (CPV)
Refurbishment work
Delivery area
Scotland (UKM)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-056795 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

29 Jul 2025 → 1 Apr 2026 · 4 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    29 Jul 2025, 08:24 BST
  2. Market engagement302 days ago
    31 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT

    UKRI-STFC with be holding two Supplier Engagement Sessions at UK ATC site on the following dates: Wednesday 20th August and Thursday 21st August. The sessions will last no more than 2.5 hours and a maximum of two attendees from each supplier organisation to register for the sessions. Wednesday's session will start at 1pm (Arrival time to be 12:30pm) and Thursday's session wil start at 10am (Arrival time to be 9:30am). Suppliers will have the opportunity to confirm which Engagement Session they will be able to attend (the same information shall be presented on each day). To book onto the Supplier Engagement Session, please submit the names, email addresses, contact phone numbers, vehicle registrations and the session you would like to book onto to the following email address: STFCprocurement@ukri.org, with the subject in the email being UKRI-5027 1894 Main works- EOI. Please confirm your attendance no later than 12pm (noon) on Friday 15th August. You should bring photo ID with you to ATC otherwise you may not be allowed on site. The full address is; The Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh, EH9 3HJ.

  3. Tender notice expected293 days ago
    9 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
  4. Contract starts212 days ago
    1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    29 Jul 2025, 08:24 BST
    UK2

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Pipeline notice
Awards (0)
No award published
Contracts (0)
No contract published
Bid statistics
No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDQJ-7126-JDHG Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire, South West, SN2 1FLContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure