Official UK procurement notice
Bayeux Tapestry Transport · UK public procurement notice
Authority: British Museum (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionCollection and transport of the Bayeux tapestry from Bayeux, France to the British Museum in London, and its return to Bayeux after the end of its exhibition.
The Supplier will provide specialist vibration controlled transport services, ensuring environmental and mechanical stability throughout the journeys. They will be responsible for all associated packing, handling, loading, unloading, and secure movement of the tapestry.
The Supplier will coordinate and manage all import/export and customs formalities between France and the United Kingdom, ensuring compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks.
The Supplier will provide all necessary personnel, equipment, and documentation required to deliver the transport safely, efficiently, and in line with agreed specifications.
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, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 7 May 2026, 12:11 BST
- Last source update
- 17 Jun 2026, 18:20 BST
- Authority reference
BM.26.032- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-057339- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area in notice
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06932fFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights; Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
The Bayeux Tapestry must be transported in the NOMAD crating system which was developed and tested by HIZKIA France under contract with Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles de Normandie (DRAC) specifically for the transport of the Bayeux Tapestry in accordance with the technical specifications for its movement. The design of the crating system is the intellectual property of HIZKIA France and cannot be reproduced by an alternative supplier.
The NOMAD crating system is holistic and must integrate with specific vehicles owned by HIZKIA France in order to achieve the required levels of vibrational stability and environmental control during transport. The crate housing the tapestry cannot therefore be collected and transported by an alternative supplier due to this technical constraint.
Further to this use of the NOMAD system and technicians provided by HIZKIA France is a condition of the loan between DRAC and the British Museum
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 7 May 2026- Transparency notice published7 May 2026, 12:11 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published2 Jun 2026, 16:51 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected12 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published17 Jun 2026, 18:20 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIZKIA FranceSME12 Jun 2026 – 30 Sept 2027 | €137,043 | 2 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · HIZKIA FranceSME
- Signed
- 17 Jun 2026
- Value
- €137,043
- Period
- 17 Jun 2026 – 30 Sept 2027
- Status
- active
No agreed KPIs: KPIs are not relevant to the subject matter of the contract, additionally contract value is below the threshold where KPIs are required.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- HIZKIA FranceAwarded 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