Official UK procurement notice
Building and Refurbishment Services for Planetarium, Including Lift and Kitchen Installations
Authority: Wrexham University (Education)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionAt Xplore! Science Discovery Centre, we are embarking on a bold redevelopment programme—Xplore! 2.0—to transform our facility into a dynamic hub for science, technology, engineering, the arts, and maths (STEAM) education. Through a phased approach, supported by the Shared Prosperity Fund and the Moondance Foundation, we will deliver new facilities that broaden access, raise aspirations, and strengthen the skills pipeline in Wales.
Phase 1 will establish the only fixed-dome planetarium in north-east Wales, alongside essential accessibility upgrades. Phase 2 will create LaunchPADLansio, a dedicated early years STEAM space, together with a redesigned café and kitchen to support families. Collectively, these developments will provide a step-change in our capacity to deliver impactful, inclusive, and future-focused STEAM learning experiences for our community and beyond.
Phase 1: Planetarium and Accessibility Upgrades. Tender-focus: Planetarium room build, office relocation, stairwell refurbishment and lift installation
Phase 1, funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Transition Fund, will deliver a fixed-dome planetarium equipped with advanced AV technology and licensed software to provide high-quality STEAM experiences for groups of up to 30 visitors per session. Supply and installation of the planetarium are part of a separate tender package.
To ensure full accessibility, Phase 1 also includes the installation of a platform lift, stairwell refurbishment, and relocation of staff offices to the first floor. The planetarium is expected to be fully operational by March 2026, with coordinated delivery between contractors and planetarium suppliers.
Phase 2 – Early Years STEAM and Café Redevelopment. Tender-focus: LaunchPADLansio room build, kitchen installation and café redesign and installation
Phase 2, funded by the Moondance Foundation, will establish LaunchPADLansio, a 212m² immersive STEAM exhibition space designed specifically for under 5s. The space will spark curiosity, foster imagination, and support early cognitive, communication, and social development. It is underpinned by the Wales Early Years Framework and Curriculum for Wales (Progression Step 1), with a focus on learning through play.
This phase also includes a kitchen upgrade and café redesign, creating a welcoming hub for families. Interactive elements such as planet domes and space-themed exhibits in the café will extend the learning experience in informal settings, connecting families to STEAM themes beyond the gallery.
CPV: Construction work · Installation services (except software) · Kitchen furniture and equipment · Repair and maintenance services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£800,000
- Condition of participation
The Authority has set out the conditions of participation details in Appendix 1a WPSQ & Award Criteria Evaluation Methodology – WPSQ Tab and “Question Outcome” Column which refers to Pass / Fail participation criteria.
In order to facilitate the Authority's assessment of a Participant's economic and financial standing, the Authority will assess the Participant’s Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Risk of Failure score which needs to be 50 or more in order to have an initial Pass. Failure to obtain a 50 or more D&B Risk of Failure score will result in the Authority’s Accountants undertaking further analysis using solvency ratios and profitability ratios etc as defined in the WPSQ Supplier Guidance. Participants are asked to provide information on their two most recent accounts, and upon request, provide copies of the most recent audited accounts or up to date financial statements where full audited accounts cannot be provided. The minimum criteria are set out in the WPSQ and Appendix 1a. The Authority may require further information from a Participant in order to consider if the Participant presents an unacceptable level of financial risk.
Participants must achieve at least the minimum pass score for all questions. Any Participant that does not achieve the minimum pass score for any WPSQ question will be excluded at Stage 1 Phase 3 and its submission will not be further considered for the award of the Contract.
Further instructions on what Participants should consider in relation to their response on financial standing is set out in the WPSQ and Appendix 1.
The WPSQ acts as a self-declaration for Participants. The Preferred Bidder will be required to provide all requested certificates and documentation before being awarded the Contract. However, the Authority can ask any Participant to submit their evidence at any point in the procurement process, if this is necessary, to ensure that the process is carried out properly and in a timeous manner to meet with the procurement’s programme requirements.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (3)
- Price: Please provide pricing cost details for the optional requirements as detailed within the Optional Items line in technical specification. The University is not obliged to purchase these items but are optional items that may be purchased depending on budget availability and competitive nature of the pricing. The prices should be as follows: For any United Kingdom based Economic Operators the Pricing for Appendix 1e should be in British pound sterling and shall be inclusive of VAT at 20% and include all other Taxes and Tariffs, where applicable. For any Economic Operators based outside the United Kingdom the Pricing for Appendix 1e should be in British pounds sterling and shall include all applicable Taxes and Tariffs. In order to account for VAT we may have to pay import VAT on goods. For supplies of services from outside the UK we must account for VAT under the reverse charge procedure. The University will need to add Value Added Tax at 20% to the Total Cost of the bid submitted, which must come within the total budget disclosed.
- Quality: Technical/Quality is divided into sub-quality weightings as per the ITT tender pack
- Social Value
- Condition of participation
The Authority has set out the conditions of participation details in Appendix 1a WPSQ & Award Criteria Evaluation Methodology – WPSQ Tab and “Question Outcome” Column which refers to Pass / Fail participation criteria.
In order to facilitate the Authority's assessment of a Participant's economic and financial standing, the Authority will assess the Participant’s Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Risk of Failure score which needs to be 50 or more in order to have an initial Pass. Failure to obtain a 50 or more D&B Risk of Failure score will result in the Authority’s Accountants undertaking further analysis using solvency ratios and profitability ratios etc as defined in the WPSQ Supplier Guidance. Participants are asked to provide information on their two most recent accounts, and upon request, provide copies of the most recent audited accounts or up to date financial statements where full audited accounts cannot be provided. The minimum criteria are set out in the WPSQ and Appendix 1a. The Authority may require further information from a Participant in order to consider if the Participant presents an unacceptable level of financial risk.
Participants must achieve at least the minimum pass score for all questions. Any Participant that does not achieve the minimum pass score for any WPSQ question will be excluded at Stage 1 Phase 3 and its submission will not be further considered for the award of the Contract.
Further instructions on what Participants should consider in relation to …
- Price carries 65 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 6.5 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Below threshold - open competition
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Works
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- 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
- 8 Oct 2025, 12:15 BST
- Last source update
- 8 Oct 2025, 12:15 BST
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-063247- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05aa69Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 2 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 21 Oct 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
Submission via the Sell 2 Wales portal: www.sell2wales.gov.wales ↗. Please ensure you are familiar with how to submit your tender before the deadline (instructions available in Appendix 1b). Please ensure you submit the tender, do not leave it in a 'draft' or 'saved' state.
Timeline
8 Oct 2025 → 15 Dec 2025 · 4 dates- Tender notice published379 days ago8 Oct 2025, 12:15 BST
- Clarification questions by366 days ago21 Oct 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission deadline354 days ago2 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Contract starts312 days ago15 Dec 2025
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published8 Oct 2025, 12:15 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (13)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Appendix 1e
- Bidding documents and specifications ITT Response Document (C)
- Technical specifications Specifications available via this Dropbox link, also accessible in Schedule 5 of the ITT
- Bidding documents and specifications Invitation to Tender.
- Bidding documents and specifications ITT Response Document Part (A) (WPSQ) Template
- Bidding documents and specifications ITT Response Document (B)
- Bidding documents and specifications Tender Invitation Letter
- Bidding documents and specifications Form of Tender
Show 4 more documents
- Bidding documents and specifications Appendix 1a
- Bidding documents and specifications Appendix 1b
- Bidding documents and specifications Appendix 1d
- Bidding documents and specifications Appendix 1c
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender