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Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 6 Nov 2025, 09:44 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition Design

Official notice

Authority: Science Museum Group (Central government)

ServicesBelow threshold - open competitionBelow threshold
Sectors: Printed matter and related products (22)Recreational, cultural and sporting services (92) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Published estimate£50,000≈ £43k / year · £60,000 inc. VAT22.3% above published estimate
Submissions closed 30 Nov 2025awarded 20 Apr 2026
Awarded to Freehaus Design Limited
Contract term 1 yr 2 moends 1 Mar 2027 · starts 12 Jan 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

We are seeking a creative exhibition designer (option to include lighting design services) who will use vibrant, welcoming, dynamic and sensitive design to tell the story of Manchester, cotton and transatlantic slavery. We will explore the role that enslaved Africans played in Manchester’s growth and discuss why this story is relevant to the people of Manchester today, reshaping the narrative of how the textile industry created the world’s first industrial city.

This project calls for the expertise of a designer who can demonstrate an ability to produce an exhibition design that works carefully with sensitive subject matter, bringing together archival content and objects, a limited number of thoughtful interactive exhibits and creative commissions to produce an insightful and inspiring visitor experience.

Please refer to the tender documents for further details.

CPV: Designs · Museum-exhibition services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Awarded 1 yr 2 moPublished value£50,000
Contract period: 12 Jan 2026 – 1 Mar 2027 (1 yr 2 mo)Value: £50,000 exc. VAT · £60,000 inc. VAT
22314000 Designs92521100 Museum-exhibition services

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lot awarding rule: Price + Quality (Option Lighting Services will not scored)

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Below threshold - open competition
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
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
6 Nov 2025, 09:44 GMT
Last source update
21 Apr 2026, 14:17 BST
Authority reference
SIM3827M
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-071489
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
DesignsMuseum-exhibition services
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05db89 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: In-tend · Who buys & how to bid on In-tend
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowed
Access & registration note: Free · one account per buying organisation's portal · reCAPTCHA on signup
Submission deadline
30 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
Clarification deadline
24 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

in-tendhost.co.uk/sciencemuseumgroup/a… ↗

Timeline

6 Nov 2025 → 21 Apr 2026 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published354 days ago
    6 Nov 2025, 09:44 GMT
  2. Clarification questions by336 days ago
    24 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
  3. Submission deadline329 days ago
    30 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
  4. Contract starts287 days ago
    12 Jan 2026
  5. Latest notice published188 days ago
    21 Apr 2026, 14:17 BST

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 6 Nov 2025
  1. Tender notice published
    6 Nov 2025, 09:44 GMT
    UK4
  2. Contract details notice published
    21 Apr 2026, 14:17 BST
    UK7
  3. Status changed to complete
    21 Apr 2026, 14:17 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £61,1451 contract exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 20 Apr 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Freehaus Design LimitedSME£61,145 †—Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract 1 · Freehaus Design LimitedSME

    Signed
    20 Apr 2026
    Value
    £61,145
    Period
    21 Apr 2026 – 30 Mar 2027
    Status
    active

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Science Museum Group

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDTR-3338-MNPG The Science Museum, London, London, SW7 2DDContact name, email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Freehaus Design LtdAwarded supplierGB-COH: 08019536 London Road, West Kingsdown, Sevenoaks, South East, TN15 6ARContact email, phone

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender