Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice

Published 18 Aug 2026, 15:03 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition - Fit Out and Graphics

Authority: Science Museum Group (Central government)

WorksBelow threshold - open competitionBelow threshold

Sectors: Construction & Civil Engineering (45)Recreational, cultural and sporting services (92)Community & Cultural Services (98) Delivery: Delivery location not published

Published estimate£300,000£360,000 inc. VAT

Submissions closed 15 Sept 2026awarded 14 Oct 2026

Awarded to MER Services Ltd

Contract term 6 moends 31 Mar 2027 · starts 28 Sept 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

SMG seeks to appoint a skilled and experienced Main Contractor to provide services including high-quality fabrication, graphics production, installation and deinstallation of the temporary exhibition titled Manchester Cotton and Transatlantic Slavery Exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester.

CPV: Library, archives, museums and other cultural services · Museum construction work · Museum services · Museum-exhibition services · Services furnished by professional organisations

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published

Lot #1Awarded 6 moPublished value£300,000

Contract period: 28 Sept 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 (6 mo)Value: £300,000 exc. VAT · £360,000 inc. VAT

45212313 Museum construction work 92500000 Library, archives, museums and other cultural services 92521000 Museum services 92521100 Museum-exhibition services 98112000 Services furnished by professional organisations

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: Suppliers’ weighted quality and price scores will be added together to reach a total Tender score. Evaluation criteria for this tender opportunity can be found on page 8 of the ITT document.

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: 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: 18 Aug 2026, 15:03 BST
Last source update: 21 Oct 2026, 11:16 BST
Authority reference: SIM4184M
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-078604
Latest notice: Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV): Library, archives, museums and other cultural servicesMuseum construction workMuseum servicesMuseum-exhibition servicesServices furnished by professional organisations
Delivery area: Not published
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e6af 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: 15 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
Clarification deadline: 8 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
Submission channel: Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission: Allowed

Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Suppliers must submit their response via the Procurement Portal (in-tendhost.co.uk/sciencemuseumgroup/a… ↗). All in the form specified in the Tender Response Document and signed by the Supplier’s authorised representative.

Timeline

18 Aug 2026 → 21 Oct 2026 · 5 dates

Tender notice published67 days ago
18 Aug 2026, 15:03 BST
Clarification questions by46 days ago
8 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
Submission deadline39 days ago
15 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
Contract starts27 days ago
28 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
Latest notice published3 days ago
21 Oct 2026, 11:16 BST

Notice history

4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 18 Aug 2026

Tender notice published
18 Aug 2026, 15:03 BST
UK4
Tender notice published
7 Sept 2026, 15:55 BST
UK4
Contract details notice published
21 Oct 2026, 11:16 BST
UK7
Status changed to complete
21 Oct 2026, 11:16 BST

Published amendments (1)

The tender submission deadline has been extended from Friday 11 September, 17:00 to Tuesday 15 September, 17:00.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 1

Awarded value £300,0001 contract exc. VAT

Contracts signed 1latest 14 Oct 2026

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
MER Services LtdSME	£300,000 †	—	Awarded

Contracts

Contract 1 · MER Services LtdSME
Signed
14 Oct 2026
Value
£300,000
Period
19 Oct 2026 – 31 Mar 2028
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

MER Services LtdAwarded supplierGB-COH: 05288588 Unit 1 Gainsborough Trading Estate, Rufford Road, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 7NDContact email, phone

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender21 Oct 2026, 11:16 BST
Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender7 Sept 2026, 15:55 BST
Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender18 Aug 2026, 15:03 BST