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Find a TenderPlanned procurementPreliminary market engagement notice
Published 15 Sept 2026, 15:02 BST

Official UK procurement notice

PRELIMINARY MARKET NOTICE PA2023 Armagh Observatory and Planetarium – Appointment of specialist internal LED dome system supplier

Authority: Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (Central government)·On behalf of: Department of Finance CPD

WorksBelow thresholdSME suitable
Sectors: Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment (32)Construction & Civil Engineering (45)Installation services (except software) (51)+1 more Delivery: Delivery location not published
Published estimate £7,600,000≈ £1.5m / year · £9,120,000 inc. VAT
Tender notice expected Date not publishedfrom the planned procurement notice
Contract term 5 yrs 1 mostarts 9 Apr 2027

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Client is currently considering a Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. The anticipated approach is a streamlined process broadly aligned with an open procedure, comprising a single stage covering the Pre-Selection Questionnaire (PSQ) and Invitation to Tender (ITT) requirements.

An optional negotiation stage may be included if further clarification or negotiation is required, particularly in relation to price and other commercial matters.

The PME seeks to obtain market intelligence, technical advice and supplier feedback in relation to a potential procurement for the design, supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of a LED planetarium dome.

Refer to Project context and reference guide for further information including the link (pg.21) to access and complete the PME questionnaire.

Interested parties are asked to log into eTendersNI where the questionnaire is available at the link below.

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=6719157

Please also confirm once you have downloaded and read the questionnaire in the eTendersNI portal.

CPV: Assembly and erection of prefabricated structures · Audio-visual equipment · Electrical installation work · Engineering design services · Installation of cable infrastructure · Installation services of video equipment · Screens · Technical testing services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Lot 1Planned 5 yrs 1 moSME
Contract period: 9 Apr 2027 — 30 Apr 2032 (5 yrs 1 mo)Eligibility: SME eligible
32321200 Audio-visual equipment32351200 Screens45223800 Assembly and erection of prefabricated structures45310000 Electrical installation work45314300 Installation of cable infrastructure51314000 Installation services of video equipment

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Works
Notice status
Planned procurement
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
No (one-off requirement)
First published
15 Sept 2026, 15:02 BST
Last source update
15 Sept 2026, 15:02 BST
Authority reference
6719157
Latest notice
Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Classification (CPV)
Assembly and erection of prefabricated structuresAudio-visual equipmentElectrical installation workEngineering design servicesInstallation of cable infrastructureInstallation services of video equipmentScreensTechnical testing services
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f414

How it was run

Submission deadline
—

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London
  1. Planning notice published11 days ago
    8 Sept 2026, 08:47 BST
  2. Latest notice published4 days ago
    15 Sept 2026, 15:02 BST
  3. Market engagementin 7 days
    25 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
    The PME seeks to obtain market intelligence, technical advice and supplier feedback in relation to a potential procurement for the design, supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of a LED planetarium dome. Refer to Project context and reference guide for further information including the more…link (pg.21) to access and complete the PME questionnaire. Interested parties are asked to log into eTendersNI where the questionnaire is available at the link below. https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=6719157 Please also confirm once you have downloaded and read the questionnaire in the eTendersNI portal.
  4. Contract startsin 202 days
    9 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

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

Notice history

3 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 Sept 2026
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    15 Sept 2026, 15:02 BSTUK2
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    8 Sept 2026, 12:05 BSTUK2
  3. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    8 Sept 2026, 08:47 BSTUK2
Published amendments (2)

Link to questionnaire on eTendersNI

Closing date now changed till 25th September at 3pm.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

3 public bodies on the notice

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PVYM-5293-DQVR College Hill, Armagh, Northern Ireland, BT61 9DB
View buyer profile →

Other public bodies

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure