Official UK procurement notice
QEII Memorial Programme – Bridge Contractor
Authority: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionContracting authority: Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
Procurement title: QEII Memorial – Bridge Contractor
Procurement identifier: 105266
Notice type: UK2 – Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Estimated contract value (excluding VAT): £11,500,000 - £13,000,000
Contract location: London, Inner London West, Westminster and City of London
CPV codes: 45221113 – Footbridge construction work
45221115, 45223000, 45223210, 45223100, 45223110, 45341000, 45432112, 71322300, 45340000, 45000000
Expected tender notice publication: January 2027
Market engagement closing date: 31 December 2026
Procurement contact / portal: DCMS procurement portal
Description of the requirement
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is undertaking preliminary market engagement in connection with the proposed procurement of a Bridge Contractor to supply works in respect of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial programme.
The proposed appointment will involve the specialist design validation, prototype development, fabrication, construction and installation of a bespoke pedestrian bridge forming part of a nationally significant memorial project in central London.
The Bridge Contractor will be required to work closely and collaboratively with Foster + Partners, the appointed lead designer, and the wider design team to support technical design development and validation, prototype testing, fabrication detailing and the successful delivery of the bridge in accordance with the agreed design intent.
The proposed scope comprises the complete integrated bridge package, including:
structural stainless steel fabrication and associated components;
specialist glass balustrades, including their supporting and fixing arrangements;
incorporated paving, finishes and associated interfaces;
structural and fabrication design validation;
prototype manufacture, testing and technical refinement;
detailed 3D and fabrication modelling;
fabrication, assembly, transportation, lifting and installation; and
associated temporary works, quality assurance and specialist supply-chain coordination.
The works will be delivered within a sensitive public realm environment and will require particular attention to architectural quality, specialist craftsmanship, technical assurance, construction logistics, programme coordination and stakeholder interfaces.
DCMS is seeking feedback from contractors capable of taking responsibility for the complete integrated bridge package, either through their own specialist capabilities or through appropriately managed specialist subcontractors.
Indicative timescales
The current indicative programme anticipates award of the Stage 1 Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) in May 2027 and the Stage 2 main fabrication and installation contract in February 2028.
These dates are estimates and remain subject to procurement outcomes, programme development and DCMS approvals. The anticipated duration and completion date of the Stage 2 works will be determined during Stage 1 or as part of the formation of the Stage 2 contract.
Proposed Procurement and Delivery Approach
DCMS is considering a two-stage appointment for the specialist Bridge Contractor, with an initial Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) to support prototype development, testing, technical design validation and refinement, followed by a separate commitment to the principal fabrication and installation works.
DCMS is considering a competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, with an open initial tender stage to encourage participation from the specialist market.
The Bridge Contractor is expected to be appointed initially by DCMS, with the intention of subsequent novation of that contract to the Principal/Main Contractor, subject to agreed contractual arrangements and approvals.
The proposed approach remains subject to market engagement, further consideration and DCMS governance approvals.
CPV: Assembly of metal structures · Bridge-design services · Construction work · Construction work for steel bridges · Erection of railings · Fencing, railing and safety equipment installation work · Footbridge construction work · Installation of metal structures · Laying of paving · Structural steelworks · Structures construction work
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedPipeline intelligence · planning stage: how this market runs before the tender is published
How Department for Culture, Media and Sport buys Engineering works and construction works (CPV 4522), and who usually turns up
Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are kept out: they attract a different number of bids. Whole-market view: Engineering works and construction works (CPV 4522) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Here, local means registered in Greater London.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered in Greater London.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 36 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
Both shares are minimums: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Direct awards or one recorded bid are common here. Check the route before spending time on a bid.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid0%
2–320%
4–680%
7+0%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate71%
Within ±2%14%
Above estimate14%
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1CPV 4522Published estimate£12m
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative. The bar shows 330 past lots.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid13%
2–331%
4–628%
7+28%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
Candidate suppliers for this notice have not been worked out yet, so this is not a verdict that nobody fits.
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
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
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- 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
- 20 Oct 2026, 17:35 BST
- Last source update
- 20 Oct 2026, 17:35 BST
- Authority reference
105266- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-099210- Latest notice
- Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-078c4cFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
20 Oct 2026 → 31 May 2027 · 4 dates- Planning notice published1 day ago20 Oct 2026, 17:35 BST
- Today21 Oct 2026
- Market engagementin 72 days31 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
Purpose of preliminary market engagement
DCMS wishes to engage with suitably experienced bridge contractors, specialist stainless steel fabricators and associated supply-chain organisations to test the proposed procurement and delivery strategy.
Feedback is particularly sought on:
> market capacity, appetite and likely competition;
> capability to deliver the complete integrated bridge package;
> stainless steel manufacturing capacity, fabrication complexity and specialist finishing requirements;
> glass balustrade manufacture, fixing systems and integration;
incorporated paving, material interfaces, tolerances and installation requirements;
the proposed competitive flexible procedure and optional negotiation arrangements;
the proposed two-stage procurement and the appropriate scope and duration of the Stage 1 PCSA;
> design maturity and the information required to support competitive tendering;
> prototype development, testing and technical design refinement;
> design responsibility and the allocation of prototype-related risks;
> the basis for developing and validating the Stage 2 price;
> fabrication lead times, manufacturing capacity and long-lead materials;
> potential early procurement or manufacturing commitments and associated contractual protections;
> the proposed NEC4 ECC contractual arrangements;
> integration with the Principal Contractor and intended novation; and
opportunities to improve technical assurance, affordability, programme certainty and value for money.
Proposed engagement process
DCMS intends to undertake preliminary market engagement in connection with the proposed procurements for the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial programme.
The engagement will comprise a joint supplier market engagement event, followed by an opportunity for interested suppliers to provide structured written feedback through a market engagement questionnaire.
Joint Market Engagement Event
DCMS intends to hold a joint market engagement event for interested specialist Bridge Contractor and Principal/Main Contractor suppliers on:
Date: Monday 9 November 2026
Time: 09:30–12:30 (UK time)
Location / format: Westminster, London (venue details to be confirmed to registered attendees)
Registration deadline: 4 November 2026
Registration method: procurement portal
Attendance: Maximum of two representatives per organisation
Attendance will be subject to advance registration and completion of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
Following registration, interested organisations will be provided with an NDA for execution by an appropriately authorised representative.
Each organisation may nominate up to two attendees. The names and contact details of both representatives must be provided during registration.
The event will provide an overview of the programme, proposed procurement and delivery strategies, two-stage contractual arrangements, technical requirements, programme dependencies and the intended interface and novation arrangements between the Bridge Contractor and Principal Contractor.
Final event details, including attendance confirmation, access arrangements and joining instructions, will be issued only to organisations that have registered and returned a duly executed NDA.
Suppliers will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed approaches.
Interested organisations should register their attendance and identify whether their primary interest relates to the Bridge Contractor procurement, Principal Contractor procurement or both.
Find the NDA available in the DCMS procurement portal, please upload a completed copy via the procurement portal messaging system. To access the DCMS procurement portal follow the information below:
The information and/or documents for this opportunity are available on the Atamis
e-sourcing portal: dcms.my.site.com ↗ You must register on this site to respond.
If you are already registered you will not need to register again, simply use your existing username and password. Please note there is a password reminder link on the homepage.
If you experience any technical difficulties please contact the Atamis eSourcing Helpdesk at [email protected]
Follow-up Market Engagement Questionnaire
Following the event, DCMS intends to issue a market engagement questionnaire to obtain more detailed and considered feedback from interested suppliers.
The questionnaire will contain common questions relating to market appetite, procurement arrangements and programme considerations, together with separate questions addressing the specialist Bridge Contractor and Principal/Main Contractor requirements.
The questionnaire will be made available to all interested suppliers, including organisations that have registered but which are unable to attend the event.
The proposed deadline for written responses is Wednesday 18 November 2026, subject to confirmation.
DCMS may undertake further targeted engagement or seek clarification of responses where appropriate.
Participation in either the event or questionnaire is voluntary and will not be a prerequisite for participating in any subsequent procurement.
Information obtained through the engagement will be used to inform the proposed procurement strategies and will be managed in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, with appropriate measures to support transparency, fair and equal treatment of suppliers and effective competition.
Important information
This notice is issued solely for preliminary market engagement and does not constitute an invitation to tender or a commitment by DCMS to undertake the procurement.
Participation is voluntary and will not be a condition of participating in any subsequent procurement. Suppliers will not receive unfair advantage as a result of taking part.
DCMS may change or refine all aspects of the proposed procurement as set out in this notice, including its scope, procurement procedure, programme, contractual arrangements and requirements following market engagement, further consideration and internal approvals.
Relevant information arising from engagement will be managed appropriately to support transparency, fair treatment and effective competition. DCMS will not reimburse suppliers for costs incurred in participating.
Any subsequent procurement opportunity will be advertised separately through the appropriate statutory tender notice.
- Tender notice expectedin 103 days31 Jan 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 222 days31 May 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Preliminary market engagement notice published20 Oct 2026, 17:35 BSTUK2
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Pipeline notice- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender