Official UK procurement notice
QEII Memorial Programme – Principal / Main 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 Programme – Principal / Main Contractor
Procurement identifier: 105267
Notice type: UK2 – Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Estimated contract value (excluding VAT): £25,000,000 - £27,500,000
Contract location: St James's Park, London, United Kingdom
CPV codes: 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
45111000, 45111100, 45215000, 45112711, 45233222, 45111300, 45212350, 45212314, 45262510, 45112000, 45111213, 45112100-6, 45112700, 77310000, 77300000, 03451000, 03451300
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 Principal/Main Contractor to supply works in respect of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial programme.
The proposed appointment will involve the management, coordination and delivery of a complex, multidisciplinary programme of construction, enabling works, public realm improvements and specialist installations within St James's Park, London.
The anticipated scope includes:
Enabling works, including site establishment, surveys, site clearance, protection of existing assets, temporary works and associated utilities and infrastructure;
Demolition and removal of the existing bridge, including associated temporary works, protection of adjacent assets, disposal of materials and coordination with the wider construction programme;
Construction of the foundations and associated substructures for the new bridge, including groundworks, excavation, reinforced concrete works, drainage and associated civil engineering interfaces;
Installation of the new bridge, including site preparation, lifting and installation operations, temporary works and coordination with the separately appointed Bridge Contractor responsible for fabrication of the bridge structure, glass balustrades and incorporated paving, with the detailed allocation of installation responsibilities to be confirmed through the procurement and contractual arrangements;
Demolition and reconstruction of existing public toilet facilities, including associated building services and integration with the surrounding public realm;
Hard landscaping, including paving, pathways, groundworks, levels, drainage, external finishes and associated civil engineering works;
Soft landscaping, including sourcing and procurement of plants, trees and other planting materials, ground preparation, planting and landscape establishment;
Heritage works, including the careful dismantling, movement, relocation and reinstatement of Grade II listed structures, subject to relevant statutory consents and heritage protection requirements;
Memorial installations, including coordination and liaison with the appointed artist and relevant specialists to facilitate the installation of memorial statues, sculptures and associated elements;
Specialist contractor interfaces, including coordination with the separately procured Bridge Contractor responsible for the stainless steel bridge structure, glass balustrades, incorporated paving and associated works;
Construction management and integration, including logistics, site access, sequencing, temporary works, health and safety, quality assurance, programme coordination and stakeholder management; and
Completion and handover, including testing, commissioning where applicable, reinstatement, defects management and handover to DCMS and relevant operational stakeholders.
The works will take place within a sensitive historic park environment, requiring careful management of public access, heritage assets, existing landscape features, construction logistics and stakeholder interfaces.
Indicative Timescales
The current indicative programme anticipates award of the Stage 1 Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) in August 2027 and the Stage 2 main construction works contract in May 2028.
These dates are estimates and remain subject to procurement outcomes, programme development and the necessary DCMS approvals.
The anticipated duration and completion date of the Stage 2 construction works have not yet been determined. These will be developed during Stage 1, or as part of the formation of the Stage 2 contract, taking account of the appointed contractor's proposed construction methodology, interfaces with the specialist Bridge Contractor, wider programme dependencies and seasonal landscaping requirements.
Proposed Procurement and Delivery Approach
DCMS is considering a two-stage appointment for the Principal/Main Contractor, comprising an initial Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) for Early Contractor Involvement, construction planning, buildability review, supply-chain engagement and development of the construction price, followed by a separate commitment to the main construction works.
The proposed scope includes enabling works, demolition and reconstruction of public toilet facilities, hard and soft landscaping, relocation and reinstatement of Grade II listed structures, coordination of memorial installations with the appointed artist, and integration of the separately appointed specialist Bridge Contractor.
DCMS is considering a competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, incorporating an initial assessment of supplier capability and a subsequent tender stage.
The proposed arrangements include coordination with the Bridge Contractor during pre-construction and its intended subsequent novation to the Principal/Main Contractor, subject to agreed contractual arrangements and approvals.
The proposed approach remains subject to market engagement and DCMS governance approvals.
CPV: Buildings of particular historical or architectural interest · Demolition work · Demolition, site preparation and clearance work · Dismantling works · Excavating and earthmoving work · Historical monument or memorial construction work · Horticultural services · Landscaping work · Landscaping work for parks · Paving and asphalting works · Planting and maintenance services of green areas · Plants · +5 more
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 Building construction work (CPV 4521), 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: Building construction work (CPV 4521) →
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 bid23%
2–323%
4–635%
7+19%
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 estimate43%
Within ±2%36%
Above estimate21%
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 4521Published estimate£25m
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 31 past lots.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid23%
2–323%
4–635%
7+19%
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
105267- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-099212- Latest notice
- Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-078c4eFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
20 Oct 2026 → 31 Aug 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 main contractors to test the proposed procurement, commercial and delivery arrangements.
Feedback is particularly sought on:
market appetite, capacity and likely competition;
the proposed competitive flexible procedure, initial conditions-of-participation stage and optional negotiation arrangements;
the proposed two-stage appointment and the appropriate scope and duration of Stage 1 PCSA services;
the proposed NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) arrangements for Stage 2, including the pricing mechanism, risk allocation and transition from the Stage 1 PCSA;
the information required to support effective tendering and pre-construction activities;
the Principal/Main Contractor's role in validating the RIBA Stage 4 technical design;
construction sequencing, access, logistics, temporary works and mobilisation;
the proposed overlap between Principal/Main Contractor Stage 1 and Bridge Contractor Stage 1 activities;
integration of bridge prototype outcomes, technical design refinements and fabrication methodology;
the intended novation of the Bridge Contractor from DCMS to the Principal/Main Contractor and associated contractual and commercial risks;
development of the integrated construction programme;
competitive supply-chain pricing, open-book cost development, benchmarking and value engineering;
the feasibility of establishing an appropriately robust fixed-price Stage 2 contract;
risk allocation, early works and long-lead procurement requirements;
social value, apprenticeships, skills development and specialist supply-chain opportunities; and
opportunities to improve affordability, programme certainty, delivery assurance 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 101 days29 Jan 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 314 days31 Aug 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