Find a TenderClosedTender notice
Published 3 Sept 2026, 15:18 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Science and Industry Museum Wonderlab Group 2 Interactives Makers

Official notice

Authority: Science Museum Group (Central government)

5 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£182,500total for 5 lots · £219,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 2 Oct 2026
Lots 5see the lot list below
Contract term Varies by lotfirst lot 2 yrs from 4 Nov 2026 · see each lot

What is being bought5 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

This tender invites suppliers to bid for Wonderlab interactives at Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. These interactive exhibits will provide moments of joy, fun, surprise and wonder throughout the visitor journey. They should be in keeping with wider, gallery designs which will be overseen by the Lead Designer / Architect. Interactives will embody the gallery’s key principles:

  • Playful – inspires and celebrates active exploration, curiosity, fun and experimentation.
  • Social – appeals to both children and their accompanying adults, sparks intergenerational conversations and encourages sharing discoveries and ideas with others.
  • Inclusive – is multi-sensory, values diversity, strives to be ‘Open for All’ and is accessible to as many people as possible.
  • Inviting – welcoming, with a sprinkling of Manchester personality, intuitive to navigate and empowering independent exploration.

Wonderlab interactive exhibits will be intuitive, easy to manipulate and importantly will not rely on written instructions to function. Exhibits will foster interaction in many different ways but will be based on the inquiry approach to science education, which allows for experimentation, questioning, reflection, open ended play and testing.

CPV: Museum services · Museum-exhibition services

Lots and requirements (5)Procurement structure

5 lots · all with a published value (£182,500 together) · same evaluation weights on every lot
Lot #1Heat Camera, Sound Waves 2 yrsSMEPublished value£50,000
Contract period: 4 Nov 2026 – 3 Nov 2028 (2 yrs)Value: £50,000 exc. VAT · £60,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Lot #2Bubbles, Guess Time, Weight Measurement 2 yrsSMEPublished value£16,000
Contract period: 4 Nov 2026 – 3 Nov 2028 (2 yrs)Value: £16,000 exc. VAT · £19,200 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Lot #3Cloud Rings, Turn Table, Wind Table 2 yrsSMEPublished value£30,000
Contract period: 10 Nov 2026 – 9 Nov 2028 (2 yrs)Value: £30,000 exc. VAT · £36,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Lot #4Build a Bridge, Heightometer, Maze, Sound Tubes 2 yrsSMEPublished value£35,000
Contract period: 10 Nov 2026 – 9 Nov 2028 (2 yrs)Value: £35,000 exc. VAT · £42,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Lot #5Floating Magnets, Plasma Ball, Magnetic Fluid 2 yrsSMEPublished value£51,500
Contract period: 17 Nov 2026 – 16 Nov 2028 (2 yrs)Value: £51,500 exc. VAT · £61,800 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible

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 · same split on all 5 lots
Quality: 70%Price: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Price
  • Quality
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
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
3 Sept 2026, 15:18 BST
Last source update
3 Sept 2026, 16:09 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 20 Oct 2026
Authority reference
SIM4117M/1
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-083563
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Museum servicesMuseum-exhibition services
Delivery area
North West (UKD3)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f17d 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 allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · one account per buying organisation's portal · reCAPTCHA on signup
Submission deadline
2 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
Clarification deadline
25 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

3 Sept 2026 → 4 Nov 2026 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published53 days ago
    3 Sept 2026, 15:18 BST
  2. Clarification questions by31 days ago
    25 Sept 2026, 17:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline23 days ago
    2 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Award decision expected by5 days ago
    20 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
  5. Today
    26 Oct 2026
  6. Contract startsin 9 days
    4 Nov 2026

Notice history

2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 3 Sept 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    3 Sept 2026, 15:18 BST
    UK4
  2. Tender notice published
    3 Sept 2026, 16:09 BST
    UK4

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

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender