Opportunities Hub: Find work worth the bidding

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Contract

CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY SERVICES DPS 2025-29

Social housing consortium EN Procure has set up a multi-lot dynamic purchasing system for UK-wide projects

Deadline: 11.55pm, 23 February 2029

According to the specification, projects under the agreement will cover ‘building and environmental work, including new-build, refurbishment, infrastructure, demolition, temporary and maintenance and environmental improvement projects and/or works’.

EN Procure is the procurement arm of Sheffield-based social housing landlord consortium Efficiency North. It specialises in the procurement of goods, works and services for the construction and maintenance of social housing properties as well as other property types owned or managed by its members.

Current members include Accent Housing, Calderdale Council, City of York Council, Guinness Partnership, Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, Lincolnshire Housing Partnership, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, One Manchester, Sevenoaks District Council, and Wokingham Borough Council.

There are 17 lots, covering services from employer’s agent and quantity surveying to clerk of works and retrofit co-ordination. Lot 3 is for architectural services; Lots 7 and 8 for principal designer services (CDM and BSA); and Lot 17 for multidisciplinary services. Tenders may be submitted for all lots and consultants can select the specific regions where they are active.

According to the spec, there is no limit to the number of bidders who may be admitted to the DPS and applicants can apply to join at any time during its four-year lifetime via a series of rounds.

Call-offs will be by competition with all consultants on the relevant lot. Evaluation criteria and weightings will be released at contract competition stage.

Procedure Restricted procedure: selection questionnaires followed by invitations to tender.

Location UK-wide.

Other dates Next round of applications, 5 May 2025. Expiry of DPS term, 23 February 2029.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Curtis Evans, 0330 606 1460, tenders@efficiencynorth.org

Project competition

LFA ‘SQUARE’ CAMDEN HIGH STREET CONTEST

Reframe the concept of the public square during the 18-month pedestrianisation of a busy north London thoroughfare

Deadline 12 noon, 15 May 2025

The London Festival of Architecture (LFA), in partnership with the London Borough of Campden, is looking for design ideas for a motor traffic-free zone that will be trialled in 2024-2025.

Camden High Street is a busy shopping and transport hub which, at peak times, can have up to 40,000 visitors. The area around Camden Town tube station is a gateway to Camden Lock and its markets.

‘The vision is to create a welcoming place for resting, eating and capturing the natural spill-out from nearby businesses,’ say the organisers. The site includes chain cafes and restaurants, the independent food stalls of Box Park and the area around the Bucks Head pub.

According to the brief, the competition ‘seeks to bring together creative design thinking and innovative public realm interventions that activate [a] pedestrianised space - bringing people together, encouraging cultural and social activities and prompting dialogue about its future’.

Proposals should ‘respond to the theme of “Square” - reinterpreting the concept spatially, socially or playfully to foster meaningful connections between people and place’… [and] imaginatively respond to the extra space gained through the road closure’. Designs should be bold, visually striking and reflect the area’s cultural diversity, subcultural heritage and ‘global-local connections’.

Suggested elements for inclusion are resting spaces, temporary greening, parklets, public art and wayfinding. They should all be robust enough to be in the public realm for at least 12 months.

The contest is part of LFA’s Camden High Street Cultural Programme that will run from May 2025 to April 2026.

Alongside design and delivery, the winning team will be expected to consult with the London Borough of Camden, local residents and businesses, and community and cultural organisations.

The winning design will be installed this autumn and remain in place for at least 12 months.

The LFA, now in its 20th year, is a month-long celebration of architecture and city-making, that takes place every summer across London. Its mission is to open up discussions around architecture, test new ideas and promote emerging talent. LFA is run by NLA, London’s built environment community.

Procedure Two-stage contest. Up to five teams will be shortlisted for Stage 2.

Budget £100,000, which includes a £12,500 design fee, to develop and deliver a fully costed, feasible design.

Eligibility Open to emerging and established architects, landscape architects, designers and artists. Applicants must meet at least two of the following criteria: no more than seven years post-graduate; in the early stages of profession; set up in practice or collaboration in the past three years. Teams must be actively led by a named emerging architect, designer or creative. Judges encourage collaborations and entries from teams underrepresented in these professions and applications from local organisations or those working with Camden community groups.

Requirements Stage 1: biographies of the project team, a description of its practice, a selection of relevant previous work and an initial response to the brief (no design work is required). Stage 2: detailed design drawings, key construction details, an outline of the materials used, budget, delivery and fabrication process, and a PowerPoint presentation for judging purposes.

Judging criteria Stage 1: practice/team profile, 60 per cent; initial vision/response to the brief, 40 per cent. Stage 2: design, 35 per cent; sustainability and longevity, 20 per cent; programme and resourcing, 20 per cent; costs and feasibility, 15 per cent; contextual design and public engagement, 10 per cent.

Judging panel To be announced.

Other dates Shortlist, week of 26 May 2025. Site visit, 5 June 2025. Round 2 submissions, 26 June 2025. Winners notified, week of 7 July 2025.

To find out more, go to the competition website

To express interest and submit your entry, go to zealous.co/lfa/square-camden-high-street

Competition contact info@londonfestivalofarchitecture.org

Project contest

LFA MORDEN MOMENTS DESIGN COMPETITION

Open call for submissions that refresh and brighten public spaces in the London Borough of Merton

Deadline 12 noon, 8 May 2025

This London Festival of Architecture (LFA) competition is inviting architects, designers and artists to suggest creative and engaging interventions for the streets of Morden, in south west London.

Designs from one or two winning teams will be installed at a site in Station Yard and/or sites at Abbotsbury Road and Abbotsbury Circus as part of LFA2025 and to coincide with the centenary of Morden station.

The borough of Merton is also home to the towns of Colliers Wood, Mitcham and Wimbledon, to historic green spaces, art deco and mid-century modern architecture, a heritage Tube station and a collection of well known sporting venues.

According to the brief, the LFA contest ‘provides an exciting opportunity for emerging and established design talent to propose innovative and site-specific ideas that enhance public life, respond to the unique character of Morden and celebrate community identity.

‘Inspired by the LFA2025 theme of “Voices”, the initiative seeks to amplify local stories and foster connections through thoughtful and inclusive design.’

Organisers are keen to see ideas that build on meaningful collaborations with residents, businesses and other key stakeholders to offer ‘moments of pause, interaction and reflection’.

Applicants can apply for all three sites and the installations will remain in place for five years.

The competition is being run in collaboration with the London Borough of Merton.

Procedure Two-stage contest. Up to six teams will be shortlisted for Stage 2.

Honorarium and budgets Each shortlisted team will receive £1,000 to develop their ideas (the work required for Stage 2 will be reflective of the honorarium). One or two winners will be awarded £60,000 to develop and deliver fully costed, feasible designs for the Station Yard site and/or £83,000 for the two Abbotsbury sites.

Eligibility Open to emerging and established architects, landscape architects, designers and artists. The project must be actively led by a named emerging architect, designer or creative. Judges encourage collaborations and entries from teams underrepresented in these professions and applications from organisations based in or with connections to Morden.

Requirements Stage 1: biographies of the project team, a description of its practice, a selection of relevant previous work and an initial response to the brief (no design work is required). Stage 2: detailed design drawings, key construction details, an outline of materials used, a local community engagement plan and a PowerPoint presentation.

Judging criteria Stage 1: practice/team profile, 60 per cent; initial vision/response to the brief, 40 per cent. Stage 2: design, 30 per cent; costs and feasibility, 25 per cent; safety and equity, 15 per cent; sustainability and longevity, 15 per cent; contextual design and public engagement, 15 per cent.

Judging panel To be announced.

Other dates Shortlist, week of 19 May 2025. Round 2 submissions, 19 June 2025. Winner/s notified, week of 30 June 2025.

To find out more, go to the competition website

To express interest and submit your entry, go to zealous.co/lfa/morden-moments

Competition contact info@londonfestivalofarchitecture.org

Contract

DISTRICT WAR MEMORIALS, NORTHERN IRELAND

Conservation architect-led team sought for four remembrance sites

Deadline: 12 noon, 2 May 2025

Derry City and Strabane District Council is looking for an integrated consultant team to work on the design, development, restoration and repair work of four PeacePlus war memorials at Castlederg, Derry-Londonderry, Strabane and Sion Mills in Northern Ireland.

Contracted works will include: the cleaning and repair of historic stonework, granite panels, boundary walls, copings, decorative metal railings and gates; repatination of historic bronze sculptures; soft and hard landscaping; design and installation of benches, interpretation panels, planters and bespoke decorative wreath hangers.

As a minimum, bidding teams should include: a conservation architect (lead consultant), NEC accredited project manager, principal designer (CDM regulations), quantity surveyor, site supervisor, plus specialists in stone and metal conservation. The conservation architect must be ARB-registered or similar and named on the RIBA Conservation Register as either a specialist conservation architect or conservation architect.

The winning team will develop a full RIBA technical design and specification for the renovation works, which will form the basis for a two-stage tender exercise to appoint a supply team. According the brief, ‘the successful team will be retained beyond RIBA work stage 3 to undertake the role of the client’s technical adviser and will also act as the NEC project manager and supervisor’.

PeacePlus is a cross-border funding programme supported by the European Union, the UK and Irish governments and the Northern Ireland administration. It is designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

At the tender stage, ‘the contract will be awarded on the basis of the lowest acceptable price,’ says the buyer. ‘Defined as being the lowest price received after unacceptably low prices have been excluded.’

Estimated value of the contract is £32,000 to £37,000. Budget is up to £300,000.

Procedure Open competition, below threshold.

Location Derry City and Strabane, Northern Ireland.

Other dates Shortlist announced, May 2025. Tender returns and award of contract, June 2025. Contract, 1 July 2025 to 1 July 2026.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Contract

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION CONSTRUCTION FRAMEWORK 25

Six to eight year, £15.4 billion agreement for the building and refurbishing of schools, colleges, university and ancillary facilities across England

Deadline: 12 noon, 7 May 2025

The new DfE closed construction framework, which also includes associated community facilities and public buildings, will replace the existing CF21 agreement, which expires in November 2025.

It is a 10-lot framework split by value and English region. Two higher-value lots are for projects over £12 million and require 10 suppliers each. The remaining eight lots cover £4.4 million to £12 million projects (seven suppliers each). Bids can be made for multiple lots.

The agreement has an estimated total value of £15.4 billion across all lots and will run for six years with the option to extend for another two. Call-offs will be direct or via mini competition.

According to the brief, the agreement will be in place for at least six - rather than four - years because ‘the Department considers that the complex nature of the design and build construction works to be delivered under this framework necessitates a longer-term approach. A framework of extended duration is essential to: enhance supplier capability and innovation… enable supplier investment… [and] support the construction lifecycle’.

Evaluation criteria 70 per cent quality; 30 per cent price.

Procedure Two-stage competitive flexible procedure: procurement-specific questionnaires followed by invitations to tender (between seven and 10 suppliers per lot).

Location England.

Other dates Award decisions, 5 December 2025. Contracts, 16 January 2026 to 15 January 2032 with possible extension to 15 January 2034.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Department for Education, CF.2025@education.gov.uk

Contract

TORPOINT HOUSING AND TOWN SQUARE

Council seeks team for £190m Cornish coastal community hub and public realm project

Deadline: 12 noon, 6 May 2025

A local council is calling for RIBA stage 3 detailed designs for a combined community and housing development and public town square in Torpoint, Cornwall.

Torpoint developed at the turn of the 18th century from its growing ferry service across the River Tamar – it is the gateway to the peninsula of south east Cornwall. The town has a thriving sailing community thanks to its proximity to St John's Lake and Plymouth Sound. Visitor attractions include Mount Edgcumbe House and Park, Antony House and Gardens and the villages of Cawsand and Kingsand.

The community building will need to accommodate a visitor and transport information service, hot desking and offices, a library and community hub, cafe, gallery, art and creative studios, as well as accommodation units. ‘Importantly,’ says the scope, ‘the community / business areas will also provide access to superfast broadband - Torpoint has a limited access to internet in this area of around 80 per cent’.

The outdoor public square will be a multifunctional space with external seating and the potential to host events and markets and display community art.

According to the contract notice, ‘the aim is to define the assets to be delivered, understand the risks, issues, opportunities and costs for both sites and be in a position to submit an outline planning application for both, enabling the requirements of the One Public Estate funding and the needs of the town and its community’.

Both stage 3 reports will need to articulate how the spaces will work together to benefit the community. Outline planning applications will also need to be supplied. These are all required as part of the tender submission.

Teams must include an architect, civil and structural engineer, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, highways engineer, ecologist, town planner, fire and acoustics, and landscape architect. Valuation of the contract is £190,000 to £228,000. Maximum build budget is £190 million.

Evaluation criteria Examples of similar work, 30 per cent; programme of work, 30 per cent; breakdown of expected costs and budget, 20 per cent; CVs, capability and capacity, 19.9 per cent; covering letter, 0.1 per cent.

Procedure Open competition, below threshold. Tenders must be submitted by email to tender@torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk

Location Torpoint, Cornwall.

Other dates Award of contract, 16 May 2025. Contract, 30 May 2025 to 13 November 2025.

To find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Camilla Southworth, 01752 814165, clerk@torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk

Project contest

PRIDE FLOAT DESIGN COMPETITON

Open call for submissions that represent LGBTQIA+ architects past and present and their contribution to the built environment

Deadline 12 noon, 24 April 2025

This London Festival of Architecture (LFA) competition is inviting architecture students, recent graduates, emerging and more established practices to design a float for this year's  Pride in London celebrations.

The event on 5 July 2025 includes a parade, performances, events and various activities across the city, aimed at celebrating love, acceptance and unity. The contest gives the winning team the opportunity to participate in a unique project and showcase their imaginative design to the public.

Individuals and teams are asked to submit designs that engage with LFA’s 2025 theme of “Voices”, a celebration of the diverse narratives within architecture.

According to the brief, 'the float will be mounted on a 7.5-tonne dropside truck and must incorporate key structural and safety elements, including handrails, space for speakers and weather-resistant materials'.

Submissions must demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and the circular economy. ‘Sustainability is at the heart of this brief. Although temporary, we encourage and support our designers and partners to plan for the afterlife of these projects which go on to be rehomed or recycled. We are interested in seeing proposals which explore principles of the circular economy, either by thinking about the longevity of the design and materials, flexibility of purpose and plans for disassembly (and reassembly).’

The LFA, now in its 20th year, is a month-long celebration of architecture and city-making, that takes place every summer across London. Its mission is to open up discussions around architecture, test new ideas and promote emerging talent.

The competition is being run in collaboration with grassroots organisation Architecture LGBT+, networking forum Freehold and real estate firm Brookfield Properties.

Budget £8,000, which includes a maximum £2,000 designer fee.

Eligibility Open to architects, landscape architects, designers and artists. The judges encourage collaborations and entries from teams who are underrepresented in these professions.

Procedure Single-stage contest. The winner will work with the clients and key local stakeholders to develop a more detailed design once appointed.

Requirements Two A1 boards (PDF) for submission that include: hand or computer drawn 3D design visualisation; construction details and methodology drawn to scale with key dimensions noted, outline all materials, budget and costings, production process and disposal/re-use.

Judging criteria Originality, demonstration of creativity, relevance to the brief, feasibility and how the proposal works in the context of the site.

Judging panel Includes Marcos Gold, Pride in London; Benjamin O’Connor, NLA; Marko Salopek, Freehold LGBT+; Caitlin Warfield, Brookfield Properties Europe. Other judges, including an Architecture LGBT+ representative, will be announced shortly.

Other dates Winner notified, week of 5 May 2025.

To find out more, go to the competition website

To express interest and submit your entry, go to zealous.co/lfa/pride-float-2025

Competition contact info@londonfestivalofarchitecture.org

Contract

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Exhibition design / lead designer sought for South Kensington museum’s Gallery 33 space

Deadline: 1pm, 25 April 2025

The Natural History Museum is looking to recruit a 3D and 2D exhibition design and lead designer to work on a new permanent nature gallery for young visitors.

Gallery 33 is housed in the Alfred Waterhouse-designed grade I listed museum and science research centre on Cromwell Road. The building was constructed between 1873 and 1880 and combines Gothic Revival and 12th-century Romanesque architecture with terracotta decoration inspired by the natural world. It is home to around 80 million life and earth science specimens in five collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology. 

According to the brief, the 3D and 2D exhibition designers ‘will be responsible for the development, design and specification of the exhibition. They will lead the creative team to deliver the brief. They will be required to determine the infrastructure requirements for the exhibition space and to coordinate with the lead architect for their integration’.

Bidders will need to demonstrate experience of 3D and 2D exhibition or gallery design integrated into a permanent gallery in a listed building with high visitor traffic; displaying collections in exhibition or gallery designs; integrating multimedia exhibits and interactives in exhibition or gallery designs; and projects that show an understanding of working with and for young people and children.

Earlier this year, the museum was recruiting for an engineering design services consultant to work on the refurbishment of Gallery 33 under a £720,000 contract, due to start in early March 2025.

Evaluation criteria are 60 per cent quality; 30 per cent price; 10 per cent social value. Total estimated value of the two-year contract is £160,000 to £192,000.

Procedure Open procedure.

Location South Kensington, London.

Other dates Award decision, 17 June 2025. Contract, 7 July 2025 to 1 August 2027.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Chloe Higgins, Natural History Museum, 0207 942 6046, c.higgins@nhm.ac.uk

Project competition

DUBAI URBAN ELEMENTS DESIGN CHALLENGE

Open call for public realm designs that harness the power of small-scale architecture to capture the essence of the UAE capital

Registration deadline: 7 May 2025

In collaboration with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), competition organiser Buildner is calling on architects and designers to submit innovative designs for human-scale architectural elements that could help define the everyday experience of the UAE capital.

Those elements can include pedestrian and cycle bridges, underpasses, street furniture, shading structures, wayfinding and signage, safety structures, fences, lighting, pavement works and more.

‘Cities are not merely built; they are felt,’ say the organisers. ‘They are experienced in the subtle details that shape daily life. It’s in the rhythm of pathways, the shade of a structure, the curve of a bridge, and the quiet moments of interaction that the essence of a city unfolds. These small-scale architectural forms, often overlooked, are the threads that weave together the vast urban fabric - giving depth, meaning and identity to the places we inhabit… These forms guide footsteps, foster community and craft the everyday narratives that give a city its soul’.

Participants are encouraged to submit their public realm concepts across seven specified zones in Dubai, each with a unique character, density and rhythm. These include residential areas, suburbs, industrial zones and cultural centres.

‘This is an opportunity to influence the everyday experiences that define Dubai's urban landscape. Participants are invited to think beyond the monumental, shape the everyday and help define the future of one of the world's most ambitious cities.’

Alongside small-scale architecture, other key areas of focus are cultural sensitivity, sustainability and public engagement.

According to the competition brief, ‘all awarded proposals will be evaluated for their potential future development as part of Dubai’s ongoing urban enhancement initiatives’.

Eligibility Free to enter and open to all, regardless of professional qualifications or experience.​ Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (four team members maximum).

Registration fees Competition is free to enter for a set number of entries, then a bidding system comes into operation and participants will need to submit portfolios and motivation letters to be considered for acceptance. Post-registration account verification includes a €4.95 fee. 

Prizes 1st prize, €250,000; 2nd prize, €140,000; 3rd prize, €50,000. Plus six honourable mentions with prizes of €10,000 each. All winning designs will be considered for development.

Judging panel To be announced.

Requirements Four A2 presentation boards and up to 20 supporting images to explain the proposal.

Evaluation criteria Innovation and creativity, 30 per cent; addressing context and identity, 30 per cent; constructability and cost, 20 per cent; sustainability, 20 per cent.

Other dates Submissions, 11.59pm, 28 May 2025. Winners announced, 1 July 2025.

To register, enter and find out more, go the competition website

Competition contact contact@buildner.com

Balouo Salo is an independent charitable organisation that develops humanitarian projects to improve the living conditions of rural communities in developing countries. It was founded in 2013 in Catania, Sicily by architect, engineer and current president of the organisation, Raoul Vecchio, and Jali Diabate, a Senegalese musician and interpreter who wanted to help his home community. Balouo Salo means ‘a bridge to life’ in Mandinka.

Registration From €90 to €120 per team.

Prizes First, €5,000 and internship at Kengo Kuma & Associates (Tokyo) and construction of the project as a humanitarian initiative; Second, €2,000 and internship at one of Benedetta Tagliabue EMBT (Barcelona), Amanda Levete Architects (London) or SBGA Blengini Ghirardelli (Milan); Third, €1,000 and internship as per second prize. The competition also recognises special and honourable mentions, as well as 35 finalists.

Eligibility Participants can enter individually or in teams with a maximum of five people. At least one member must be 35 or under at the time of regi­stration.

Procedure Single stage contest requiring designs. The objective of the contest is to raise awareness of humanitarian topics in the international community while raising funds to build charitable projects to which the proceeds are donated.

Submission requirements A1 board presenting the proposal; one cover; maximum 1,000 words on the design concept, use of materials, construction process; quantity and cost estimation of construction materials only. Note that the total cost estimation must not exceed €70,000. See the competition brief for full details.

Evaluation criteria Architectural quality; construction and materials; flexibility and integration with the environment.

Jury panel Kengo Kuma, Kengo Kuma & Associates; Benedetta Tagliabue, Bendetta Tagliabue EMBT; Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, Ramón Vilalta, all RCR Arquitectes; David Adjaye, Ajaye Associates; Amanda Levete, AL_A; Agostino Ghirardelli, SBGA Blengini Ghirardelli; Mario Cucinella, Mario Cucinella Architects; Giancarlo Mazzanti, El Equipo Mazzanti; Manuel Aires Mateus, Aires Mateus e Associados; Raul Pantaleo, TAM Associati; Emmanuelle Moureaux, Emmanuelle Moureaux INC; Saad El Kabbaj, Driss Kettani, Mohamed Amine Siana, all Rabat.

Other dates Submissions, 11.59pm, 10 June 2025. Jury evaluation, 23 to 29 June 2025. Winners announced, 8 July 2025.

To enter or find out more, go to the competition website

Competition contact info@kairalooro.com

Contract

UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

£10m, 14-lot dynamic purchasing system (DPS) for buildings and works across three campuses

Deadline: 5pm, 31 January 2029

The university, which has its main campus in and around the Christopher Wren-designed buildings now known as Old Royal Naval College on Park Row in Greenwich, south-east London, is looking to establish a professional services DPS that will run from April 2025 to February 2029.

Awarded university status in 1993, the institution was, from 1970, part of Thames Polytechnic and, before that, Woolwich Polytechnic, the second-oldest polytechnic in the UK - established in 1890. There are three campuses: two in London - the main campus and Avery Hill - and one in Medway, Kent.

The estate includes not only the historic 17th century buildings and UNESCO World Heritage site of the Greenwich campus, but a Victorian Winter Garden at Avery Hill and Edwardian ex-Royal Navy site at Medway. Modern building stock includes Stockwell Street Library by Heneghan Peng Architects, shortlisted for the 2015 RIBA Stirling Prize, and the grade II listed Dreadnought building and halls of residence on King William Walk, refurbished by Dannatt Johnson Architects in the 1990s and again in 2018.

The university has net zero targets of 2030 for the Medway and Avery Hill campuses; 2033 for Greenwich.

According to the scope, DPS services will include architecture, project management, civil and structural engineering, cost management, mechanical and electrical (including building services), principal designers, acoustics, multidisciplinary, surveying, rent, rates and valuations, net zero and sustainability, fire consultancy, planning, and landscape architecture.

The architecture lot (Lot 1) covers all core service disciplines, plus conservation architecture, counter terrorism advice and design, environmental services, interior design, BIM, urban and rural areas mapping, architectural design contests, planning, landscape services, and urban planning.

Lot 6 is for principal designers; Lot 8, multidisciplinary; Lot 13, urban planning; Lot 14, landscape architecture.

A minimum of one candidate will be allocated to each lot. Maximum value of each call-off is expected to be around £2 million. Estimated total value of the DPS is £10 million.

Procedure Restricted procedure.

Location Greenwich, London.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Procurement and Commercial Services, 0208 331 8000, tenders@gre.ac.uk

Contract

BRITISH MUSEUM CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FRAMEWORK

Four-year agreement will include ‘new buildings and/or significant reconfiguration of existing wings’

Deadline: 5pm, 30 December 2025

The Trustees of the British Museum are setting up a construction services agreement for their Estates and Capital Projects Department.

The museum on Great Russell Street in Bloomsbury, central London was designed from 1823 by Robert Smirke in the Greek Revival style. Norman Foster’s redesigned two-acre Great Court with its steel and glass roof - the largest covered square in Europe - opened in 2000.

This is a seven-lot framework, covering: 1 Project management (value £12 million); 2 Quantity surveying and commercial management (£4 million); 3 Mechanical and electrical (£7 million); 4 Architecture and interior design (£12 million); 5 Structural and civil engineering (£7 million); 6 Fire safety engineering (£4 million); 7 Surveying (£2 million). Tenders may be submitted for all lots.

Projects will range from strategic reviews and light-touch refreshments to complex standalone security or safety renewal and refurbishments, and masterplan projects ‘including new buildings and / or significant reconfiguration of existing wings’. The works will cover front-of-house and back-of-house spaces.

The total value of the framework is around £48 million.

Last month the Museum announced that Paris-based practice Lina Ghotmeh Architecture had been selected to lead the redesign of its Western Range galleries following an international competition. The commission is thought to be one of the largest and most prestigious in the world.

Procedure Two-stage, restricted procedure: 10 candidates will be shortlisted for Lot 4; eight candidates for each of the remaining lots.

Location Central London.

Other dates Contracts date, 1 January 2026 to 31 July 2029.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact 0207 323 8000, procurement@britishmuseum.org

Contract

BRITISH COUNCIL GLOBAL ESTATES DPS, 2025 to 29

UK charity’s dynamic purchasing system will cover construction projects ‘across all the regions we work in’

Deadline: extended to 5pm, 23 March 2029

UK cultural organisation, British Council has over 150 offices located across the Americas, UK, Europe and wider Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, East Asia and South Asia. The charity's in-house Global Estates department manages all its facilities and property.

According to the construction DPS scope, the department wants ‘to improve the cost-effectiveness, space efficiency and sustainability metrics of the global estate against identified benchmarks, whilst working with the strategic business units and geographical directors to adapt and adjust the portfolio to meet changing business requirements over time’.

Technical and professional services covered will include: architecture and design, space planning, project management, MEP, environmental, building, construction, fire, hazard and risk, geophysical / geological, testing and analysis, and security.

Construction projects and programmes will include: new build, refurbishment, extensions, alterations, maintenance, fit-out, life cycle works, heritage / historic buildings, structures, infrastructure and modern state-of-the-art building.

Tender documents also state that ‘due to the need to meet all potential demand, British Council may appoint several suppliers for each geographical location for each type of service required’.

The British Council is a public body specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It was founded in 1934 and works in over 200 countries and territories. The council receives grant-in-aid funding from the UK government and its remaining income comes from partnership agreements, contracts, philanthropy and its teaching and exams.

Evaluation criteria are: 50 per cent quality; 10 per cent social value; 40 per cent commercial.

Procedure Open procedure (above threshold).

Locations International.

Other dates Initial decisions, 24 to 28 March 2025. Contracts, 7 April 2025 to 7 April 2029.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Maria Matas Sebastia, British Council, Maria.MatasSebastia@britishcouncil.org

Contract

BISHOP STREET COURTHOUSE, DERRY / LONDONDERRY

Integrated consultant team sought for £18m refurb of Northern Ireland tribunals building 

Deadline: extended to 3pm, 29 April 2025

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is looking for a multidisciplinary team to develop a brief and design solutions for the ‘refurbishment, reconfiguration and potential extension’ of its grade A listed courthouse on Bishop Street in the Derry / Londonderry conservation area.

The building is part of a group of historic structures, which also includes St Columbs Cathedral, the Bishops Palace and the City Walls. The courthouse has three blocks; the Main Courthouse, which dates from 1813, the Crown and Peace Building, 1899, and Court 4, the Grand Jury Dining Room of 1836. After the courthouse was bombed in 1989, alterations were carried out in the 1990s and later in the 21st century.

According to the scope, existing facilities are ‘poorly configured, poorly segregated, lack flexibility and technological capability, are at physical capacity, do not meet the demands of users and its mechanical and electrical infrastructure is at end of life, representing a critical service delivery risk within a building of vital operational importance’.

The winning team will need to consider the best way to move the project forward, from doing minimal beyond statutory compliance works to refurbing and reconfiguring to provide four courtrooms; and refurbing, reconfiguring and extending to create either five courtrooms with segregation or six courtrooms.

The key team disciplines required are architecture, project management, structural and building service engineering and quantity surveying. According to the brief, the ITT will ‘test tenderers’ planned organisation, programming, delivery and management methods and ability. And confirm appropriate experience of the remaining team members’. Tenderers are expected to visit the existing building and surrounding site before submitting their tenders.

Evaluation criteria are 60 per cent quality and social value; 40 per cent price. Value of the eight-year contract is £1.9 million. Works budget is £17.1 million to £18.1 million.

Procedure Restricted procedure: pre-qualification questionnaires followed by invitations to tender (five candidates).

Location Derry / Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Other dates Return of tenders, June 2025. Contract award, October 2025.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Procurement Operations Branch POB, 0289 081 6555 construc.info@Finance-ni.gov.uk

Public information notice

CONSTRUCTION AND OFFSITE SOLUTIONS FRAMEWORK

CCS launches early market engagement for £80bn agreement

Deadline: Approach to market, 21 January 2026

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published a prior information notice for a seven-year, pan-government construction framework.

The agreement, which is valued at £80 billion, launches in 2026 and will allow buyers with building asset or infrastructure projects to access suppliers in the traditional and modern methods of construction sectors, including those providing architectural, engineering and inspection services.

Users of the framework will include central government departments (Health, Education, Culture, Media and Sport, Local Communities and Housing, Defence and Security, Government Policy and Infrastructure), public bodies, those working on their behalf and all public sector organisations across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and overseas.

According to the notice, the CCS will ‘continue partnering with NHS England to deliver the fifth generation of the Procure Framework (P24) for the provision of design and construction solutions for NHS capital projects’.

UK and international suppliers are invited to participate in an early market engagement from January 2025, after which the lotting structure around value, location and sector will be published.

Procedure To be announced.

Location UK-wide and overseas.

Other dates Expressions of interest via email to construction@crowncommercial.gov.uk by 12 noon, 13 December 2024. Framework active, 31 October 2026 to 30 October 2034.

To apply or find out more, see the prior information notice

Buyer contact 0345 410 2222, supplier@crowncommercial.gov.uk

For updates on the latest competitions, contests and contracts follow #ribajopportunities @RIBAJ

If you have a competition or contest you want architects to know about, email details to julie.butterworth@riba.org