Exhibition Tenders and Contracts

Museum exhibition design, build and fit out is the largest single category, running from a single gallery refresh to a multi-year, multi-gallery renewal programme. Trade show and conference exhibition stands, exhibition graphics and display equipment, and cultural exhibition delivery services round out the rest.

Stotles brings together exhibition tenders and contracts from 100+ portals into one search, so you do not have to check each portal separately, and you can set alerts for new opportunities across the UK and Ireland.

If you want to search the government portals directly, Find a Tender carries higher-value contracts across the UK and Contracts Finder carries lower-value contracts in England. Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Ireland's eTenders covers Irish public bodies, and many councils, NHS bodies and housing associations publish on their own e-tendering portals such as ProContract. Museums often appoint exhibition contractors from approved supplier lists, and event stands are called off from the Crown Commercial Service Communications Marketplace.

Exhibition tenders are scored on design response, fabrication quality, conservation-grade materials, programme, team experience and price. Museums often reuse approved suppliers, so a place on their list opens up repeat work.

Exhibition fit out brings duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and museum display cases must meet conservation and security standards for loaned objects. Tenders usually set minimum insurance cover, check financial standing and ask for portfolios of similar projects at selection stage. Under the Procurement Act 2023, suppliers can be excluded for certain criminal convictions, insolvency or failure to pay tax.

Museums and galleries commission most of it, particularly around major anniversary or gallery renewal programmes. Local authorities and investment bodies buy exhibition stands for property and trade events, and government departments and cultural bodies commission exhibition delivery for events held overseas.

Read museum gallery renewal programmes, exhibition schedules, capital funding announcements and trade event calendars, which show exhibition work coming due ahead of a notice. On Stotles you can track those signals and the buyers behind them, then follow a notice from pre-tender through to award.

Exhibition notices carry 92521100 (Museum-exhibition services), 45212310 (Construction work for buildings relating to exhibitions) and 79956000 (Fair and exhibition organisation services).