Services provided by sculptors

Tender description

In line with our new Vision and Strategy to 2031, the Natural History Museum is looking to help transform the study of natural history, engage and involve the widest possible audience, and develop our galleries and grounds. Our priority project is the urban nature project, which involves the transformation of the 5-acres of gardens outside the Waterhouse Building. A major feature of the new design will be the installation of life size replicas of key specimens such as the Diplodocus carnegii and Hypsilophodon foxii. As a result, the Museum is inviting requests to participate in a competitive process for a contract for the development, manufacture and installation of these replicas. The Museum is inviting tenders for a contract to develop, manufacture and install the life size, sustainable and durable replicas of: • the Diplodocus carnegii, specifically based on the ‘Dippy’ cast; and • three Hypsilophodon foxii specimens from the Museum’s collections. The replicas will be displayed outside the Waterhouse Building in South Kensington as part of the transformed Museum grounds. There may also be a requirement for sculptures of additional specimens, which will be determined in due course. The sculptures will need to meet the following requirements: • life size and based on the identified specimens, in order to ensure scientific accuracy; • ability to offer a range of similar colours and texture to the original cast and specimen, for the Museum to select to ensure coherence across the design; • developed using high-quality, weatherproof and durable materials to ensure longevity; • sustainable, both in material and design process. The estimated value of this contract in this notice is at the upper end of a range of expectations relating to varying manufacturing processes. Full details are included in the procurement documents.