Appointment of Exhibition Designers for NMRN Hartlepool- New Naval Galleries

The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool is based within the Hartlepool Marina area, which is around 1km north east Hartlepool Town Centre and very close to the main train station. The museum is based in the collection of buildings which are known as the Historic Quayside (or Historic Quay), which was purpose-built as a museum in the mid-1990s, the NMRN have purchased the adjacent Vision Retail ParkBy the spring of 2030 NMRN are to introduce exciting New Naval Galleries and facilities at NMRN Hartlepool.

The overarching primary objectives of the "Whole Site - New Naval Galleries" project are as follows:

- To enable the Hartlepool site to minimise its reliance on grants so that it becomes a sustainable and profitable visitor attraction.

- To offer additional new gallery space to help promote the NMRN and the Hartlepool Historic Quay. This will allow NMRN to display objects that are currently not available to the public and if feasible, house the RML 497, a WWII motor launch, where it can be conserved and displayed to the public.

- To support an engaging activity plan to help support and energise the above objectives and help drive regeneration and business to the surrounding areas.

The Capital Budget for the project is circa £10m. The NMRN are seeking tenders for RIBA Stages 2 to 7 for a number of professional services including Exhibition Designers.

There is an urgency to procure a professional team and for them to develop a priced RIBA Stage 2 concept design for the whole site by January 2025 to allow NMRN to consider the proposals and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) soon after. Subject to NLHF approval or otherwise NMRN will then move to prepare a NLHF Round 1 Application or if not successful reconsider its options.

The contract with the successful consultant will have break clauses at the end of each RIBA Stage or other contractual rights for terminating services should it be necessary.

Information regarding site visits can be found within the tender documentation. There is also additional information that can be requested which can be done by emailing tenders@nmrn.org.uk