Overview
PHM has secured Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) to carry out urgent roof repairs to the Grade II listed Pump House building. This funding underpins the full scope of works described in this ITT and tenderers should note the reporting and governance obligations associated with publicly funded projects when preparing their submissions. The successful tenderer will take on a technically demanding conservation project on a building of genuine architectural character and significance. For any company with a commitment to heritage conservation and the cultural sector, this project represents a compelling addition to their portfolio.
The Project
The Grade II listed Pump House is an important part of Manchester’s industrial heritage, built in 1907-9 as a hydraulic pumping station powering the hoists, jiggers and cranes of Manchester’s industry. A 2025 building condition survey assessed the fabric of our building including the Pump House which has long-standing issues with water ingress, exacerbated by increased rainfall, climate change and lack of access for maintenance. The survey confirmed that wholesale re-roofing is not only necessary but urgent, due to the extent of deterioration to the lead gutters, slate roofs, and water tanks, visible dry rot to roof structure and a severely dilapidated glazed atrium. The existing Victorian design needs to be updated to current standards to cope with modern day rainfall and climate and the extent of the damage means that it cannot be addressed through isolated reactive repair.
The focus of this project is therefore to secure the shell of the building making it safe and watertight by repairing the damaged roof structure, fully overhauling and repairing the atrium, carrying out targeted gutter works, waterproofing the steel water tanks and carrying out high level masonry repairs to fully optimise the scaffolding. The project will be delivered in phases with the coal store repairs delivered first to tie in with funding requirements from Historic England, followed by the remainder of the roofscape. Further details of works required, and phasing are set out in this ITT.
Tender
The scope of this tender is to carry out work for People’s History Museum. Full terms and conditions of the tender can be found in Section 6 – Conditions of Tender. Tenderers should read these instructions carefully before completing the Tender documentation. Failure to comply with these requirements for completion and submission of the Tender Response may result in the rejection of the Tender.
Procurement timetable
The proposed procurement timetable is set out below. It is intended as a guide. While the Employer does not intend to depart from it, the Employer reserves the right to do so at any stage.
7 October 2026 – Invitation to Tender (ITT) published
20 October 2026 – Optional site visit
13 November 2026 – ITT clarification period closes
23 November 2026, 12 noon – Closing date for receipt of tender responses
27 November 2026 – Evaluation of tender responses completed
2 to 3 December 2026 – Clarification meetings (if required)
7 December 2026 – Contract award (subject to PHM approval)
16 December 2026 – Pre-contract meeting
Communications and submissions
Unless stated otherwise in these instructions or in writing from the Employer, all communications from tenderers (including their sub-contractors, consortium members, consultants and advisers) during this procurement must be made by email to sale@appleyardandtrew.co.uk.
Tender responses must be submitted by email to sale@appleyardandtrew.co.uk, in the form specified in the Tender Response Template and signed by the tenderer’s authorised representative.
Clarification questions must also be submitted by email to sale@appleyardandtrew.co.uk. The Employer will endeavour to answer all questions as quickly as possible but cannot guarantee a minimum response time. People’s History Museum will respond to any request for clarification at least 4 days before the tender deadline. To meet this commitment, clarification requests must be received within the clarification period set out in the timetable above.
Site visit
An optional site visit will be held on 20 October 2026 at People’s History Museum, Manchester. It will give tenderers the opportunity to seek clarification on any matters relating to the ITT and its requirements in an open forum. Further details are included in the letter accompanying this ITT.
As space is limited, please nominate a maximum of 3 key personnel to attend. Please confirm attendance and the names of those attending by 15 October 2026 to:
Ben Grogan, Project Manager, People’s History Museum
ben.grogan@phm.org.uk
Tender Documentation
All tender documents are available to download from the link below. These include the tender form, schedule of works, pre-construction information, architectural and structural drawings, and other supporting documentation. Tenderers should read all documents carefully before preparing their response.
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