Construction of a new laboratory building (Holt 2 Lab), designed and built to operate at Containment Level 3 (CL3) standards
Forestry CommissionEstimated Value
Up to £16,666,667
Deadline
6 May 2026
Published
8 April 2026
Type
Not specified
Overview
SCOPE OF WORKS: Construction of a new laboratory building designed and built to operate at Containment Level 3 (CL3), on a greenfield site within the existing boundary of Forest Research's Alice Holt Research Station in Farnham, Surrey, UK. The new 'Holt 2' research facility will be a purpose-built expansion of existing facilities at Forest Research's Alice Holt Research Station, designed to significantly enhance the UK's capability and capacity to study tree pests and pathogens in controlled environments.
The new facility will significantly increase the capacity of the existing Holt 1 containment laboratory. Full specifications will be provided in the Specification Documents once the Invitation to Tender is released.
The project overview document is attached to this notice. CONTRACT STRATEGY: Traditional construction works, turnkey contract (Client-supplied detailed design & specification) on a fixed lump sum basis using the NEC4 ECC Main Option A - Priced contract with Activity Schedule.
Additional details
Performance Bond (10%), and Parent Company Guarantees (where applicable). Liquidated damages for delay are anticipated to be set at £700 per day, subject to confirmation in the ITT.
DESIGN STRATEGY: At the time of issuing the ITT, detailed design and specification for all elements (RIBA Stage 4) will have been completed (and included in the ITT); the appointed turnkey contractor will take responsibility from, and progress from, the start of RIBA Stage 5 onwards. It is anticipated that the ITT may include an option (or alternative) for the novation of client‑supplied designs to the turnkey contractor.
Note that certain proprietary equipment and supply chain requirements will be specified within the ITT where necessary to meet technical and operational requirements of the contract works. The new building is required to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, demonstrating a high standard of environmental performance and sustainability.
Note: A Planning Application has been submitted for this build. The contract scope includes all works and services required to deliver the laboratory as a fully operational, CL3‑validated containment facility, as outlined above, on a turnkey basis.
This includes traditional building construction works—such as foundations, structural steelwork, cladding, building services and landscaping—as well as specialist laboratory and containment facility works. Included with this Notice are the following documents and drawings, which provide further information on the location and the overall laboratory building structure: 1.3434001 A (Location Plan) 2.3434009 (Proposed Block Plan) 3.3434010 D (Proposed Ground Floor Plan) 4.3434011 D (Proposed First Floor Plan) 5.3434012 C (Proposed Roof Plan) 6.3434015 B (Proposed North Elevation) 7.3434016 B (Proposed South Elevation) 8.3434017 A (Proposed East Elevation) 9.3434018 A (Proposed West Elevation) 10.8492PLGA110 (Proposed Site Plan) 11.G28553PERHL2XXDRS06001 P04 12.G28553PERHL2XXDRS06002 P04 13.Holt 2 project overview for tender - rev01
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Likely incumbents
Suppliers who won similar work from this buyer in the last 5 years.
- 1
JOHN HARDING AND SON LIMITED
£183,299
total awarded
- 2
C J SPRINGTHORPE LIMITED
£113,075
total awarded
- 3
PRACTICALITY BROWN LIMITED
£203,088
total awarded
- 4
PhenoKey B.V.
2 contracts wonlatest 7 Sept 2026ends 20 Sept 2027€2m
total awarded
- 5
TILHILL FORESTRY LIMITED
£120,000
total awarded
JOHN HARDING AND SON LIMITED is the most likely incumbent based on recency and category match. To win, bidders typically need a clearly differentiated proposition or a price advantage.
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Buyer Profile
Forestry CommissionKey Dates
Published
8 April 2026
Submission deadline
6 May 2026
Notice type
tender
Source
find a tender
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