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Media Database Service

Essex County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

31 Jul 2026 at 12:43

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council procured a media intelligence and communications platform to support its public relations, media monitoring, stakeholder engagement and public affairs work. The service provides access to journalist databases and monitoring tools, helping the council identify media contacts, track coverage and manage communications activity. It is a cloud software service within the broader software and information systems category (CPV 48000000), rather than a consultancy or traditional media-buying contract. Delivery is for the council’s operations in Essex, in the East of England. The requirement is aimed at suppliers providing established media, public affairs and stakeholder communications technology, with functionality suitable for use by a public-sector communications team.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a selective call-off from the G-Cloud 14 Framework Agreement, RM1557.14, Lot 2 Cloud Software. The contract was awarded on 1 July 2026 to Pulsar Group PLC for £30,590 including the stated currency, GBP. The contract runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2028, with a 24-month term and an optional 12-month extension. The tender closed on 30 June 2026 at 23:59. The procurement was evaluated as a services requirement and was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The award is active, and the successful supplier is identified as Pulsar Group PLC.

This award demonstrates a defined requirement for an integrated media intelligence and communications platform within local government. Suppliers competing for a future requirement from Essex County Council would need credible cloud software for journalist and media database access, media monitoring, stakeholder engagement and public affairs activity. A strong proposition would combine reliable, searchable contact data with monitoring tools that communications teams can use in day-to-day work, supported by clear data quality, service management and user support. Experience serving public-sector communications functions would help demonstrate understanding of governance, operational reliability and information-handling needs. The route to market also shows that suppliers need a suitable position on the relevant cloud software framework, or an equivalent framework route available to the council.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Media Database Service

Notice Description

Call-off via G-Cloud 14 Framework Agreement (RM1557.14), Lot 2 Cloud Software. Vuelio PR, Media, Stakeholder and Political Services. Duration 24 months + 12 months optional extension. Media intelligence and communications platform used to help ECC manage PR, media monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs by providing access to journalist databases and monitoring tools.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-c1aff773-6db3-4633-9c8a-9e8a42448a9a
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/95702079-ddff-4fb9-9075-d67d7d1cb6d9
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£30,590 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£30,590 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Jul 20263 months ago
Contract Period
1 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Essex County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Postcode Area
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Pulsar Group PLC

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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