Award

Digital Marketing Services

NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

29 Mar 2023 at 08:17

Tender

04 Oct 2022 at 10:24

Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement contracting process for the Digital Marketing Services tender issued by Northern Trains Limited has now reached the award stage. The procurement involved splitting the tender into two lots - Paid Search and Organic Search. The contracting authority, Northern Trains Limited, based in York, is seeking marketing services in the services category related to the Rail sector. The successful suppliers for Paid Search and Organic Search are 8 Million Stories Limited. The tender was conducted using a selective procurement method with a negotiated procedure.

This tender presents an opportunity for business growth for marketing agencies specializing in digital services, particularly those with expertise in online search advertising and SEO within the travel and tourism sector. Given the focus on targeting prospective and returning customers in the North of England, agencies with a strong regional presence or industry knowledge would be well-suited to compete. Businesses with a proven track record in managing online advertising campaigns and increasing search visibility for clients, especially in the Rail or Transport sector, are encouraged to participate in this tender to support Northern Trains Limited in achieving its marketing objectives.

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Notice Title

Digital Marketing Services

Notice Description

This tender is split into two (2) lots. Lot 1 - Paid SearchLot 2 - Organic SearchPlease see tender documents for further information.

Lot Information

Lot 1 - Paid Search

The Paid Search partner will act as an extension of the Northern team and will manage Northern's online search advertising presence, ensuring quality traffic is driven to the website and app that increases sales and generates a profitable return on investment. Here at Northern, we want to make a positive impact in the North, and as such we're looking for a Paid Search partner who is based in, or has strong demonstrable connections to, the North of England.The Agency must also have a strong travel and tourism industry knowledge to enable them to educate and inform the Northern marketing team on best practice, algorithm updates, new platforms, and ways of working.Experience working with Rail or Transport sector partners is desirable, but not essential.The Agency is required to target prospective and returning customers in the North of England based on key leisure and commuter personas, making sure the right ads show for the right people at the right time and within the given budget.The agency will consider the positioning of ads given that Northern's paid search activity is targeted at bottom of funnel conversion, complementing above the line activity.The Agency partner shall own and lead Paid Search strategy for Northern, including account management, budget management, campaign structure development and management, writing and creating ads, reviewing conversion performance, and maintaining the brand's presence.Upon joining Northern, the Agency partner will perform an account review and audit, assessing campaign set up and structure, PPC optimisation tactics, bid strategies, competitor activity, keywords, targeting, and ad copy.Northern are keen to test and learn and as such the Paid Search Agency will be required to guide optimisation and improve efficiencies, research new developments, and monitor competitor and industry activity.

Renewal: 1 x 12 months.

Lot 2 - Organic Search

We require a partner on a retained basis who will act as an extension of the Northern team and manage our online presence across organic search, increasing visibility, providing on-page and off-page SEO and content services, and ensuring quality traffic is driven to the website and app that increases sales and generates a profitable return on investment. Here at Northern, we want to make a positive impact in the North, and as such we're looking for an Organic Search partner who is based in or has strong demonstrable connections to the North of England.The Agency must also have a strong travel and tourism industry knowledge to enable them to educate and inform the Northern marketing team on best practice, algorithm updates, outreach, new platforms, and ways of working.Experience in working with Rail or Transport sector partners is desirable, but not essential.The Agency shall focus on increasing Northern's search visibility, delivering high-quality traffic to the Northern website and app, and driving more conversions from that traffic.The Agency partner shall lead on SEO and content strategy, including weekly keyword tracking and monitoring, implementing changes from findings, and collaborating with the Northern team on results.Working as an extension to Northern's marketing team, the Agency will build content designed around our personas that enrich the customer's journey, answer questions, alleviate pinch points, and pique the interests of new and returning customers across the North of England.

Renewal: 1 x 12 months.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009072-2023
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79342000 - Marketing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Mar 20232 years ago
Submission Deadline
3 Nov 2022Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Mar 20232 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
Not specified
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
Not specified
Postcode
Not specified
Post Town
Not specified
Country
Not specified

Major Region (ITL 1)
Not specified
Basic Region (ITL 2)
Not specified
Small Region (ITL 3)
Not specified
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Not specified
Electoral Ward
Not specified
Westminster Constituency
Not specified

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

8 MILLION STORIES

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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