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B2B Public Relations/CFP/PRO/2025

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

ContractAmendment

07 Sep 2026 at 15:28

UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Award

04 Mar 2026 at 15:41

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

01 Dec 2025 at 16:50

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

19 Jun 2025 at 15:46

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Open University procured B2B public relations services for its Business Development Unit. The requirement covers a single-supplier framework for business-to-business PR and related campaigns, delivered for the University from its base in Milton Keynes. The service is structured around a retainer model, with a rate card setting the cost of individual campaigns. This is a services contract for public relations work (CPV 79416000), rather than general advertising, consumer marketing or construction-related activity. The buying organisation is The Open University, a public authority. Suppliers with a strong business-development, corporate communications or public-sector PR focus would be most closely aligned with the requirement.

The procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. It used a selective, competitive flexible procedure with several stages: 19 bids were received, five bidders were intended to progress to the invitation-to-tender stage and three to presentations. 23red was awarded the single-supplier framework on 10 November 2025 for £947,027 gross. The contract was signed on 1 February 2026 and runs from 1 February 2026 to 31 July 2027, with a maximum end date of 31 July 2029 through up to two 12-month extensions. Evaluation used quality and cost weighted at 60%, with presentation weighted at 40% in the final assessment. The framework is closed, without reopening competition. A proposed corporate restructuring would transfer the contract from 23red to Capgemini UK plc from 1 October 2026, with the existing team and day-to-day operation retained.

This award demonstrates demand from a higher-education public authority for sustained B2B public relations delivered through a single-supplier retainer, with campaign work priced through a fixed rate card. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to show a clear understanding of business-development audiences, the ability to plan and deliver multiple PR campaigns, and the operational capacity to provide continuity under a framework arrangement. The evaluation also shows that quality was more important than cost overall, while presentation performance formed a substantial part of the final assessment. Suppliers should therefore be able to combine strong written proposals and campaign quality with commercially clear pricing, and present their approach convincingly to senior stakeholders. The competition attracted 19 bids, including three at final stage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

B2B Public Relations/CFP/PRO/2025

Notice Description

The Open University is seeking to establish framework agreement with one supplier for the provision of B2B Public Relations, to the Business Development Unit.

Lot Information

Lot LOT-0001

Renewal: The framework may be extended by a maximum of two periods of twelve months

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05503a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084527-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79416000 - Public relations services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£789,189 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£789,189 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£947,027 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£947,027 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Sep 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Nov 202511 months ago
Contract Period
1 Feb 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK7 6AA
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

23RED LIMITED

Capgemini UK plc

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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