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Creative Design Services

Ulster University

This public procurement record has 7 releases in its history.

Award

16 Jul 2026 at 16:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
AwardUpdate

16 Jul 2026 at 16:24

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

16 Jul 2026 at 16:14

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

01 Oct 2025 at 16:31

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

01 Oct 2025 at 15:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

01 Oct 2025 at 15:21

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

01 Oct 2025 at 11:22

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Ulster University procured a single-lot creative design service to support marketing campaigns and business needs across its faculties. The work covers artwork, including graphic layouts from existing templates and the University’s brand guidelines; brand design, including research, mood boards, concepts, sub-brands, logos, brand lock-ups and associated guidelines; video production, from storyboards and scripts through logistics, filming and editing, with captions, name plates and graphic cards; and photography of University buildings and facilities. Video delivery may include cinema and television content, Clearcast management, clocking and Peach upload. The services are delivered for Ulster University and its activities in Northern Ireland. The procurement is classified as advertising and marketing services, including wider business services.

This procurement has been awarded following an above-threshold open procedure. The University moved from considering four lots to one, and five bids were received. The contract was awarded to Rapid Agency (NI) Ltd on 12 December 2025 for £1,307,979 gross. The contract was signed on 26 January 2026 and runs from 2 February 2026 to 1 February 2029, with options to extend for up to a further 36 months, to 1 February 2032. Evaluation weighted quality at 40% and commercial criteria at 60%; bidders also had to meet economic and technical selection requirements. The tender deadline was 29 October 2025 at 15:00, with enquiries accepted until 23 October 2025 at 15:00. The contract is active.

This award shows sustained demand from Ulster University for an integrated creative partner able to cover artwork, brand development, video production and photography under one contract. Suppliers well placed for comparable work would need a multidisciplinary studio or delivery model, with the creative capability to turn existing brand guidelines into polished layouts while also developing new sub-brands, logos and visual systems. Credible competitors would demonstrate end-to-end video production, including storyboarding, scripting, logistics, editing, captions and broadcast-related delivery, alongside high-quality architectural or institutional photography. Experience producing accurate, visually strong content for university, public-sector or Northern Ireland audiences would be relevant. The procurement also indicates that commercial competitiveness matters: price carried greater weight than quality, while economic and technical capacity were required to qualify.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Creative Design Services

Notice Description

The provision of Creative Design Services to deliver content for marketing campaigns and our clients business needs within faculties. One Contract to Provide: - Art Working Graphic layout from existing templates based on Ulster University brand guidelines. - Brand Design Concept creation of sub brand, logo or brand lock up, including research, mood boards, concepts presentation and finally delivery of brand with associated guidelines. - Video Producing story boards, on occasion scripts and managing logistics through to complete edit. Completing with captions, name plates and graphic cards. Where necessary producing and executing video content for cinema and TV including management of Clearcast, clocking and Peach upload. - Photography Capturing photographs of our buildings and facilities to artistically celebrate the investment in our students and in Northern Ireland. Creating content that is both aesthetically excellent as well as accurate.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Following the initial Contract period (3 years), there are options to extend up to a further 36 months.

Planning Information

The Preliminary market engagement notice was advertised to the market place to test whether there was an appetite for separate Lots within the market place as the University was considering going out to the market place with a Lotted tender of 4 Lots, Artworking, Brand Design, Concept Creative Video Production and Architectural Photography as opposed to a single lot tender which is what is currently being contract managed with the current supplier. This information was used to verify the procurement route and provide the relevant information to assist the University in making a decision in terms of the procurement route to market, i.e. various lots or a single lot. This preliminary market engagement was advertised to the open market and all suppliers were given equal chance to participate. Deadline submissions were adhered to by all suppliers and the University treated all suppliers equally and fairly. The information requested was used to sound out the market place to see if there were activity around Lotting. The University took the decision internally to move forward with a single lot. No supplier had an unfair advantage or disadvantage over another

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a5a9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067427-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

79340000 - Advertising and marketing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,291,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,291,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,307,979 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,307,979 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
29 Oct 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
2 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
12 Dec 20258 months ago
Contract Period
2 Feb 2026 - 1 Feb 2029 3-4 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
Ulster University
Additional Buyers

The University of Ulster

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
COLERAINE
Postcode
BT52 1SA
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN0C Causeway Coast and Glens
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Causeway Coast and Glens
Electoral Ward
University
Westminster Constituency
East Londonderry

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Rapid Agency (NI) Ltd

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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