Award

PR and Communications Agency in SSA

BRITISH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 Apr 2026 at 07:31

Tender

04 Nov 2025 at 13:48

Summary of the contracting process

The British Council has completed its procurement process for a PR and Communications Agency in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), awarding contracts with a total potential spending of £249,000. This procurement falls under the category of public relations consultancy services and is executed via an open procedure. The buying organisation, located in London, anticipates spending on integrated marketing and communication strategies, with the contract period commencing on 1st May 2026 and concluding on 28th April 2030. Key dates include the award date on 22nd April 2026, with the future signature date scheduled for 30th April 2026. This process is guided by the legal framework of the UK Public Authority sub-central government classification.

This tender can offer substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in cohesive and strategic marketing communications. SMEs focused on providing comprehensive marketing and public relations services, including digital media, TV, radio, outdoor and print advertising strategies, would be well-suited to compete. Additionally, firms offering creative content development and communication planning could thrive on this contract. With active involvement from suppliers like Access Leo Burnett Ltd in Kenya and Africa Communications Media Group in South Africa, the procurement presents a valuable platform for businesses to grow their influence and operational presence in the SSA region.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

PR and Communications Agency in SSA

Notice Description

British Council anticipates that it will spend up to PS 249,000 on marketing and communication activities in Sub-Saharan Southern Africa (SSA).

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d9ec
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036372-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
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

79416200 - Public relations consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£249,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£249,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£249,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Apr 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
23 Dec 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Apr 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 May 2026 - 28 Apr 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BRITISH 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
LONDON
Postcode
E20 1JQ
Post Town
East London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI41 Hackney and Newham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

ACCESS LEO BURNETT

AFRICA COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA GROUP

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05d9ec-2026-04-22T08:31:43+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-22T08:31:43+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05d9ec",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PHTN-1551-GCQH",
            "name": "British Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PHTN-1551-GCQH"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "1 Redman Place",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "E20 1JQ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI41"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Mai ElGhareeb",
                "email": "Mai.ElGhareeb@britishcouncil.org.eg"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.britishcouncil.org",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PPCQ-4926-HCQJ",
            "name": "Access Leo Burnett Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PPCQ-4926-HCQJ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Senteu Plaza",
                "locality": "Nairobi",
                "postalCode": "42379-00100",
                "country": "KE",
                "countryName": "Kenya",
                "region": "KE"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "cmwakio@accessleoburnett.co.ke"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PQPZ-8465-YZDX",
            "name": "Africa Communications Media Group",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PQPZ-8465-YZDX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "145 Second ST, Parkmore, Sandton.",
                "locality": "Sandton",
                "postalCode": "2196",
                "country": "ZA",
                "countryName": "South Africa",
                "region": "ZA"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "mkalinda@africacommunicationsgroup.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PHTN-1551-GCQH",
        "name": "British Council"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05d9ec",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "PR and Communications Agency in SSA",
        "description": "British Council anticipates that it will spend up to PS 249,000 on marketing and communication activities in Sub-Saharan Southern Africa (SSA).",
        "status": "complete",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79416200",
                        "description": "Public relations consultancy services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79342000",
                        "description": "Marketing services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 287000,
            "amount": 249000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://tap.tcsapps.com/tap2/#/bc-supplier-registration",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-12-23T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-11-29T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-02-12T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 287000,
                    "amount": 249000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Social Value",
                            "description": "Annex 3 supplier's response",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 10,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Quality",
                            "description": "Annex 3 supplier's response",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 25,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Methodology and Approach",
                            "description": "Annex 3 supplier's response",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 25,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "name": "Commercial",
                            "description": "Annex 4 Pricing approach",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 40,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2030-03-31T23:59:59Z"
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "070853-2025",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070853-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-11-04T13:48:32Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "value": 22,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "measure": "finalStageBids",
                "value": 22,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "measure": "smeFinalStageBids",
                "value": 20,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "4",
                "measure": "vcseFinalStageBids",
                "value": 2,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "date": "2026-04-06T00:00:00Z",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 249000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": false,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-PPON-PPCQ-4926-HCQJ",
                    "name": "Access Leo Burnett Ltd"
                },
                {
                    "id": "GB-PPON-PQPZ-8465-YZDX",
                    "name": "Africa Communications Media Group"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "79416200",
                            "description": "Public relations consultancy services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-05-01T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2030-04-28T23:59:59Z"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "036372-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036372-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-04-22T08:31:43+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "assessmentSummariesDateSent": "2026-04-06T00:00:00Z",
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-04-30T23:59:59Z",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}