Award

The Economist Corporate Subscription

FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 Dec 2025 at 17:25

Award

22 Dec 2025 at 12:46

Summary of the contracting process

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), located at King Charles Street, London, has awarded a contract titled "The Economist Corporate Subscription" for procuring digital access to The Economist and The Economist Intelligence Unit Viewpoint for its staff. This contract, which falls under the services category and is valued at £444,120, was conducted through a direct award due to exclusive rights held by The Economist Group Limited. The procurement process has reached the award stage, with the contract effective from 7 January 2026 until 31 December 2027, following a standstill period that ends on 6 January 2026. Key contact at FCDO is Michelle Dilkes (commercial.smi@fcdo.gov.uk), ensuring that the procurement aligns with their central government and public authority remit.

This procurement presents strategic opportunities particularly for businesses involved in digital content and subscription services, especially those that can offer unique content with exclusive intellectual property rights which align with the specific needs of government bodies. While the direct award in this case was justified by the exclusive rights of The Economist, similar companies with exclusive, high-demand publications may consider engaging with public sector procurement through establishing direct communications and highlighting the unique value they can deliver, thus potentially facilitating future growth in government contracts.

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Notice Title

The Economist Corporate Subscription

Notice Description

The purchase of digital access to The Economist and The Economist Intelligence Unit Viewpoint for FCDO staff

Procurement Information

The FCDO requires access to a number of publications to support our staff's work. The Economist is a unique creative work. PA23 - Schedule 5 (a); due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05fb82
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085584-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

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


CPV Codes

22200000 - Newspapers, journals, periodicals and magazines

79980000 - Subscription services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£444,120 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Dec 20252 months ago
Contract Period
7 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Contact Name
Michelle Dilkes
Contact Email
commercial.smi@fcdo.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2AH
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THE ECONOMIST GROUP

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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