Tender

Provision of Media Buying

SCOTTISH WATER

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

18 Feb 2026 at 13:18

Summary of the contracting process

Scottish Water, a major utility provider based in Glasgow, is inviting submissions for a tender focused on the provision of media buying and planning services across Scotland. This tender, titled "Provision of Media Buying," falls under the advertising and marketing services category and aims to support paid advertising and communication strategies on various platforms, including TV, radio, digital, social media, and more. The process stage currently is "Tender," with the deadline for submissions set for 23rd March 2026. The procurement method is selective, utilising a negotiated procedure with a prior call for competition, and the process will establish a framework agreement with one successful participant. This contract opportunity offers a value of £17,600,000, and interested parties must submit their proposals electronically and in written form. Scottish Water's main office is located at The Bridge, 6 Buchanan Gate, Stepps, Glasgow, UKM G33 6FB.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for companies proficient in comprehensive media planning and buying services. Businesses equipped with the ability to deliver high-quality technical advice and proposals for effective advertising platforms will find this contract well-suited. Additionally, those capable of providing value-added services such as audience profiling, competitor analysis, and digital advertising asset production are encouraged to apply. The successful supplier will collaborate closely with Scottish Water's Corporate Affairs team, offering support for both proactive and reactive communication needs. With the focus on delivering high-performing campaigns and substantial reach through various media channels, this opportunity is ideal for firms committed to enhancing their media planning capabilities and expanding their footprint within the Scottish market.

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Notice Title

Provision of Media Buying

Notice Description

Scottish Water is establishing a framework for Media Planning and Buying Services to support paid advertising and communications across Scotland. The appointed supplier will work in partnership with Scottish Water to identify, plan, buy, manage, and evaluate media activity across national and regional audiences. Services will span TV/On-Demand, audio including radio, digital, social, out-of-home, and press.<br/><br/>The supplier will provide expert media planning advice, high-performing media schedules, campaign setup and optimisation, and full monitoring, reporting, and insights. They will also offer value-added services such as audience profiling, industry and competitor analysis, account management, and production of digital, social, and radio advertising assets. Close collaboration with Scottish Water's Corporate Affairs team and other departments is required to support proactive and reactive communication needs.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Scottish Water provide vital water and waste water services, essential to daily life, to over 2.6 million households and more than 160,000 business premises across Scotland, and therefore need to be able to plan and carry out paid-for advertising/comms which have the scope to reach and engage with customers at both a pan-Scotland level and a regional/local level. In order to identify, plan and use the most effective platforms/channel mix to reach the target customer audience/base Scottish Water would like to source a framework for the supply of Media Planning & Buying Services that reflects a full range of media planning and buying capabilities underpinned by flexible, reliable, cost effective and customer focused service.

The scope of the contract is to work in partnership with Scottish Water, supplying the media planning and buying services, which will include:
- providing high quality technical advice and proposals for the most effective platforms and advertising/media channel mix to be considered for the campaign paid-for advertising activity
- proposing media schedules which will deliver effective/high performing campaigns at both national (Scotland-wide) and/or regional/local level that offer Scottish Water the maximum potential reach, engagement and value.
- providing monitoring, evaluation, campaign analysis & insights and reporting pre, during and post any campaign/advertising activity.

The media buying services will be for both proactive and reactive activity and will include, but are not limited to, campaign/advertising activities across the following platforms/channels:
- AV including TV and On Demand services
- Audio including Radio
- Digital
- Social
- Out Of Home
- Press

It is expected that the selected supplier will work closely with the Corporate Affairs team as the primary contact but will also be able to maintain and manage relationships and work independently with other Scottish Water departments who are considering a paid-for advertising media schedule to deliver either proactive and/or reactive comms activity as appropriate. The supplier will be expected to provide a number of value added services to SW including but not limited to:-

* Industry-specific market analysis, updates and advice and provision of information including competitor monitoring, consumer, industry and channel analysis and insight
* Reporting & insights (pre, during and post campaign/advertising analysis activity)
* Dedicated Account Manager
* Audience profiling
* Planning, buying and management of all media proposed
* Optimisation and management including set up of campaigns/advertising activity (inclusive of ASBOF levy and any media commission/copyright licence, but excluding adserving if required)
* Management of SW account, including all meetings, travel and expenses in the servicing of the account.
* Ability to create, set up and deliver digital and social adverts
* Ability to source voiceover artists, produce and deliver finalised radio adverts (including appropriate RACC clearance) and supply final file to radio station. Additional information: To access the following opportunity, please register using the following link: https://atamis-scottishwater.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_PublicLandingPage?SearchType=Projects

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065712
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014771-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79340000 - Advertising and marketing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£17,600,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£17,600,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Feb 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
23 Mar 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTTISH WATER
Contact Name
Amy Phillips
Contact Email
amy.phillips@scottishwater.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G33 6FB
Post Town
Glasgow
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM34 North Lanarkshire
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
North Lanarkshire
Electoral Ward
Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead
Westminster Constituency
Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch

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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