This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

04 Aug 2026 at 16:32

Tender

08 May 2026 at 14:14

Summary of the contracting process

Northumbrian Water Limited, a private utility operating in the North East of England, has completed the procurement process for a media buying contract titled "Media Buying." The contract, awarded through a competitive flexible procedure, is valued at approximately £8.5 million, exclusive of VAT. The procurement process reached the award stage on 4th August 2026, with the contract set to commence on 1st September 2026 and potentially extendable through to 2033. The contracting location primarily spans regions within the United Kingdom including UKC, UKH, and UKJ. This award follows an expression of interest deadline which ended on 1st June 2026, focusing on advertising and marketing services within the selective industry domain.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in media buying, especially those with expertise in multi-channel campaigns. The contract necessitates a partner that can innovate across traditional and digital platforms, with proven strengths in TV, social media, radio, and more. This can be especially promising for SME firms like Anything is Possible Media Limited, the awarded supplier, allowing for business growth through ongoing collaborations with high-profile clients like Northumbrian Water. Agencies with strong capabilities in strategic media planning, execution, and reporting—who can adapt quickly to market trends and demands while maintaining ethical and transparent practices—will find an advantageous position in fulfilling Northwest Water’s diverse and high-standard media needs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Media Buying

Notice Description

Requirements Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) is a statutory water undertaker operating in the North East of England under the trading name Northumbrian Water Ltd (NWL) and in the southern area of England under the trading name of Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW). We would expect the agency to have good knowledge of these areas, and the media landscape within them. The contract will be to support the delivery of the NWG Corporate Affairs strategies by offering a range of effective, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to media buying. This will include, but not limited to, ongoing advice and professional support in reaching key targets and audiences across our operating regions and assisting in the delivery of the NWG Corporate Affairs goals, measures, and brand strategy, bringing campaigns to life using all aspects of media platforms. In addition to this, it is crucial that the measuring of campaign effectiveness is monitored throughout with the results delivered back through reporting. We deliver a diverse range of campaigns throughout the year, including initiatives such as Bin the Wipe, Water's Worth Saving, smart meter adoption, lead pipe replacement, digital conversion, affordability support, Priority Services, and more. Each campaign has distinct objectives - ranging from raising awareness to driving direct action - which is why we need an agency with proven expertise in creating impactful campaigns across multiple areas. Reputation is of critical importance to our organisation and sits at the core of how we select and manage our partners. As custodians of our brand, we require agencies to operate with the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability. Media investment is a direct reflection of our organisation, and therefore we seek a partner whose reputation in the marketplace demonstrates ethical practice, financial governance, responsible media placement, and a proven commitment to brand safety. We expect full alignment with our values, including compliance with all regulatory requirements, transparent fee structures, responsible data usage, and proactive risk management. Our media buying partner must not only deliver performance, but also protect and enhance our organisational standing through every planning, buying, and optimisation decision. We expect a clear and efficient briefing process and full collaboration to ensure seamless integration across all channels, and they are delivered exactly as briefed. The appointed agency must provide comprehensive reporting, including proof of display, campaign performance summaries, conclusions, and actionable recommendations for future activity. A dedicated account team is essential, led by a senior team member and supported by at least two additional team members. Transparency is critical- this applies to audited invoicing, commission rates, and any discounts secured on our behalf. All proposals and post-campaign reports should clearly demonstrate value against standard rate cards, including overshow and bonus spots. Advanced notification of any changes to media suppliers and their potential impact on NWG must be provided. We also require proactive monitoring of campaigns to ensure all activity is booked as briefed and delivered as agreed. Evidence of all placements must be supplied, with suitable remedies in the event of any discrepancies. Clear copy instructions, specifications, and deadlines for all channels should be communicated promptly. Emergency media support may be needed, even at weekends and during bank holidays. Full campaign reports should be delivered within ten working days of campaign completion, with weekly updates available upon request. To maintain high standards, we expect timely responses and measurable performance. Briefs, wherever possible, should be acknowledged within two working hours, and full reporting - including outdoor site proof of display -should be provided within one week of campaign completion. Regular meetings (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) should be scheduled as required, either online or face-to-face, and site visits must be accommodated within the contract period. The agency should also facilitate quarterly media owner insight days to keep us informed of market developments. Response times for issues will be measured against agreed priorities: availability for calls at very short notice for critical matters should be a priority, and resolved within 24 hours; urgent matters acknowledged within two working hours and resolved within two business days; and important matters acknowledged within four working hours and resolved within three business days. We would expect the successful agency to reinvest a percentage of its advertising commission back into the campaign as added value. As part of this contract, we would expect the agency to have expert knowledge in providing the marketing services across the following channels - note that this is not an exhaustive list, and we would expect the agency to keep fully up to date with new channels and trends. * TV - linear and on demand* Social media * Out of Home (OOH) * Digital Out of Home (DOOH) * Radio * Digital radio * Audio streaming - e.g., podcasts, Spotify etc. * YouTube * Digital programmatic * Print * Cinema * Literature distribution / door drops Google Ads and Print - we reserve the right to go direct or use a media buyer for this option.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The initial contract is for 3 years with 2 x 2 years extensions possible. End users will decide if extensions are granted based upon the quality of the work undertaken

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0694e9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073903-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

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
£8,552,085 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£8,552,085 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£8,552,085 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHUMBRIAN WATER LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PITY ME
Postcode
DH1 5FJ
Post Town
Durham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate and Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE MEDIA

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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