Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Media Planning and Buying Service

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

26 Aug 2026 at 10:29

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

15 Jun 2026 at 16:42

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport procured media planning and buying services to deliver media planning and buying solutions. The requirement covers professional advisory and delivery support associated with planning and purchasing media for the department. It is a services procurement under the wider category of business and management consultancy and related services (CPV 79400000). The requirement was divided into one lot. The appointed provider is Wavemaker Limited trading as WPP 650. The buying organisation is a UK central government department, based at 100 Parliament Street, London. The service is intended to support DCMS’s media activity, including the preparation and handling of briefing forms and related supplier delivery, quality and cost management.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a selective procedure under a framework agreement, without a competitive call-off. The award was made to Wavemaker Limited trading as WPP 650 on 5 June 2026. The contract was signed on 23 July 2026 and is active. Its stated contract period runs from 24 July 2026 to 21 July 2028, with extension options of up to 24 months, allowing a maximum extent to 21 July 2030. The contract value is £8,000,000 excluding VAT, or £9,600,000 including VAT. The service is above the relevant threshold. Performance requirements include monthly monitoring of quality and cost, five-working-day staff replacement, and annual delivery of at least three apprenticeships.

This award indicates established central-government demand for an integrated media planning and buying provider able to advise on campaigns, translate requirements into briefing forms, and manage delivery through to measurable quality and cost outcomes. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need strong media strategy, planning, buying and consultancy capability, with the operational capacity to manage multiple briefs and provide timely mitigation when delivery is at risk. The buyer also expects dependable staffing: assigned personnel must be replaceable within five working days when requested or absent. Suppliers should therefore be able to evidence robust resourcing, continuity and assurance processes. Social value capability matters too, including the capacity to create at least three apprenticeship placements annually and support skills development and economic inclusion.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Media Planning and Buying Service

Notice Description

Delivery of Media Planning and Buying solutions

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b554
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081113-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Award under framework
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

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£8,000,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£8,000,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Jun 20262 months ago
Contract Period
24 Jul 2026 - 21 Jul 2028 1-2 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
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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
SW1A 2BQ
Postcode Area
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

Wavemaker Limited T/a WPP 650

Further Information

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.

Loading OCDS record...