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A Kentish Ceremony

Kent County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

25 Aug 2026 at 16:02

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Tender

19 Jun 2026 at 15:16

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council sought a single supplier for an integrated brand and marketing service for A Kentish Ceremony, its ceremony services and licensed venues. The work covers brand stewardship and strategic positioning, annual brand and content planning, production and growth of a quarterly magazine, website management and search-engine optimisation, social media management and digital marketing, and advertising sales and income generation. The service is intended to provide a consistent Council voice across print and digital channels, including the magazine, website and social media. Delivery is on behalf of Kent County Council in Kent, within its Libraries, Registration and Archives service, working with Marketing and Insight, Registration and Commercial colleagues.

The procurement reached tender: the Council invited offers through an open competitive flexible procedure, with participation, initial tender, optional negotiation, final tender and contract award stages. The expression-of-interest deadline was 20 July 2026 at 12:00, enquiries closed on 10 July 2026 at 12:00, and the award period was due to end on 9 November 2026 at 23:59. The intended contract period was 18 January 2027 to 17 January 2030. The estimated gross value was £150,000. There was one lot, suitable for SMEs, with award based entirely on lowest price. The tender and lot were cancelled on 25 August 2026 because no candidate met all conditions of participation after questionnaire evaluation.

This requirement suited a supplier able to provide a joined-up marketing operation rather than isolated services. Relevant capability included managing and positioning a public-facing brand, planning content, producing and developing a magazine, running a website and improving its search visibility, managing social media and digital marketing, and selling advertising. The commercial model required the supplier to deliver the service without payment from Kent County Council and generate income by selling advertising in the required publications and platforms. Suppliers therefore needed the operational capacity to manage several connected channels, maintain quality and consistency, work with Council officers across multiple functions, and support promotion of ceremony services, licensed venues and relevant suppliers.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

A Kentish Ceremony

Notice Description

Kent County Council is procuring a single supplier to deliver services related to the A Kentish Ceremony brand. The brand is delivered through a mix of print and digital channels, including a quarterly magazine, a website, social media activity. These channels are used to promote ceremony services, licensed venues and relevant suppliers, while maintaining a clear and trusted Council voice. A Kentish Ceremony sits within the Libraries, Registration and Archives service. The supplier will be expected to work closely with Council officers, including Marketing and Insight, Registration and Commercial colleagues, to ensure activity under this contract aligns with service priorities. This contract covers the delivery of a joined up brand and marketing service for A Kentish Ceremony, delivered on behalf of Kent County Council. The service brings together seven connected areas of work which support how the Council promotes its ceremony services and licensed venues to customers: *Brand stewardship and strategic positioning *Annual brand and content planning *Magazine production and growth *Website management and SEO improvement *Social media management and digital marketing *Advertising sales and income generation The supplier is expected to manage these areas as a single, integrated service, rather than as separate or disconnected activities. The focus is on consistency, quality and alignment across all channels. The Council will not pay the Supplier to facilitate this contract. The Supplier will provide the service, as defined in Schedule 2 Specification, free of charge to the Kent County Council. This is a revenue-based contract; the Supplier will sell advertising to be featured in the Rrequired publications and platforms. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Maidstone:-Newspapers%2C-journals%2C-periodicals-and-magazines./B3H2233349 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/B3H2233349

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b96b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080957-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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

22213000 - Magazines

79340000 - Advertising and marketing services

79341000 - Advertising services

79342000 - Marketing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Aug 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
10 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
18 Jan 2027 - 17 Jan 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Cancelled
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Cancelled
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Kent County 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
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Postcode Area
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent
Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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