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Media Buying and Planning

Transport for Greater Manchester

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

20 Aug 2026 at 14:34

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

19 Aug 2026 at 12:50

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for Greater Manchester is planning to procure integrated media planning and buying services, including media strategy, planning and buying for effective campaigns. The requirement is intended to support transport, behavioural change and customer engagement objectives across Greater Manchester. TfGM is seeking experienced media planning and buying agencies with the ability to apply strategic insight, audience intelligence and data-driven approaches to campaign development and delivery. The procurement is for services in the advertising and media buying field, classified under CPV 79341000. The work would support a broad range of public-facing transport and behaviour-change communications across Greater Manchester, rather than a single campaign or channel.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is intended to inform TfGM’s procurement strategy and future service specification; it is not yet an invitation to tender. TfGM expects to publish the next notice on 11 January 2027. The planned contract is expected to run from 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2030, with a renewal option extending the maximum period to 30 September 2031. The estimated value is £6,000,000 excluding VAT, or £7,200,000 including VAT. The requirement is above the relevant threshold, comprises one lot and is identified as suitable for SMEs. TfGM is conducting preliminary market engagement through an expression-of-interest registration and Request for Information questionnaire, with responses requested by 4 September 2026 at 12pm.

The work is likely to suit established media planning and buying agencies, including SMEs, with experience of designing and delivering integrated campaigns for public services, transport or behaviour change. Suppliers should be able to combine strategic insight, audience intelligence and data-led planning with practical media buying and campaign delivery. Relevant strengths include developing media strategies for varied audiences, selecting and managing appropriate channels, using evidence to target and evaluate communications, and adapting campaigns to customer engagement objectives. Agencies that can demonstrate extensive experience of effective, insight-led campaigns and provide a broad integrated service are well placed to contribute to TfGM’s developing requirements and prepare for the later tender.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Media Buying and Planning

Notice Description

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is seeking to engage with experienced media planning and buying agencies to inform the development of its procurement strategy and service specification. TfGM anticipates requiring a provider capable of delivering integrated media strategy, planning and buying services, with extensive experience of using strategic insight, audience intelligence and data-driven approaches to develop and deliver effective media campaigns. The successful agency would be expected to support a broad range of transport, behavioural change and customer engagement objectives across Greater Manchester. This market engagement notice will enable TfGM to develop our requirements and inform the tender specification. A Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire is available for suppliers to complete via the Pro Contract portal. Information on how to access the Pro Contract portal and this opportunity can be found further down this notice.

Planning Information

Suppliers are invited to register their expression of interest via the ProContract procurement portal using the following link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Register Opportunity Reference: DN826482 Upon registration, suppliers are encouraged to complete the Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire. RFI responses are required by Friday 4th September 2026 at 12pm.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e789
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079503-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79341000 - Advertising services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Jan 20275 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2027 - 30 Sep 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Transport for Greater Manchester
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M1 3BG
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Piccadilly
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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