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Framework Agreement for the Provision of Marketing and Communications Services

Belfast City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Sep 2026 at 11:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Belfast City Council is planning a renewed multi-supplier framework for marketing and communications services supporting the Council’s activities in Belfast and across Northern Ireland. The scope is expected to cover three broad areas: strategic brand services; design, copywriting and content services; and advertising and media. This includes marketing strategy and management consultancy, graphic design, writing, advertising management and campaign services. The procurement is for services rather than goods or construction works, and is intended to establish a group of suppliers able to provide one or more types of marketing and communications support. The three areas are indicative and may be amended, updated or revised before the framework is tendered. The Council’s Marketing and Communications Department is the service lead, with procurement managed by Belfast City Council.

This procurement is at the planning stage: Belfast City Council has announced its intention to run a pre-market engagement session before issuing a tender later in 2026. The consultation is planned for 7 October 2026 at 10.30am on Microsoft Teams. Businesses wishing to attend are expected to send an expression of interest by 5pm on 5 October 2026, with no more than two representatives per company. The proposed procurement is an above-threshold, multi-supplier framework agreement. Its estimated value is £5,000,000 excluding VAT and £6,000,000 including VAT. The initial contract period is expected to run from 1 April 2027 to 28 February 2029, with renewal provisions allowing the arrangement to continue until 28 February 2031. The engagement will explain the prospective requirements and procurement timetable; it is not an invitation to tender.

This will suit marketing agencies, communications consultancies, brand specialists, designers, copywriters, content producers, advertising agencies, media specialists and campaign-management providers. The multi-supplier structure may suit both organisations able to deliver a broad range of services and specialist firms interested in a defined area of work. Belfast City Council has indicated that the framework is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and for voluntary, community and social enterprises. Potential suppliers should use the planned consultation to understand the Council’s developing requirements, the balance between strategic and delivery work, and how suppliers may be assessed when the framework reaches the market. Relevant preparation includes demonstrating practical capability in brand development, content and design, advertising or media delivery, alongside the capacity to support public-sector communications requirements over the framework period.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Marketing and Communications Services

Notice Description

Belfast City Council's Marketing and Communications Department requires a renewed Marketing and Communications Framework, which will be put out to tender later this year. The new Framework will be multi-supplier and will cover the following indicative areas: 1. Strategic Brand Services 2. Design, Copy Writing, and Content Services 3. Advertising and Media The pre-market engagement session will give a brief overview of the new Framework, including further details regarding the above areas of work and potential requirements. It will also give a brief overview of the procurement process including an indicative timeline. Please note the above three areas are provided for guidance purposes only and may be amended, updated, or revised as necessary.

Planning Information

The purpose of this Pre Market Engagement Notice is to notify the market of Belfast City Council’s intention to hold a pre-market engagement session with interested parties to inform them of a new Marketing Services Framework which will be put out to tender later this year. The Council will be holding a consultation session on Wednesday 7th October 2026 at 10.30am. The consultation session will be a short presentation on MS Teams, and representatives from the Councils Marketing and Communications Team and Procurement Team will be present. If you are interested in attending the consultation session, please send an expression of interest email to cps@belfastcity.gov.uk (FAO Rachel Crothers) by 5pm Monday 5th October 2026. Please provide your name, your Company's Name and an email address. Please be advised that a maximum of 2 individuals from each Company will be permitted to attend.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f6a2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085806-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

79340000 - Advertising and marketing services

79341000 - Advertising services

79341200 - Advertising management services

79341400 - Advertising campaign services

79342000 - Marketing services

79413000 - Marketing management consultancy services

79822500 - Graphic design services

92312211 - Writing agency services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 28 Feb 2029 1-2 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
Belfast City 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
BELFAST
Postcode
BT2 8DJ
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN06 Belfast
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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