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Media Buying Services

THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

11 Sep 2026 at 13:33

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

11 Sep 2026 at 13:17

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Transport has procured media buying services covering the placement and activation of Government advertising. The requirement is for advertising and marketing services delivered across the United Kingdom. It includes the planning, purchasing and activation of media on behalf of the department, rather than the creation of a single campaign or one-off advertising asset. The buyer is the Department for Transport, a central government authority. The procurement was arranged as one service lot and is relevant to media agencies, advertising buying agencies and marketing service providers with the capability to manage Government advertising activity at national scale. The selected supplier is Wavemaker trading as WPP650.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a selective procedure under a framework agreement, with a non-competitive call-off. The contract was awarded to Wavemaker trading as WPP650 on 3 August 2026 and signed on 11 September 2026. The contract runs from 11 September 2026 to 14 June 2030. Its value is £30,000,000 excluding VAT and £36,000,000 including VAT. The award covers the single media buying services lot and is above the relevant threshold. The stated purpose is all services related to placing and activating Government advertising. The contract includes a Social Value Catalyst Fund, funded with 1% of fee income, for seed funding or accreditation assistance for local SMEs and social enterprises.

For a supplier assessing future Department for Transport requirements, this award demonstrates sustained demand for a specialist media buying partner able to place and activate Government advertising across the UK. Credible competitors would need strong media planning and buying capability, effective campaign activation, and the operational capacity to manage a substantial central-government account over a multi-year period. Experience of public-sector or regulated-client work would help demonstrate understanding of Government advertising requirements, governance and accountability, although the procurement does not state a specific accreditation or minimum experience threshold. The contract’s social value commitment also indicates that future providers may need to support local SMEs and social enterprises through funding or accreditation assistance.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Media Buying Services

Notice Description

For all services related to the placing and activation of Government advertising.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f80e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086417-2026
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

79340000 - Advertising and marketing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£30,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£30,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
11 Sep 2026 - 14 Jun 2030 3-4 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
THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT
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
SW1P 4DR
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
Vincent Square
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WAVEMAKER LIMITED

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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