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Media Planning and Buying Services

A T O C Ltd

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

18 Sep 2026 at 18:30

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

18 Sep 2026 at 17:00

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

18 Sep 2026 at 16:31

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

18 Sep 2026 at 15:58

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

ATOC Limited is procuring fully managed media planning and buying services, classified as advertising and marketing services (CPV 79340000). The appointed supplier will provide audience-led strategy, media planning, buying and activation, campaign management, optimisation, reporting, insight, measurement and evaluation, plus financial management, reconciliation and commercial reporting. The work covers national, regional and local campaigns across offline and digital media, including planned, ongoing, reactive and time-critical communications and larger strategic projects. Services are primarily for ATOC Limited, with potential requirements from participating rail organisations where allowed by the procurement documents and contract. Delivery is across the United Kingdom, and the supplier must manage varying levels of media activity and expenditure.

The procurement has reached tender: ATOC Limited invited suppliers to participate through a multi-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, using selective procurement. Stage 1 covers participation and shortlisting, with up to three suppliers progressing to Stage 2 tenders; Stage 3 involves supplier demonstration and clarification. Expressions of interest were due by 16 October 2026 at 12:00, and enquiries by 2 October 2026 at 12:00. The estimated contract value is £250,000,000 excluding VAT, including extensions; the published maximum lot value is £300,000,000 gross. The initial term runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, with three possible one-year renewals to 31 March 2032. Evaluation is quality 50%, price 40% and social value 10%.

This opportunity suits established media agencies or specialist communications providers able to deliver end-to-end media services at national, regional and local level. Strong candidates will need strategic planning, detailed media-plan development, buying and booking expertise across offline and digital channels, campaign activation, optimisation, performance monitoring, measurement and evaluation. The requirement also favours suppliers with robust financial and commercial controls, including expenditure management, transparent reporting, reconciliation and pricing capability. Providers must demonstrate sufficient capacity to handle changing volumes of activity and expenditure, including reactive communications and complex, high-value or strategically significant projects. The procedure requires a written technical quality response, social value response, pricing schedule and other tender documents, followed by a supplier demonstration and clarification session.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Media Planning and Buying Services

Notice Description

The Supplier will provide a fully managed, audience-led service covering strategic media planning, media buying and activation, campaign management, optimisation, reporting, insight, measurement and evaluation, together with associated financial and commercial management. Services will support national, regional and locally targeted campaigns and communications across a broad range of offline and digital media channels. Requirements may include planned campaigns, ongoing activity, reactive and time-critical communications, and larger or strategically significant projects. The Supplier will be required to develop campaign strategies and detailed Media Plans, manage media bookings and expenditure, provide campaign activation and optimisation, monitor performance, undertake measurement and evaluation, and provide transparent financial management, reconciliation and reporting. Project-specific Scopes of Work may be required for high-value, complex or strategically significant requirements. The estimated total value of the Contract is PS250,000,000 excluding VAT, including all available extension periods. The Contract is expected to have an initial term of two years, with options to extend for up to a further three years in one-year increments (1+1+1). Services will be delivered primarily for ATOC Limited, with the potential for requirements from participating rail organisations where provided for within the procurement documents and Contract. The Supplier must have the capacity and capability to manage varying levels of media activity and expenditure throughout the Contract Period.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0775c5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088923-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£300,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£300,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
2031-10-01

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
A T O C Ltd
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
EC4V 3DS
Postcode Area
Central 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
City of London
Electoral Ward
Castle Baynard
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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