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DBT and The British Film Commission 2026

Department for Business and Trade

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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01 Oct 2026 at 10:41

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Business & Trade commissioned the British Film Commission to represent the UK film and high-end television sector in Los Angeles. The service promotes the UK as a destination for film and high-end television investment, builds relationships with US industry stakeholders, identifies inward investment opportunities and supplies market intelligence supporting trade and foreign direct investment objectives. This is specialist international business-development and investment-promotion work, classified under event services (CPV 79952000). The activity is focused on Los Angeles and the US screen-production industry, with the aim of attracting investment into the UK.

The procurement is complete and was made by direct award to the British Film Commission. The Department cited the exclusive specialist nature of the service and the supplier’s recognised national role as the basis for using this route. The award is recorded as pending. Its value is £200,000 excluding VAT (£240,000 including VAT). The contract period runs from 14 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, with signature scheduled for 14 October 2026. There is one lot. The stated rationale says BFC’s expertise and industry relationships cannot be replicated by alternative suppliers; no separate scored evaluation criteria are set out.

For suppliers considering comparable work for the Department, this award indicates that credibility depends on specialist screen-sector investment expertise and established access to US studios, production companies and other industry stakeholders. A competitor would need to demonstrate an ability to promote the UK as a destination for film and high-end television production, develop relationships in the Los Angeles market, identify inward-investment prospects and provide useful market intelligence tied to trade and investment objectives. The Department valued an established UK-wide network and a record of supporting projects associated with a substantial share of UK inward-investment high-end television spend. This is a focused international representation requirement, rather than general event delivery; evidence of sector-specific relationships and practical investment-support outcomes would be central to a credible proposition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DBT and The British Film Commission 2026

Notice Description

The procurement will appoint the British Film Commission (BFC) to provide in-market representation in Los Angeles, promoting the UK as a destination for film and high-end television investment. The service will build relationships with key US industry stakeholders, identify inward investment opportunities, and provide market intelligence to support trade and FDI objectives. DBT has made a direct award to BFC because it is the recognised national body for attracting and supporting inward investment screen production and offers specialist expertise and industry relationships that cannot be replicated by alternative suppliers. Its established UK-wide network, strong links with US studios and production companies, and proven record of supporting projects responsible for approximately 93% of UK inward investment HETV spend make BFC best placed to deliver the required production support and business development activity.

Procurement Information

The requirement is of a specialist nature due to the services only being exclusively available via the selected supplier. A Direct Award under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 to the supplier represents a proportionate and suitable commercial model for this service for DBT.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077e53
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092708-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
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

79952000 - Event services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Business and Trade
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
SW1A 2DY
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
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

British Film Commission

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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