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CSP26480 - Media Strategy, Planning and Buying

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

14 Oct 2026 at 10:42

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) procured media strategy, planning and buying services to support activity aligned with its organisational priorities. The work covers strategic campaigns, public engagement activity and thematic communications programmes, including the planning and purchase of media. The services are for UKRI, with delivery across the United Kingdom. UK Shared Business Services Ltd managed the procurement on UKRI’s behalf. The requirement is classified as advertising and marketing services. This is a central government research organisation’s communications requirement, rather than a general marketing brief: the appointed supplier supports UKRI’s organisational priorities and programme of public-facing activity through media strategy, planning and buying.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to WAVEMAKER LIMITED trading as WPP650. The award was made on 14 October 2026, with a value of £4 million excluding VAT (£4.8 million including VAT). The contract period runs from 2 November 2026 to 14 June 2030. It was a selective procurement awarded under a framework agreement, with one lot. The process is recorded as non-competitive. The award is shown as pending, and a contract signature was scheduled for 26 October 2026. The successful supplier was selected for media strategy, planning and buying services; the published procurement information does not set out a detailed evaluation basis.

For suppliers considering comparable work for UKRI in future, this award demonstrates demand for an integrated media service: strategy, planning and buying tied to organisational priorities, strategic campaigns, public engagement and thematic communications. A credible competitor would need to show it can connect campaign objectives with effective media plans and purchasing, and deliver across UKRI’s UK-wide remit. The scope is broad enough to call for coordinated support across different types of communications activity, rather than media buying for a single campaign. The buyer used a framework route for this procurement, so suppliers seeking similar work should understand how to compete through relevant framework arrangements. The selected supplier provides evidence of the kind of established media-services provider that won this requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CSP26480 - Media Strategy, Planning and Buying

Notice Description

***** THIS IS A CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) are seeking to procure media strategy, planning, and buying services. The appointed supplier will support UKRI in delivering activity aligned to organisational priorities, strategic campaigns, public engagement activity and thematic communications programmes.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07872e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096850-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 14 Jun 2030 3-4 years
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
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WAVEMAKER LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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