Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Digital Media Planning and Buying Services

SRUC

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

12 Oct 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

SRUC is seeking media planning and buying services to support its institutional objectives through paid campaigns that raise brand awareness, recruit students, promote commercial services and engage wider stakeholders. The work is split into a Scotland lot and a UK and international markets lot. The appointed agency or agencies will plan and manage campaigns across multiple channels, recommend suitable media strategies and adapt to different audiences, markets and media-consumption habits. Delivery covers Scotland for the first lot and the UK and international markets for the second. SRUC is the buying organisation. This is a higher-education marketing requirement for agencies able to combine media strategy, buying and campaign delivery across local and international markets.

SRUC invited offers through an open procedure. The procurement has reached the tender stage. Bids were to be submitted electronically by 11 November 2026 at 12:00, with evaluation scheduled to start at that time. The estimated total value is £320,000. There are two lots: Scotland, and UK and international markets; suppliers may bid for both. Each contract is planned to start around 5 January 2027 and run for two years, with the possibility of two further one-year extensions by mutual agreement. Bids must remain valid for 90 days. Variants are allowed. The published selection criterion is suitability, with criteria set out in the tender documents.

This opportunity suits media agencies with demonstrable experience in higher-education marketing and the ability to plan and buy paid media across multiple channels. Strong competitors will be able to manage several campaigns at once, recommend cost-effective approaches that improve engagement and conversion, and tailor activity to differing markets, audiences and media habits. For the Scotland lot, relevant strength in the local Scottish market is important; the second lot calls for capability across UK and international markets. Suppliers should be prepared to support student recruitment as well as brand awareness, commercial promotion and stakeholder engagement. Agencies with capacity to cover both geographic scopes can bid for both lots, while specialists can focus on the market they serve best. The requirement is oriented towards sustained, multi-campaign delivery rather than a single placement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Digital Media Planning and Buying Services

Notice Description

SRUC is seeking to appoint one or two media buying agencies who have the experience to develop and deliver media activity in the higher education sector within local and international markets, while recognising the different perspectives, challenges, market demands and media consumption that exist within different countries. The selected suppliers must have the ability to deliver and manage several campaigns across multiple channels and deliver the highest levels of engagement and conversion in the most cost-effective way. The suppliers should be able to recommend the most effective media engagement strategy through their understanding of the varying media landscape and consumer habits of our intended audiences. The appointed agencies will also support SRUC in delivering its institutional objectives through effective paid media activity designed to increase brand awareness, drive student recruitment, promote commercial services and support wider stakeholder engagement across Scotland, the UK and international markets.

Lot Information

Digital Media Planning and Buying Services - Scotland

SRUC is seeking to appoint a media buying agency who has the experience to develop and deliver media activity in the higher education sector within a local Scottish market, while recognising the different perspectives, challenges, market demands and media consumption that exist. The selected supplier must have the ability to deliver and manage several campaigns across multiple channels and deliver the highest levels of engagement and conversion in the most cost-effective way. The supplier should be able to recommend the most effective media engagement strategy through their understanding of the varying media landscape and consumer habits of our intended audiences. The appointed agency will also support SRUC in delivering its institutional objectives through effective paid media activity designed to increase brand awareness, drive student recruitment, promote commercial services and support wider stakeholder engagement across Scotland.

Renewal: The Contract will commence on or around 5 January 2027 for a period of 2 years with the possibility of 2 one-year extensions by mutual agreement. Renewal will follow.

Digital Media Planning and Buying Services - UK and International

SRUC is seeking to appoint a media buying agency who has the experience to develop and deliver media activity in the higher education sector within UK and international markets, while recognising the different perspectives, challenges, market demands and media consumption that exist within different countries. The selected supplier must have the ability to deliver and manage several campaigns across multiple channels and deliver the highest levels of engagement and conversion in the most cost-effective way. The supplier should be able to recommend the most effective media engagement strategy through their understanding of the varying media landscape and consumer habits of our intended audiences. The appointed agency will also support SRUC in delivering its institutional objectives through effective paid media activity designed to increase brand awareness, drive student recruitment, promote commercial services and support wider stakeholder engagement across the UK and international markets.

Renewal: The Contract will commence on or around 5 January 2027 for a period of 2 years with the possibility of 2 one-year extensions by mutual agreement. Renewal will follow.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000844134
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566491
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open 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

79341000 - Advertising services

79341100 - Advertising consultancy services

79341200 - Advertising management services

79341400 - Advertising campaign services

79342000 - Marketing services

79342200 - Promotional services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£320,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
11 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
2030

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SRUC
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH9 3JG
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Southside/Newington
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566491
    Digital Media Planning and Buying Services - SRUC is seeking to appoint one or two media buying agencies who have the experience to develop and deliver media activity in the higher education sector within local and international markets, while recognising the different perspectives, challenges, market demands and media consumption that exist within different countries. The selected suppliers must have the ability to deliver and manage several campaigns across multiple channels and deliver the highest levels of engagement and conversion in the most cost-effective way. The suppliers should be able to recommend the most effective media engagement strategy through their understanding of the varying media landscape and consumer habits of our intended audiences. The appointed agencies will also support SRUC in delivering its institutional objectives through effective paid media activity designed to increase brand awareness, drive student recruitment, promote commercial services and support wider stakeholder engagement across Scotland, the UK and international markets.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...