Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

In-House Design Support and Development

CalMac Ferries Limited

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

02 Oct 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

CalMac Ferries Limited is seeking in-house design support and development services for its marketing and communications work. The supplier will work with CalMac’s in-house design and marketing teams to develop ideas and concepts, plan multichannel campaigns and create assets for its website, social media, paid media and other channels. Work may include campaigns encouraging digital use, promoting a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of frontline staff, changing behaviour on vehicle decks, and encouraging customer feedback, as well as event design and occasional partnership or social media work. The supplier will coordinate with media buyers, production and communications agencies, insight and digital teams, brand partners, influencers and content creators. Work is based in Gourock, including monthly meetings and regular studio working with CalMac’s design team.

The procurement reached tender through a restricted procedure: CalMac invited suppliers to take part in a first-stage selection exercise, with five candidates due to be invited to the second stage. The deadline for this first-stage submission was 2 November 2026 at 12:00. The procurement sets out a one-lot opportunity with an estimated value of £150,000. The initial contract period is 360 days, with two optional 12-month extensions. The stated selection basis is technical experience: suppliers must demonstrate onsite client working, work for comparable transport and tourism clients, and experience improving the capability, effectiveness, profile or influence of an in-house design team. Bidders were required to complete the SPD (Scotland) and technical envelope for the first stage. The second-stage invitation was scheduled for 23 November 2026.

This opportunity is best suited to a design or creative agency able to collaborate closely with a client’s in-house design and marketing teams, rather than simply deliver isolated finished assets. Relevant experience with transport and tourism organisations is a stated selection requirement, as is evidence of strengthening an in-house design team. Suppliers should be able to plan and develop campaign concepts, produce work across digital, social, paid-media and event channels, and coordinate delivery with a varied group of specialist partners. The work calls for flexible capacity to support a range of projects through the year, including campaign activity and occasional ad hoc assignments. The supplier must be able to attend half-day monthly meetings in Gourock and host onsite work at its studio for at least 2.5 days each month. The requirement makes use of CalMac’s existing brand guidelines and media assets.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

In-House Design Support and Development

Notice Description

CFL requires a partner with proven experience in: - Working with client in-house design resource to develop and plan impactful ideas and concepts. - Working with client in-house marketing team to develop appropriate multichannel campaigns and content. - Working with key third parties, including media buyer, film production company, marcomms agency, in-house Insight and Digital teams, brand partners, social media influencers, and content creators. The partner will be required to work on a variety of projects throughout the year for assets used across the website, social media, paid media and more, however exact projects are yet to be determined, and, in most cases, direction is already determined.

Lot Information

Lot 1

CFL requires a partner with proven experience in: Working with client in-house design resource to develop and plan impactful ideas and concepts. Working with client in-house marketing team to develop appropriate multichannel campaigns and content. Working with key third parties, including media buyer, film production company, marcomms agency, in-house Insight and Digital teams, brand partners, social media influencers, and content creators. The partner will be required to work on a variety of projects throughout the year for assets used across the website, social media, paid media and more, however exact projects are yet to be determined, and, in most cases, direction is already determined. Existing Assets: Some of the assets that the team already has include: Brand Guidelines including marque, bespoke font, colour palette, pictograms Tone of Voice Policy Unifying Brand Proposition Line (external from early 2027) Brand Positioning Line 'Improving every journey' (internal/external from May 2025) Campaign concept and direction Built Environment Guidelines - Advice on how the brand is manifested in ports and vessels. Photo library - we have an existing photo library which is sufficient to most of our needs. Film library/partner - we have an existing video production partner who we've worked with for many years and who hold a healthy library of stock footage. Examples of Possible Jobs: The following provides examples and gives a flavour of the kinds of jobs that may be included over the initial term of the contract: -Digital Migration Campaign - assets and direction needed for a brand sympathetic, but disruptive campaign that moves consumers to digital first. -Respect Campaign - a suite of assets that show high-level commitment from the company to a policy of zero tolerance towards abuse aimed at our front-line colleagues. -Deck Protocols - a pilot campaign that changes how people behave on the car decks of ships, particularly with regards to engine idling, handbrake application and car alarm deactivation. -Customer Feedback Promotion - a series of eye-catching assets that encourage customers and crews to leave feedback on our internal feedback system. -Ad hoc - other one-off activity like Island Guides, social media direction, competitions, partnerships, cross-departmental support come up a sporadic basis -Event design support - assets and direction for various events, both internal and external. There is a mandatory requirement to attend half-day monthly meetings in Gourock and to host onsite working at your studio a minimum of 2.5 days per month for our in-house design team.. The full Invitation to Tender document will be issued to bidders that has successfully passed Stage 1 of this procurement process.

Renewal: Optional 2 x 12 months optional extension

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000844215
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT565862
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted 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

79933000 - Design support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
2 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CalMac Ferries Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GOUROCK
Postcode
PA19 1QP
Postcode Area
Paisley
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM33 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Delivery Location
TLM83 Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, and Renfrewshire
Local Authority
Inverclyde
Electoral Ward
Inverclyde West
Westminster Constituency
Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT565862
    In-House Design Support and Development - CFL requires a partner with proven experience in: - Working with client in-house design resource to develop and plan impactful ideas and concepts. - Working with client in-house marketing team to develop appropriate multichannel campaigns and content. - Working with key third parties, including media buyer, film production company, marcomms agency, in-house Insight and Digital teams, brand partners, social media influencers, and content creators. The partner will be required to work on a variety of projects throughout the year for assets used across the website, social media, paid media and more, however exact projects are yet to be determined, and, in most cases, direction is already determined.

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...