--- title: "Sails of the South Advertising" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06c708" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c708" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c708.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c708.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL" published: "2026-07-09" --- # Sails of the South Advertising Buyer: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06c708 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c708) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c708.json) ## Summary Portsmouth City Council is in the planning phase of a procurement process titled "Sails of the South Advertising," aimed at updating and creating digital advertising infrastructure at a prominent city location on the M275. Classified under the services category, this public procurement involves industry sectors like audio-visual equipment, advertising, and promotional services. Interested parties should note that a preliminary market engagement questionnaire has been released, with a submission deadline of 10th August 2026. This initiative, linked to the council's efforts to leverage the high traffic flow at the site, is a market consultation to explore available options and gather supplier feedback, which will guide the eventual procurement strategy. This tender process presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in advertising solutions, audio-visual equipment, and digital content management. Portsmouth's status as a major tourist city, combined with the unique advertising potential of the "Sails of the South" structure, offers substantial exposure to an audience exceeding 31 million vehicle movements per annum. Companies that can offer innovative, flexible, and high-quality digital projection solutions, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, are well-positioned to benefit from this engagement. The council is particularly interested in exploring a concession or partnership model for the project's delivery, welcoming market input to refine specifications and ensure successful implementation. ## Notice Portsmouth City Council (The Council) is seeking to procure an advertising solution associated with digital projection advertising at the "Sails of the South" (Tri Sail structure). The Council has a need to update existing non-digital advertising infrastructure and create digital advertising infrastructure on the M275. As a dynamic waterfront city at the heart of South Hampshire, Portsmouth attracts visitor numbers of in excess of 12.4 million per year. The Sails of the South are a prominent 43-metre gateway structure located on the M275 at the primary entrance to Portsea Island. Installed in 2001, the landmark reflects Portsmouth's maritime identity and forms a highly visible feature for vehicles entering the city. The location benefits from significant traffic flow, with approximately 31.4 million vehicle movements per year (c. 86,000 per day), providing a strong advertising proposition in a gateway location. Historically, the structure has supported projection-based advertising, generating income for the Council. However, the previous system is no longer operational, and PCC is now considering options to reintroduce a modern, flexible, and commercially viable digital advertising solution. PCC is considering the installation of a modern projection system comprising: Three high-powered mapping projectors (one per sail) Capability for multiple adverts to be displayed on rotation Remote content management, removing the need for on-site intervention Improved image quality and flexibility compared to previous systems Operation assumed dusk to dawn (approx. 8 hours per night). The system would ideally allow both static and potentially animated content (subject to safety considerations due to the highway setting). The sails provide a large-scale projection surface which functions as a "blank canvas", offering a unique city gateway advertising asset. However, design suitability and safety considerations (e.g. animation levels) will need to be factored into content. Options PCC is exploring two potential delivery approaches: Option A - Council-Owned Model * PCC funds the purchase and installation of the projection equipment * PCC markets and sells advertising space. Option B - Concession / Partnership Model * An external advertising operator funds, installs, and maintains the projection system. They also assume operational and commercial risk * PCC receives a share of advertising revenue. We are interested in hearing from the market on option B. This engagement is intended to inform PCC's preferred delivery model and procurement approach, and no formal procurement process is being launched at this stage. We recognise the experience and innovation that suppliers can bring to these services. As such PCC would welcome your organisation's market information, which will be used to support PCC to deliver a high quality specification that meets the needs of both PCC and local business. A market consultation questionnaire has been published on the InTend procurement portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home Subject to the response PCC may wish to engage with you further in an informal discussion, however this is purely a market consultation and is in no way an indication of the selection of your organisation or a guarantee of future work. Organisations participating in the market consultation will not have any advantage over organisations who do not participate in this process. Similarly, organisations not participating in the market consultation will not be disadvantaged. ### Planning Information The council has prepared a preliminary market engagement questionnaire for completion which will be used to understand: Market interest Feasibility Financial model Revenue estimates Capital infrastructure The questionnaire can be found on the InTend procurement portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home The submission of the questionnaire, in part or in full, is purely optional and suppliers who do not submit will not be precluded from taking part in the procurement process. Subject to the responses, the council may wish to engage with suppliers further in an informal discussion, however this is purely a market consultation and will not form part of the selection process. The Council are requesting that the questionnaire be completed and returned by 10th August at 17:00. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064501-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 9 Jul 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 10 Aug 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 30 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL | | Locality | PORTSMOUTH | | Post town | Portsmouth | | Postcode | PO1 2AL | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight | | ITL 3 | TLJ31 Portsmouth | | Local authority | Portsmouth | | Electoral ward | Charles Dickens | | Westminster constituency | Portsmouth South | | Delivery location | TLJ31 Portsmouth | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 32321200 - Audio-visual equipment - 32321300 - Audio-visual materials - 32322000 - Multimedia equipment - 79341000 - Advertising services - 79342200 - Promotional services ## Release History - 9 Jul 2026 at 08:53 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064501-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064501-2026 9th July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c708. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c708.json.