--- title: "Digital Media Planning and Buying Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07858a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07858a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07858a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07858a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "SRUC" published: "2026-10-12" --- # Digital Media Planning and Buying Services Buyer: SRUC Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07858a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07858a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07858a.json) ## Summary SRUC is seeking one or two agencies to plan, buy and manage paid digital media campaigns for its higher education activities. The work covers advertising strategy, campaign planning and delivery across multiple channels, with the aim of improving audience engagement and conversions cost-effectively. Campaigns will support brand awareness, student recruitment, promotion of commercial services and engagement with wider stakeholders. The procurement is divided into two lots: one for activity in Scotland, and one covering the UK and international markets. The international lot requires agencies to account for differences in media markets, audience habits and consumption across countries. The buyer is SRUC, an education and research organisation based in Edinburgh. Work supports activity across Scotland and, for the second lot, elsewhere in the UK and international markets. SRUC invited offers through an open procedure. The tender deadline was 11 November 2026 at 12:00 noon UTC; the award period was scheduled to start at that time. The contract is intended to run for two years, commencing around 5 January 2027, with the possibility of two one-year extensions by mutual agreement. The estimated total procurement value is £320,000 across the two lots; no individual lot values are stated. Bids were to be submitted electronically in English and remain valid for 90 days. Variant bids were permitted. Suppliers were assessed against suitability, with the criteria set out in the tender documents. The contract was planned to recur in 2030. Electronic ordering and payment are provided for, and electronic invoicing is allowed. This opportunity suits media buying agencies with proven higher education experience and the ability to deliver campaigns in Scotland, across the UK or in international markets, depending on the lot. Suppliers need to manage several campaigns across multiple channels and show they can turn audience and media-market insight into effective engagement strategies. The brief calls for understanding of differing consumer habits, media landscapes and market conditions, particularly for international activity. Agencies should be capable of planning and managing paid campaigns that support student recruitment, brand awareness, commercial services and stakeholder engagement, while pursuing strong engagement and conversion cost-effectively. Businesses able to offer tailored local and international market expertise may be best placed to address the two distinct scopes. ## Notice 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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096037-2026 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | 11 Nov 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | 2030 | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £320,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SRUC | | Locality | EDINBURGH | | Postcode area | Edinburgh | | Postcode | EH9 3JG | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh | | Local authority | City of Edinburgh | | Electoral ward | Southside/Newington | | Westminster constituency | Edinburgh South | | Delivery location | TLM Scotland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### 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 ## Release History - 12 Oct 2026 at 12:30 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096037-2026 ## Notice URLs - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk - http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk - http://www.sruc.ac.uk - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000844134 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=844134 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=844134 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00021 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx ## 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-07858a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07858a.json.