---
title: "Media Handling Tool"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078a8a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078a8a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078a8a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078a8a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Reading Borough Council"
published: "2026-10-19"
---

# Media Handling Tool

Buyer: Reading Borough Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078a8a

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078a8a)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078a8a.json)

## Summary

Reading Borough Council procured a media handling platform and associated media relations services to support its corporate communications. The system provides a central place to distribute press releases, log and manage media enquiries, retrieve previous public statements, and monitor, analyse and report on media coverage. It also hosts the Council’s media website, where journalists and media organisations can find press releases, official statements and images. The service supports consistent, auditable engagement with the media and helps the Council maintain records and understand coverage and public perception. It is also intended to support communications during high-profile issues, emergencies and periods of increased media interest. The stated delivery area is across England; the platform supports Reading Borough Council’s communications activities.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Onclusive UK. The Council used a below-threshold procurement route; the recorded method details do not identify a specific procedure. The award date was not published in the available data, while the contract was signed on 22 September 2026. The contract runs from 22 September 2026 to 21 September 2029. Its value is £16,861.20 excluding VAT, or £20,233.44 including VAT. The procurement was arranged as one lot. The award is active and the contract is active. No evaluation criteria or eligibility requirements are stated in the available procurement details.

For a supplier hoping to compete when this requirement returns to market, this award demonstrates demand for an integrated media relations platform rather than a single-purpose press distribution service. A credible solution would need to combine press release distribution, enquiry management, searchable records of previous statements, media monitoring, analysis and reporting, and a hosted media website with imagery. Reliability and auditability matter: the Council describes the service as supporting continuity during emergencies and high-profile issues, when rapid publication and accurate records are important. Suppliers with experience delivering dependable platforms for public-sector communications, supporting journalists’ access to official content, and providing useful coverage insight would be well placed to demonstrate fit. The contract’s multi-year duration indicates a continuing service requirement, while its scale is suited to a focused platform and service offering.

## Notice

This procurement seeks to establish a multi-year contract for the provision of a Media Handling Tool to support Reading Borough Council's (RBC) corporate communications and media management activities. The solution is required to provide a centralised platform through which press releases can be distributed, media enquiries can be recorded and managed, previous public statements can be accessed for reference, and media coverage can be monitored, analysed, and reported upon. The platform also hosts the Council's media website, which enables journalists and media organisations to access press releases, official statements, and associated imagery. The service is required to ensure the continued delivery of an effective, professional, and auditable media relations function. It supports timely and consistent communications with the media, maintains a comprehensive record of media engagement and public statements, and provides valuable insight into media coverage and public perception of Council activity. The platform is also a key business continuity tool, particularly during high-profile issues, emergency situations, and periods of increased media interest, where the ability to rapidly distribute information and maintain accurate records is critical.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098384-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - unknown |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 22 Sep 2026 - 21 Sep 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £16,861 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Reading Borough Council |
| Locality | READING |
| Postcode area | Reading |
| Postcode | RG1 2LU |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ16 Berkshire West |
| Local authority | Reading |
| Electoral ward | Abbey |
| Westminster constituency | Reading Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Onclusive |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79416000 - Public relations services

## Release History

- 19 Oct 2026 at 11:26 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098384-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098384-2026
  19th October 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.onclusive.com
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.reading.gov.uk/

## 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-078a8a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078a8a.json.