BDU Creative Agency · UK public procurement notice

The University proposes to directly award a one-year contract extension to Stratos for the continued provision of marketing design services.

Stratos is the incumbent supplier and has developed a detailed understanding of the University's brand requirements, marketing objectives, campaign delivery processes, stakeholder expectations and existing portfolio of design assets. They also currently provide design support that is embedded within ongoing marketing activity and contributes directly to the delivery of planned campaigns and initiatives.

The Business Development Unit (BDU) Marketing team is currently experiencing reduced internal capacity. During this period, the continuity, consistency and responsiveness of external design support is critical to maintaining delivery of planned activities and avoiding disruption to key projects.

A change of supplier at this time would require a significant transfer of knowledge, onboarding activity, familiarisation with existing brand standards, campaign objectives, stakeholder relationships and historic design materials. The resulting transition period would place additional demands on an already resource-constrained team and would create disproportionate difficulties in managing project delivery, quality assurance and stakeholder engagement.

Retaining the incumbent supplier will ensure continuity of service, preserve consistency across existing marketing activity, mitigate delivery and resourcing risks, and support the successful completion of planned initiatives during the period of reduced internal capacity.

It is anticipated that this will increase the total contract value £99,764.32