Official UK procurement notice
DFE - InterTradeIreland - Provision of Creative Design, Advertising, Print and Related Services
Authority: InterTradeIreland (Central government)·On behalf of: CPD
Sectors: Business Services & Consultancy (79)Recreational, cultural and sporting services (92) Delivery listed: Ireland (IE)Ireland (IE0)Northern Ireland (UKN)
Published estimate£2,880,000≈ £1.4m / year · £3,456,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 20 Aug 2025awarded 11 Sept 2025
Awarded to Krow Agency Limited, krow Group Ltd
Contract term 2 yrsends 2 Nov 2027 · up to 2 Nov 2029 with extensions · starts 3 Nov 2025
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionInterTradeIreland wishes to appoint a Supplier to provide a comprehensive suite of services including Brand Strategy, Creative Design, Advertising and Related Services to support the brand positioning and promotion of InterTradeIreland across the island of Ireland, north and
south.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 21 Jul 2029, 23:59 BST.
CPV: Advertising and marketing services · Advertising campaign services · Advertising management services · Advertising services · Copyright consultancy services · Digital printing services · Graphic design services · Lithographic services · Motion picture and video services · Print finishing services · Printing and delivery services · Printing and distribution services · +5 more
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£2,880,000
79121000 Copyright consultancy services79340000 Advertising and marketing services79341000 Advertising services79341200 Advertising management services79341400 Advertising campaign services79800000 Printing and related services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
- Technical & professional ability
TA1 Fair Work Practices- Suppliers must demonstrate, by way of a written response, the approach to fair work practices for personnel who will be engaged in the delivery of this contract. This includes for example any agency or sub-contractor workers and a collated response must be provided in regard to these personnel. The response must be relevant and tailored to these services.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
How bids were scored
Published sub-criteria (9)
- AC1 Strategic Solution: 12.6%
- AC2 Media Strategy, Rationale and Media Plan: 11.2%
- AC3 Creative Proposal: 11.2%
- AC4 Proposals for Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation: 6.3%
- AC5 Key Personnel Experience: 12.6%
- AC6 Contract Management and Business Continuity: 5.6%
- AC8 Total Agency Cost for Scenario: 20%
- AC9 Average Hourly Rate: 10%
- AC7 Social Value: 10.5%
Published award criteria (9)
- AC1 Strategic Solution: Tenderers must provide a strategic solution to how they would deliver a corporate brand awareness strategy for InterTradeIreland, of which the objectives, target audiences and timeframes are set out in Annex A. The tenderer’s response must include: A strategic solution to requirements including the strategic thinking and rationale that underpins it; How their recommended strategy will deliver on the objectives and challenges identified, including increasing InterTradeIreland brand awareness and differentiation; Identification of the key issues and challenges and how these would be handled; How they will gain a better understanding of the target audience; The Key Performance Indicators they would use to demonstrate their effectiveness and efficiency in delivering brand growth and recall; and A detailed project timeline and required resources. Responses to this criterion must not exceed 10 single sided A4 pages. Should a Supplier exceed the page limit permitted, any information provided beyond the page limit permitted will not be considered. Arial font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing and standard margins must be used.
- AC2 Media Strategy, Rationale and Media Plan: Tenderers must outline a Media Strategy for the scenario set out in Annex A including: Their media buying strategy, including how emerging media are used to enhance the effectiveness of the strategy, and how the strategy is future proofed; How their strategic thinking has supported development of the strategy and media plan in order to reach the target audiences identified and deliver the objectives; A rationale for the media proposed and timings including how each media can influence the target audience’s behaviour and meet the objectives; and A detailed media plan for a 12-week or three month timeframe, starting in January 2026 (Q1 2026), including digital and traditional channels, and based on the total campaign budget of £200K exc VAT, which is inclusive of all costs including all media spend, media buying, creative design, account management, campaign management, measurement and evaluation and any associated costs. Media budget should be weighted as appropriate for the proposed media plan. The media strategy and media plan will be assessed by the media chosen and not the media cost. All evidence/rationale presented in proposals must be clearly backed up by relevant research and these research sources must be clearly cited. When using media channel analysis tools, Suppliers must include an explanation of how conclusions were reached, including what parameters were used. The media plan should demonstrate gross costs for all proposed media with adjustments for rebates and levies to then give a final cost to the Buyer i.e. no further rebates are outstanding to be applied to the campaign. Responses to this criterion must not exceed 6 single sided A4 page plus 1 x A3 Media Plan. Should a Supplier exceed the page limit permitted, any information provided beyond the page limit permitted will not be considered. Arial font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing and standard margins must be used.
- AC3 Creative Proposal: Suppliers are required to present one creative proposal for the scenario outlined in Annex A. They must: Provide a creative concept, idea and execution. The response must explain how the proposed creative will meet the campaign objectives, how it reflects the proposed media plan and media mix and how it will work across a range of advertising formats and support material, Demonstrate their creative approach and how it will strengthen and enrich InterTradeIreland’s brand; Demonstrate and provide justification for positioning strategy, including campaign value proposition, messages, strapline; Demonstrate how they have undertaken concept testing and benchmarking; and Demonstrate how adaptable the creative is and how it can be refreshed over time. Responses to this criterion must not exceed 6 single sided A4 pages and two A3 storyboards in PDF format. Should a Supplier exceed the page limit permitted, any information provided beyond the page limit permitted will not be considered. Arial font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing and standard margins must be used, excluding the actual artwork being proposed.
- AC4 Proposals for Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation: Tenderers are required to provide one outline methodology for how they will monitor, measure and evaluate success and return on ad spend (ROAS), based on the requirements set out in Annex A, including: How they will monitor and optimise the campaign to improve performance, throughout its duration; How they will report on campaign progress throughout its duration; How they will measure outputs and evaluate the campaign; and How they will document, share and implement lessons learned for future campaigns. All evidence/rationale presented must be clearly backed up by relevant justification as to why the proposed methodology should be used, including an explanation of how conclusions were reached and the proposed metrics. Responses to this criterion must not exceed 3 single sided A4 pages. Should a Supplier exceed the page limit permitted, any information provided beyond the page limit permitted will not be considered. Arial font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing and standard margins must be used.
- AC5 Key Personnel Experience: Tenderers must demonstrate, by way of example(s) achieved in the last 3 years*, experience of the proposed team of Key Personnel who will be assigned to deliver the contract, which must include the following roles: Account Manager Creative Director Media Director Digital Director Digital & Social Media Lead Senior Designer Copywriter The individuals must provide an example(s) to demonstrate that they collectively have experience of working in the areas listed below: 1. Account Management 2. Brand management and creative strategy; 3. Digital and social media strategy; 4. Planning, executing, optimising, and reporting on multi-channel campaigns. 5. Media Planning and Buying; 6. Creative design and visual asset development across traditional and digital platforms, including static, digital, motion and interactive content; 7. Video production and; 8. Copywriting. Members of the proposed team can use different example(s) provided their collective experience meets all the requirements set out above. The example(s) must include: • Job title/ grade of team member; • The project title and details; and • The individual’s roles and responsibilities within that project including methodology used. Examples should focus on individual input as opposed to project delivery. For the avoidance of doubt, it is the experience of the team proposed that will be assessed under this award criterion. For example, one team member could meet 1 but not 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 but another member of the team could meet 2 and not 1, 3, 4 5, 6, 7 or 8 etc. Provided all requirements are met by the combined team, you have addressed this criterion. Suppliers must ensure that the identity of proposed personnel are not provided as part of this criterion’s response. The grades or project roles will suffice. Names should only be included within the Pricing Schedule; where the grade or project role must correspond to the individuals proposed in response to this criterion. Responses to this criterion are limited to 3 x A4 pages per proposed team this is member. Should a Supplier exceed the page limit permitted, any information provided beyond the page limit permitted will not be considered. Arial font size 12, 1.5 line spacing must be used. *Tenderers should note that ‘within the last 3 years’ refers to within 3 years from the time-limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate.
- AC6 Contract Management and Business Continuity: Suppliers must set out: 1. their proposed approach to demonstrate how they will engage with and manage the relationship with InterTradeIreland; 2. reporting arrangements and how these systems will be used to continuously monitor, benchmark, maintain quality control and improve service delivery during the full contract term; 3. the escalation procedures that will be employed to deal with any queries or problems that may occur including nominated senior point of contact; 4. their proposed approach to ensure the continued delivery of a quality service particularly in the event of unplanned events including disruptions to subcontracting arrangements (if using sub-Contractor(s)); fluctuations in the volume of work at key times of the year; changes in staff resourcing and the absence or unavailability of key personnel; 5. their proposed cost control for each campaign; and 6. Their proposed approach to providing design asset management throughout the contract. Responses to this criterion must not exceed 3 single sided A4 pages. Should a Supplier exceed the page limit permitted, any information provided beyond the page limit permitted will not be considered. Arial font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing and standard margins must be used.
- AC7 Social Value: As detailed in Appendix B of ‘Schedule 2 Specification’, the Supplier must provide social value to a minimum value of 40 social value points for every £1 million (and pro-rata) of the invoiced value. For the purposes of evaluation, Suppliers must submit their responses based on a minimum indicative value of 110 social value points. Suppliers are required to complete and submit with their tender response a Social Value Delivery Plan (excel spreadsheet) identifying which social value initiatives they will deliver to fulfil the minimum indicative social value points stated above. Suppliers must only complete the cells highlighted in yellow within the plan. Any additional information included within the plan will not be evaluated as part of the tender response. Suppliers must also provide a written response that details how they will deliver the social value initiatives and must address the following: • The timescales for delivery of the social value requirements; • The resources, both internal and external, they will use to plan and deliver the social value requirements (including details of suppliers in your supply chain on the contract); • The activities they will undertake to deliver the social value initiatives selected within their completed Social Value Delivery Plan; • How they will engage with key stakeholders (including the Authority, social value beneficiaries, organisations within the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector etc.); • Confirmation that the activities included in the response are forward looking activities which are directly related to this contract; and • How they will monitor and report on the delivery of the social value requirements and address any performance issues. Responses to this criterion must not exceed 4 single sided A4 pages plus the Social Value Delivery Plan spreadsheet. Should a Supplier exceed the page limit permitted, any information provided beyond the page limit permitted will not be considered. Arial font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing and standard margins must be used, excluding the actual artwork being proposed.
- AC8 Total Agency Cost for Scenario: Total Agency Cost for Scenario
- AC9 Average Hourly Rate: Average Hourly Rate
Conditions of participation1
- Technical & professional ability
TA1 Fair Work Practices- Suppliers must demonstrate, by way of a written response, the approach to fair work practices for personnel who will be engaged in the delivery of this contract. This includes for example any agency or sub-contractor workers and a collated response must be provided in regard to these personnel. The response must be relevant and tailored to these services.
What this means for your bid
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 21 Jul 2029
- First published
- 21 Jul 2025, 09:47 BST
- Last source update
- 26 Sept 2025, 16:21 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 19 Sept 2025
- Authority reference
ID 5844721- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-041497- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area in notice
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-056299Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
Payments will be made within 30 days for valid, undisputed invoices. Following the Commencement Date the Supplier shall submit invoices as per the instructions specified below:
(a) Invoices must be provided in pdf format with the relevant purchase order number quoted.
(b) Invoices and Credit Notes must be sent directly to InterTradeIreland at [email protected]
How it was run
Official noticeRun through: eTendersNI · Who buys & how to bid on eTendersNI
Access & registration note: Free Northern Ireland registration
- Submission deadline
- 20 Aug 2025, 15:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 11 Aug 2025, 15:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release
Timeline
21 Jul 2025 → 3 Nov 2025 · 8 dates- Tender notice published21 Jul 2025, 09:47 BST
- Clarification questions by11 Aug 2025, 15:00 BST
- Submission deadline20 Aug 2025, 15:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent11 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by398 days ago19 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Standstill ends395 days ago22 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published391 days ago26 Sept 2025, 16:21 BST
- Contract starts354 days ago3 Nov 2025
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 21 Jul 2025- Tender notice published21 Jul 2025, 09:47 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published11 Sept 2025, 08:48 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete11 Sept 2025, 08:48 BST
- Contract signature expected24 Sept 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published26 Sept 2025, 16:21 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecastAwards 1
Awarded value £2,880,0001 award exc. VAT
Bids received 44 from SMEs
Contracts signed 1latest 24 Sept 2025
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krow Agency LimitedSME, krow Group LtdSMEjoint award3 Nov 2025 – 2 Nov 2027 · up to 2 Nov 2029Extensions: There are options to extend for two further periods of up to, and including, 1 year each. | £2,880,000 | 11 Sept 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
DFE - InterTradeIreland - Provision of Creative Design, Advertising, Print and Related Services · Krow Agency LimitedSME, krow Group LtdSME
- Signed
- 24 Sept 2025
- Value
- £2,880,000
- Period
- 3 Nov 2025 – 2 Nov 2027 · up to 2 Nov 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- There are options to extend for two further periods of up to 1 year each.
No agreed KPIs: The contract value is not more than £5 million including VAT.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4final-stage tenders | 4 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- CPDBeneficiary authority
- CPD - Supplies and Services DivisionProcess contact pointProcuring entityConstruction and Procurement Delivery - Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland.
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- KROW AGENCY LTDAwarded supplier
- krow Group LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender