Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 24 Sept 2025, 15:53 BST

Official UK procurement notice

DfC - National Museums NI - Provision of Marketing and Communication Services

Official notice

Authority: National Museums NI (Central government)·On behalf of: CPD

4 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£1,725,000total for 4 lots · £2,070,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 27 Oct 2025awarded 9 Dec 2025
Awarded to BIG AND BOLD LIMITED +2 more4 awards
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Dec 2028 · up to 31 Dec 2030 with extensions · starts 5 Jan 2026

What is being bought4 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

National Museums NI wishes to appoint a Supplier(s) to deliver design, advertising and

creative services, media buying, communications and Public Relations (PR) and digital

marketing services.

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 24 Sept 2029, 23:59 BST.

CPV: Advertising and marketing services · Advertising services · Public relations services · Trade-advertising material, commercial catalogues and manuals

Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure

4 lots · all with a published value (£1,725,000 together) · same conditions of participation on every lot · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1Offline Media BuyingAwardedRenewal 3 yrsPublished value£350,000

National Museums NI is seeking a media buying agency who will strive to ensure we reach as many people as possible within our budgets through offline advertising. Remembering our remit as a public body and offering maximum value for the public.

Contract period: 5 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Dec 2030 with extensionsValue: £350,000 exc. VAT · £420,000 inc. VAT
Extensions: There are two options to extend by 12 months each.
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    Company experience.

Lot #2Digital Marketing ServicesAwardedRenewal 3 yrsPublished value£175,000

National Museums NI is seeking a dedicated digital marketing partner to ensure that our digital reach is maximised through a comprehensive and always-on digital advertising and digital marketing strategy, working towards establishing a digital audience framework, providing expertise in targeting and segmenting digital audiences beyond simple demographics.

Contract period: 5 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Dec 2030 with extensionsValue: £175,000 exc. VAT · £210,000 inc. VAT
Extensions: There are two options to extend by 12 months each.
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    Company experience.

Lot #3Communications and PR ServicesAwardedRenewal 3 yrsPublished value£500,000

National Museums NI is seeking a proactive communications partner who will amplify far and wide the impact of what we do on a day-to-day basis as well as supporting our corporate communications needs. From events to major stories, we want an agency with the ability to seek the opportunities and optimise them.

Contract period: 5 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Dec 2030 with extensionsValue: £500,000 exc. VAT · £600,000 inc. VAT
Extensions: There are two options to extend by 12 months each.
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    Company experience.

Lot #4Design, Advertising and Creative ServicesAwardedRenewal 3 yrsPublished value£700,000

National Museums NI is seeking a creative, dynamic Supplier who will help us shape and create standout museum brands, connect with audiences and amplify the impact of each museum. To be bold and unique, relevant and impactful.

Contract period: 5 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Dec 2030 with extensionsValue: £700,000 exc. VAT · £840,000 inc. VAT
Extensions: There are two options to extend by 12 months each.
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    Company experience.

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

Conditions of participation · identical on every lot1
  • Technical & professional ability

    Company experience.

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 20–30 points depending on the lot. Read the split per lot below.

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 24 Sept 2029
First published
24 Sept 2025, 15:53 BST
Last source update
6 Jan 2026, 12:43 GMT
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 12 Dec 2025
Authority reference
5830444
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-059390
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Advertising and marketing servicesAdvertising servicesPublic relations servicesTrade-advertising material, commercial catalogues and manuals
Delivery area
Northern Ireland (UKN)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a163 Find a Tender
Contract terms summary

Contract Value

The estimated value figure indicated in the Scope Section represents an overall estimated contract value. This value reflects the potential scale of the contract and takes into account potential optional extension periods and the uptake of potential optional services as detailed in the tender documents. This figure does not however take into account the application of indexation or increases to charges due to increases in the Real Living Wage. Neither CPD nor the contracting Authority can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this contract. The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Suppliers remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from the Supplier in connection with taking part in this procurement process regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence, directly or indirectly of any amendments made to the procurement documents by the Contracting Authority at any time. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a Supplier shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the Contract has been confirmed by the Contracting Authority.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: eTendersNI · Who buys & how to bid on eTendersNI
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free Northern Ireland registration
Submission deadline
27 Oct 2025, 14:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
20 Oct 2025, 15:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

24 Sept 2025 → 6 Jan 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published393 days ago
    24 Sept 2025, 15:53 BST
  2. Clarification questions by367 days ago
    20 Oct 2025, 15:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline360 days ago
    27 Oct 2025, 14:00 GMT
  4. Assessment summaries sent317 days ago
    9 Dec 2025
  5. Award decision expected by313 days ago
    12 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
  6. Standstill ends303 days ago
    22 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
  7. Contract starts290 days ago
    5 Jan 2026
  8. Latest notice published289 days ago
    6 Jan 2026, 12:43 GMT

Notice history

5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 24 Sept 2025
  1. Tender notice published
    24 Sept 2025, 15:53 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    11 Dec 2025, 14:15 GMT
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    11 Dec 2025, 14:15 GMT
  4. Contract signature expected
    23 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled
  5. Contract details notice published
    6 Jan 2026, 12:43 GMT
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 4
Awarded value £1,725,0004 awards exc. VAT
Bids received 1515 from SMEs
Contracts signed 4latest 23 Dec 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 1 · Offline Media Buying1 award
ANDERSON SPRATT GROUP LTDSME5 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028 · up to 31 Dec 2030Extensions: There are two options to extend by 12 months each£350,0009 Dec 2025Awarded
Lot 2 · Digital Marketing Services1 award
ANDERSON SPRATT GROUP LTDSME5 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028 · up to 31 Dec 2030Extensions: There are two options to extend by 12 months each£175,0009 Dec 2025Awarded
Lot 3 · Communications and PR Services1 award
NAVIGATOR BLUE LTDSMEVCSE5 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028 · up to 31 Dec 2030Extensions: There are two options to extend by 12 months each£500,0009 Dec 2025Awarded
Lot 4 · Design, Advertising and Creative Services1 award
BIG AND BOLD LIMITEDSME5 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028 · up to 31 Dec 2030Extensions: There are two options to extend by 12 months each£700,0009 Dec 2025Awarded

Contracts

  • Lot 1: Design, Advertising and Creative Services · BIG AND BOLD LIMITEDSME

    Signed
    23 Dec 2025
    Value
    £700,000
    Period
    5 Jan 2026 – 4 Jan 2029 · up to 4 Jan 2031 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    There are two options to extend by 12 months each.

    No agreed KPIs: The contract value is less than £5million.

  • Lot 2: Offline Media Buying · ANDERSON SPRATT GROUP LTDSME

    Signed
    23 Dec 2025
    Value
    £350,000
    Period
    5 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2029 · up to 4 Jan 2031 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    There are two options to extend by 12 months each.

    No agreed KPIs: The contract value is less than £5million.

  • Lot 3: Digital Marketing Services · ANDERSON SPRATT GROUP LTDSME

    Signed
    23 Dec 2025
    Value
    £175,000
    Period
    5 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2029 · up to 4 Jan 2031 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    There are two options to extend by 12 months each.

    No agreed KPIs: The contract value is less than £5million.

  • Lot 4: Communications and PR Services · NAVIGATOR BLUE LTDSMEVCSE

    Signed
    23 Dec 2025
    Value
    £500,000
    Period
    5 Jan 2026 – 4 Jan 2029 · up to 4 Jan 2031 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    There are two options to extend by 12 months each.

    No agreed KPIs: The contract value is less than £5million.

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Offline Media Buying1final-stage tenders10—
2 · Digital Marketing Services3final-stage tenders30—
3 · Communications and PR Services5final-stage tenders50—
4 · Design, Advertising and Creative Services6final-stage tenders · 7 at stage one60—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

3 public bodies on the notice

National Museums Northern Ireland

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PHRL-2489-HJBV 153 Bangor Road, Cultra, Northern Ireland, BT18 0EUContact email

Other public bodies

  • CPDBeneficiary authority
  • CPD - Supplies and Services DivisionProcess contact pointProcuring entitySupplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland.GB-PPON: PVWG-8426-YWXV Belfast, Northern IrelandContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

3 commercial parties on the notice
  • ANDERSON SPRATT GROUP LTDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PDZV-2668-CBJR Anderson House, Holywood Road,, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT4 2GUContact email
  • BIG AND BOLD LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PCRB-4759-TLJN Cotton Court, 30-42 Waring Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 2EDContact email
  • NAVIGATOR BLUE LTDAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PYPX-4353-HXXW The Baths,, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT2 8HSContact email

Official documents & specifications (9)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender