Official UK procurement notice
Marketing & Creative Services Framework.
Authority: Aster Group Limited
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionIt is the intention of Aster Group (also known as 'Aster Sales') to establish a framework agreement with suitably qualified specialist external agencies to help us deliver our shared ownership sales & marketing strategy with support on creative development, digital marketing and marketing automation delivery services to meet needs that cannot be met in-house by its own provision, or where additional knowledge and expertise is required.
The appointed agency (s) will lead on strategic creative direction and planning, campaign development, cross-platform asset creation, content optimisation and performance analysis.
The requirement IS split into four lots:
- Lot 1 - Digital marketing support
- Lot 2 - Creative support
- Lot 3 - Artworking
- Lot 4 - Development marketing automation delivery
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 6 Jan 2030, 23:59 GMT.
- How the procedure runs: 2 stage Procedure involving Interview
CPV: Market and economic research; polling and statistics
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 25 bids on the busiest of 4 lots · 6 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 18 May 2026
Published description of the framework
The Framework will be operated and managed by Aster Group for internal use
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Digital Marketing SupportAwardedPublished value£210,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #2Creative SupportAwardedPublished value£280,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #3ArtworkingAwardedPublished value£140,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #4Development sales & marketing automation deliveryAwardedPublished value£70,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
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).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical (Stage 1 Evaluation): 70%
- Cost (Stage 1 Evaluation): 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical (Stage 1 Evaluation)
- Cost (Stage 1 Evaluation)
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Marketing & Creative Services Framework.” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible 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
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 6 Jan 2030
- First published
- 3 Nov 2025, 14:31 GMT
- Last source update
- 22 Jun 2026, 13:54 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 20 Apr 2026
- Authority reference
CAS-01107-Y9J4K5- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-000859- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d915Find a Tender
- How it runs
2 stage Procedure involving Interview
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 9 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Appointment period ends
- 9 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
3 Nov 2025 → 22 Jun 2026 · 9 dates- Planning notice published351 days ago3 Nov 2025, 14:31 GMT
- Market engagement325 days ago28 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PIN) is issued to inform the market of a potential upcoming procurement for Marketing & Creative Services. The purpose of this engagement is to:
*Understand market capabilities and interest
*Inform the scope and structure of the procurement
*Explore suitable commercial and delivery models
*Identify potential risks and opportunities
This is not a call for competition and does not constitute a formal procurement process.
Interested suppliers are invited to participate by completing a Preliminary Market Engagement Questionnaire. The questionnaire seeks feedback on service capabilities, delivery models, commercial preferences, and suggestions for procurement/framework design.
Please follow this link to express your interest and access the related documents: in-tendhost.co.uk/aster/aspx/ProjectMa… ↗
Responses will be used to shape the procurement strategy and documentation.
Subject to the outcome of this engagement, the contracting authority may proceed with a formal procurement process. Suppliers who do not participate in this engagement will not be excluded from future opportunities.
It is mandatory for any interested suppliers to register on the new CENTRAL DIGITAL PLATFORM which is part of the enhanced Find a Tender Service.
- Next notice expected287 days ago5 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Tender notice published287 days ago6 Jan 2026, 19:43 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends253 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown9 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by182 days ago20 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts155 days ago18 May 2026, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent120 days ago22 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published120 days ago22 Jun 2026, 13:54 BST
Notice history
11 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 3 Nov 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published3 Nov 2025, 14:31 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published6 Jan 2026, 19:43 GMTUK4
- Published value updated6 Jan 2026, 19:43 GMT
- Status changed to active6 Jan 2026, 19:43 GMT
- Procurement method changed6 Jan 2026, 19:43 GMT
- Tender notice published8 Jan 2026, 10:05 GMTUK4
- Published value published: £2,963,6828 Jan 2026, 10:05 GMT
- Contract award notice published22 Jun 2026, 13:54 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete22 Jun 2026, 13:54 BST
- Procurement method changed22 Jun 2026, 13:54 BST
- Contract signature expected18 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-11: 1 release · 3 Nov 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Digital Marketing Support1 award | |||
| CreativeRace LtdSME, FULL COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS LIMITEDSME, Focus Agency Group Ltd18 Jul 2026 – 17 Jul 2030 | £252,000 inc. VAT | 22 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Creative Support1 award | |||
| CreativeRace LtdSME, FULL COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS LIMITEDSME18 Jul 2026 – 17 Jul 2030 | £336,000 inc. VAT | 22 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Artworking1 award | |||
| CreativeRace LtdSME, SBW AdvertisingSME, TIDYWORK STUDIO LTDSME18 Jul 2026 – 17 Jul 2030 | £168,000 inc. VAT | 22 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 4 · Development sales & marketing automation delivery1 award | |||
| Blue Pelican ConsultingSME, FULL COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS LIMITEDSMELot 4 - Development Sales & Marketing Automation18 Jul 2026 – 17 Jul 2030 | £84,000 inc. VAT | 22 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Digital Marketing Support | 20final-stage tenders | 18 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Creative Support | 25final-stage tenders | 23 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Artworking | 18final-stage tenders | 18 | 0 | — |
| 4 · Development sales & marketing automation delivery | 5final-stage tenders | 5 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
6 commercial parties on the notice- BLUE PELICAN CONSULTING LIMITEDFramework contractor
- CREATIVERACE LIMITEDFramework contractor
- FOCUS AGENCY GROUP LIMITEDFramework contractor
- FULL COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- SBW ADVERTISING LIMITEDFramework contractor
- TIDYWORK STUDIO LTDFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (8)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender