Official UK procurement notice
Media Partnership · UK public procurement notice
Authority: National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) Corporation (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNest is seeking a strategic media partnership to support the development and delivery of its FY2026/27 brand activity.
Nest exists to ensure everyone has access to a workplace pension and to build financial peace of mind for all. As a public service organisation with over 14 million members, Nest has a significant opportunity (and responsibility) to help UK workers feel confident, informed and reassured about their pensions.
Historically, Nest’s growth has been driven by automatic enrolment, with limited focus on brand building or direct engagement with members. As a result, brand awareness and understanding remain low, and competition within the pensions market is increasing. This opportunity seeks to address that challenge by delivering a content led, trust building media partnership that helps people notice, understand and feel reassured about their pension, and take small positive actions.
The partnership should align with Nest’s purpose, support long term brand building, and deliver meaningful attention among priority audiences within credible, brand safe environments
- How the procedure runs: this is a two stage process stage1 will be evaluation of written tenders stage 2 will presentations for up to 5 of the top scoring bidders from stage 1
CPV: Advertising services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£1,000,000
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 (3)
- Strategic Fit & Brand Alignment: 80%
- Delivery, Measurement & Risk Management: 15%
- Social Value: 5%
Published award criteria (3)
- Strategic Fit & Brand Alignment: The extent to which the proposal aligns with Nest’s purpose, brand ambition and objectives, and demonstrates a clear understanding of the role of brand in pensions. Relevance and credibility of the proposed partnership environment. Ability to deliver meaningful reach and attention to priority audiences within the available budget. Assessment focuses on quality of exposure and value, not CPM alone.
- Delivery, Measurement & Risk Management: Deliverability of the proposal, quality of measurement approach and robustness of risk controls.
- Social Value: Contribution to wider social value outcomes aligned with Nest’s public service purpose, including inclusion, accessibility and positive societal impact.
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
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 20 May 2026, 15:56 BST
- Last source update
- 28 Sept 2026, 03:50 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 18 Aug 2026
- Authority reference
TEN-2627-007(PA2023)- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-046582- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069deaFind a Tender
- How it runs
this is a two stage process
stage1 will be evaluation of written tenders
stage 2 will presentations for up to 5 of the top scoring bidders from stage 1
- Risks
The scope of services may be extended, contingent upon the successful performance of the initial campaign.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 15 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 29 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
20 May 2026 → 28 Sept 2026 · 7 dates- Tender notice published156 days ago20 May 2026, 15:56 BST
- Clarification questions by147 days ago29 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline130 days ago15 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by65 days ago18 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts59 days ago25 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent25 days ago28 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published25 days ago28 Sept 2026, 03:50 BST
Notice history
4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 May 2026- Tender notice published20 May 2026, 15:56 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published28 Sept 2026, 03:50 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete28 Sept 2026, 03:50 BST
- Contract signature expected30 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Media Group Services LtdTEN-2627-007(PA2023) Media Partnership4 Jan 2027 – 3 Jan 2028 | £500,000 | 14 Sept 2026 | Awarded |
| Guardian News & Media LtdTEN-2627-007(PA2023) Media Partnership4 Jan 2027 – 3 Jan 2028 | £500,000 | 14 Sept 2026 | Awarded |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5final-stage tenders · 23 at stage one | 0 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- Global Media Group Services LimitedAwarded supplier
- Guardian News & Media LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- 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