Official UK procurement notice
Media Planning and Buying · WPP MEDIA UK LTD for Transport for London (May 2025)
Authority: Transport for London (Public body)·Consortium: 6 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionTransport for London's (TfL), GLA and GLA Group organisations (known collectively as the participating Contracting Authorities) existing media planning and buying contract expires early 2027.
This notice is issued by TfL on behalf of the participating Contracting Authorities to notify the market of the award of the Media Planning and Buying Framework Agreement.
This requirement seeks to secure a media agency to perform the media planning and buying activities on behalf of the participating Contracting Authorities and the planning of TfL's owned media and any media value they may receive.
The media agency is expected to deliver strategic media planning to achieve integrated marketing campaign objectives, as well as media buying to agreed cost and quality criteria. The media agency is expected to manage multiple organisations' media planning and buying and to integrate where applicable with creative agencies, so that strategic recommendations are joint and activated in an integrated and collaborative manner.
The participating GLA Group organisations may include:
- Transport for London
- Greater London Authority
- London & Partners
- London Legacy Development Corporation
- The Mayor's Office for Policing And Crime
(MOPAC)
- London Fire Brigade
- Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation
- Royal Docklands (GLA)
This contract will be awarded under the Procurement Act 2023.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 7 Jan 2030, 23:59 GMT.
- How the procedure runs: This notice is issued in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 to formally announce the initiation of the procurement process. The first stage is now in progress. Agencies who wish to take part in the process and submit a response should contact [email protected] and ensure they are registered on the SAP Ariba e-tendering platform. Registration is required to receive an invitation to the procurement event and access to the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) documentation. Agencies intending to submit a response are requested to do so by the deadline of 10:00 AM on 18th November 2025. The procurement process outlined below is proposed in line with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023 under the Competitive Flexible Procedure: Stage 1 : Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) The Procurement Specific Questionnaire which contains conditions of participation will allow TfL and the GLA Groups to down select the number of participants invited to the Invitation to tender (ITT) stage. Stage 2: ITT (shortlisting) The invitation to tender (ITT) will be issued via our e-tendering portal SAP Ariba and will assess the agencies capabilities in the following areas: Technical ability (Pass / fail and Scored questions), Social Value and Commercial. Stage 3: Pitch stage The top performing agencies from the ITT are invited to pitch this will be contingent upon meeting a defined threshold Negotiation/ BAFO.
CPV: Advertising and marketing services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs are awarded directly to appointed suppliers, without further competition
- Places
- up to 1 suppliers · 2 bids received (2.0 per place) · 1 appointed (full)
- Framework period
- 3 yrs · up to 4 yrs from 7 Feb 2027
- Buyer regions
- UKI
Who may buy through it
- Transport for London (TfL)
- Greater London Authority (GLA)
- London and Partners (L&P)
- London Fire Brigade (LFB)
- London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC)
- Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)
- Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC)
Published description of the framework
This single supplier framework is for the provision of a media planning and buying partner to allow TfL, GLA and GLA Group Organisations to plan the media strategies and buy media space for marketing purposes and public consultations. The agency will also be responsible for the planning of TfL's owned media and any media value they may receive.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£41,830,100
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).
- N/A
- “Media Planning and Buying” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 1 suppliers, not a single contract, and call-offs are awarded directly: getting appointed is the whole game.
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 the vehicle
- • Transport for London (TfL) • Greater London Authority (GLA) • London and Partners (L&P) • London Fire Brigade (LFB) • London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) • Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) • Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 7 Jan 2030
- First published
- 12 May 2025, 17:11 BST
- Last source update
- 15 Oct 2026, 16:18 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 12 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
(ref:82729)- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-067216- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-051169Find a Tender
- How it runs
This notice is issued in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 to formally announce the initiation of the procurement process. The first stage is now in progress.
Agencies who wish to take part in the process and submit a response should contact [email protected] and ensure they are registered on the SAP Ariba e-tendering platform.
Registration is required to receive an invitation to the procurement event and access to the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) documentation.
Agencies intending to submit a response are requested to do so by the deadline of 10:00 AM on 18th November 2025.
The procurement process outlined below is proposed in line with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023 under the Competitive Flexible Procedure:
Stage 1 : Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ)
The Procurement Specific Questionnaire which contains conditions of participation will allow TfL and the GLA Groups to down select the number of participants invited to the Invitation to tender (ITT) stage.
Stage 2: ITT (shortlisting)
The invitation to tender (ITT) will be issued via our e-tendering portal SAP Ariba and will assess the agencies capabilities in the following areas: Technical ability (Pass / fail and Scored questions), Social Value and Commercial.
Stage 3: Pitch stage
The top performing agencies from the ITT are invited to pitch this will be contingent upon meeting a defined threshold
Negotiation/ BAFO.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 18 Nov 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Appointment period ends
- 18 Nov 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
PSQ responses must be submitted via SAP Ariba: by the deadline of 10 am on 18th November.
If you have any questions about the process please contact: [email protected]
SAP Ariba Supplier Registration: s1- ↗
eu.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/ad/selfRegistration?real m=TfL
Timeline
12 May 2025 → 7 Feb 2027 · 10 dates- Planning notice published12 May 2025, 17:11 BST
- Market engagement26 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
Engagement description
Transport for London (TfL) is undertaking an early market engagement exercise, on behalf of the GLA and GLA Group organisations (the participating Contracting Authorities) by inviting interested agencies to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Media Planning and Buying requirement (ref: 82729).
This exercise does not form part of any formal procurement process. All responses will be carefully considered but will not bind TfL to any approach to the procurement, nor will responses be treated as conveying any promise or commitment on the part of the respondent.
Early Market Engagement process:
-1) Preliminary engagement notice
- 2) Return: EoI and submit a response to MS forms.
- Preliminary engagement notice
The preliminary engagement notice (PEN) is to inform the market of TfL's, GLA's and GLA Group organisations upcoming business requirements for the Media, Planning and/or Buying requirement (ref: 82729). Prior to commencing any procurement activities, we wish to better understand the market and agencies' appetite by requesting they register their interest by submitting their EOI and completing the MS forms questionnaire: forms.office.com/e/NETx4dujK5 ↗
- Expression of Interest (EOI)
To express an interest for this opportunity, interested bidders must confirm via: [email protected] by 17:00, 26th June 2025
In your email you must provide:
- Organisation Name
- Company Registration
- Key contact name
- Key contact email address
- Key contact Job Title
- Telephone Number
As well as completing the MS forms questionnaire: forms.office.com/e/NETx4dujK5 ↗
If you have any questions in regards to this opportunity please contact: [email protected]
TfL reserves the right to conduct further market engagement in the future if required.
- Tender notice published360 days ago21 Oct 2025, 16:08 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends332 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown18 Nov 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Next notice expected332 days ago18 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Award decision expected by4 days ago12 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent2 days ago15 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published1 day ago15 Oct 2026, 16:18 BST
- Today16 Oct 2026
- Standstill endsin 10 days26 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 113 days7 Feb 2027
Notice history
14 events · 7 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 May 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published12 May 2025, 17:11 BSTUK2
- Pipeline notice published23 May 2025, 09:37 BSTUK1
- Published value published: £68,000,00023 May 2025, 09:37 BST
- Status changed to planned23 May 2025, 09:37 BST
- Pipeline notice published23 May 2025, 11:31 BSTUK1
- Pipeline notice published23 May 2025, 11:44 BSTUK1
- Pipeline notice published3 Jun 2025, 14:11 BSTUK1
- Tender notice published21 Oct 2025, 16:08 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £41,830,10021 Oct 2025, 16:08 BSTwas £68,000,000
- Status changed to active21 Oct 2025, 16:08 BST
- Procurement method changed21 Oct 2025, 16:08 BST
- Contract award notice published15 Oct 2026, 16:18 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete15 Oct 2026, 16:18 BST
- Contract signature expected2 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Published amendments (2)
Scope revised
Scope revised.
Routine re-releases (7)
- 2025-05: 4 releases · 12 May 2025, 23 May 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPP MEDIA UK LTDMedia Planning and Buying (ref:82729)7 Feb 2027 – 7 Feb 2029 · up to 7 Feb 2031Extensions: This contract can be extended for up to an additional 2 years on a +1,+1 basis at the discretion of the TfL and the GLA Group Organisations. The contract term has been amended since the EME notice and PSQ tender notice from 3+1 to 2+1+1. | £41,830,100 | 15 Oct 2026standstill to 26 Oct 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonWPP MEDIA UK LTD · Greater London
- did not winTHE7STARS UK LIMITED · Greater London
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
6 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Greater London Authority (GLA)Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government
- London Fire BrigadeContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government
- London Legacy Development CorporationContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government
- Mayor's Office for Policing and CrimeContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government
- The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC)Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government
Framework contractors & participating bidders
2 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded- THE7STARS UK LIMITEDBidder / tenderer
- WPP MEDIA UK LTDFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (7)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender