Official UK procurement notice
QUB/2670/25 Contract for Advertising and Communication Campaigns (Rest of World Market)
Authority: Queen's University Belfast (Education)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe University has a requirement for a marketing partner to support the Global Marketing and Reputation teams achieve the goals and recruitment objectives set out in Strategy 2030. This requirement has been split into two Lots. Economic Operators can submit a tender response for either Lot 1 or Lot 2 or both Lots.Lot 1 – Appointment of an International Digital Marketing Partner for North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Rest of World (excluding the UK and Ireland).Lot 2 – Appointment of an International Out of Home Media Buying Partner for North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Rest of World (excluding the UK and Ireland).
CPV: Advertising and marketing services · Advertising campaign services · Advertising consultancy services · Advertising management services · Advertising services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · no lot values published · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Appointment of an International Digital Marketing Partner for North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan Africa (AwardedRenewal
Lot 1The agency will be responsible for:
- Development and implementation of multi-channel digital marketing campaigns in international markets (North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Rest of World (excluding the UK and Ireland).
- Robust reporting and digital advice and guidance on an ongoing basis to the University’s in-house marketing and recruitment teams to inform planning, delivery and to optimise marketing performance.
Lot #2Appointment of an International Out of Home Media Buying Partner for North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan AAwardedRenewal
The agency will be responsible for:
- Planning and buying of out of home campaigns in international markets North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Rest of World (excluding the UK and Ireland).. This will include researching the opportunities, identifying target audience media consumption habits, assessing environmental factors that could impact on campaign delivery and media buying.
- Robust reporting and advice on out of home opportunities for the University to inform future planning and buying.
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: 70%
- price: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical: 70%
- Price: 30
- 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
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes
- First published
- 5 Feb 2025, 15:16 GMT
- Last source update
- 11 Aug 2025, 18:34 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 7 Mar 2025 – …
- Authority reference
QUB/2670/25- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-047796- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04dbedFind a Tender
- Review procedure
This authority will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to Tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.The Public Contract Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 7 Mar 2025, 16:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bids opened
- 7 Mar 2025, 16:00 GMT
Timeline
7 Mar 2025 → 11 Aug 2025 · 4 dates- Submission deadline7 Mar 2025, 16:00 GMT
- Bids opened7 Mar 2025, 16:00 GMT
- Bids must remain valid until9 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
- Notice published11 Aug 2025, 18:34 BST
Notice history
1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender- Status changed to complete11 Aug 2025, 18:34 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Appointment of an International Digital Marketing Partner for North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan Africa (1 award | |||
| Akerolabs LtdContract for Advertising and Communication Campaigns (Rest of World Markets), Lot 1 – Appointment of an International Digital Marketing and Communications Partner | £3,500,000 † | — | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Appointment of an International Out of Home Media Buying Partner for North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan A1 award | |||
| Krow Agency LimitedContract for Advertising and Communication Campaigns (Rest of World Markets), Lot 2 – Contract for an out of home planning and buying partner | £1,500,000 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract for Advertising and Communication Campaigns (Rest of World Markets), Lot 1 – Appointment of an International Digital Marketing and Communications Partner · Akerolabs Ltd
- Signed
- 24 Jul 2025
- Value
- £3,500,000
- Status
- active
Contract for Advertising and Communication Campaigns (Rest of World Markets), Lot 2 – Contract for an out of home planning and buying partner · Krow Agency Limited
- Signed
- 22 Jul 2025
- Value
- £1,500,000
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Appointment of an International Digital Marketing Partner for North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan Africa ( | 3bids · 3 electronic · 3 from abroad | 2 | — | — |
| 2 · Appointment of an International Out of Home Media Buying Partner for North America, Latin America (LATAM), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, South East Asia (SEA), Sub-Saharan A | 1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad | 0 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- Akerolabs LtdAwarded supplier
- Krow Agency LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria