Scope
Reference
ID 6170244
Description
Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) wishes to appoint a Supplier(s) to provide PR and Media Relations services for the organisation in both the Americas (Lot 1) and GB and Europe territories (Lot 2). The PR contract activity will include PR strategy development, writing press releases or editorial content, media engagement and pitching to secure interviews, media training, sourcing third party suppliers e.g. photographers and videographers for media events for PR purposes to cover the Americas and GB and Europe regions. The PR Contract will support Invest NI Sectors and International Marketing team to promote Northern Ireland as a place to do business with and locate in and will complement the wider marketing, communications and event activity undertaken in the respective markets. Under the contract, the PR and media relations activity will include but is not limited to strategic and tactical PR activity such as media engagement, media advice, media liaison, arranging media visits, media interviews, media training drafting press releases, drafting editorial content features, press briefings, crisis management, social media support i.e. use of influencers from the region and other PR related activities such as sourcing and or booking photographers, videographers and attending Invest NI events, if required.
Total value (estimated)
- £480,000 excluding VAT
- £576,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 30 March 2026 to 30 March 2028
- Possible extension to 30 March 2030
- 4 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
There is the option to extend this contract for a further two years after the initial period has passed.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79416000 - Public relations services
- 79416100 - Public relations management services
- 79416200 - Public relations consultancy services
Lot 1. The Americas
Description
For the purpose of this contract, the Americas has been broken down into;
USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile
Lot value (estimated)
- £240,000 excluding VAT
- £288,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. GB and Europe
Description
For the purpose of this contract, the areas this refers to include;
GB, Ireland, DACH (Germany, Switzerland, Austria), France Benelux (Belgium, Netherland, Luxembourg), Nordics (Norway, Denmark), Spain, Portugal, Italy
Lot value (estimated)
- £240,000 excluding VAT
- £288,000 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Participation
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. The Americas
Lot 2. GB and Europe
See tender documentation
Submission
Enquiry deadline
20 February 2026, 3:00pm
Tender submission deadline
2 March 2026, 3:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) opportunity on eTendersNI, website details immediately below.
Paper submissions will not be accepted or considered and will be rejected by the Contracting Authority / Buyer.
The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
3 March 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 7 August 2029
Award criteria
Lot 1. The Americas
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AC 1 (Lot 1) - Proposed Account Manager Experience | 24 percent |
Quality |
| AC 2 (Lot 1) - Proposed Methodology | 24 percent |
Quality |
| AC 3 (Lot 1) - Contract Management | 24 percent |
Quality |
| AC 4 (Lot 1) - Drafting of by - lined article/editorial (per 500 words) | 8 percent |
Price |
| AC 5 (Lot 1) - Partner/Director Hourly Rate | 12 percent |
Price |
| AC 6 (Lot 1) - Account Manager Hourly Rate | 16 percent |
Price |
| AC 7 (Lot 1) - Administrator Hourly Rate | 4 percent |
Price |
Weighting description
Qualitative Criteria 60 percent Quantitative Criteria 40 percent
Lot 2. GB and Europe
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AC 1 (Lot 2) - Proposed Account Manager Experience | 24 percent |
Quality |
| AC 2 (Lot 2) - Proposed Methodology | 24 percent |
Quality |
| AC 3 (Lot 2) - Contract Management | 12 percent |
Quality |
| AC 4 (Lot 2) - Drafting of by - lined article/editorial (per 500 words) | 8 percent |
Price |
| AC 5 (Lot 2) - Partner/Director Hourly Rate | 12 percent |
Price |
| AC 6 (Lot 2) - Account Manager Hourly Rate | 16 percent |
Price |
| AC 7 (Lot 2) - Administrator Hourly Rate | 4 percent |
Price |
Weighting description
Qualitative Criteria 60 percent Quantitative Criteria 40 percent
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Contracting authority
Invest Northern Ireland
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLTC-4224-XGDP
1 Bedford Street
Belfast
BT2 7ES
United Kingdom
Email: SSDAdmin.CPD@finance-ni.gov.uk
Website: https://www.investni.com/
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
CPD - Supplies and Services Division
Summary of their role in this procurement: Construction and Procurement Delivery - Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVWG-8426-YWXV
303 Airport Road West
Belfast
BT3 9ED
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast