Scope
Reference
DN774718
Description
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership is seeking a corporate communications agency to work with its Policy & Communications team. The appointed agency will act as a day-to-day extension of Border to Coast's team, helping it evolve its long-term communications strategy, spot and navigate issues that might affect the organisation or its partners, and carry out communications and public affairs activity and stakeholder engagement.
The selected agency will ideally know the asset management and LGPS ecosystem and understand how regulatory, political and societal factors might impact our business. It will have experience engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and have excellent communications and thought leadership capabilities in both national and trade media (financial and business).
Total value (estimated)
- £560,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2027
- Possible extension to 30 September 2029
- 4 years
Description of possible extension:
Initial contract term of 24 months, with 1x 24 month extension available.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79416200 - Public relations consultancy services
Submission
Enquiry deadline
2 July 2025, 5:00pm
Submission type
Tenders
Tender submission deadline
7 July 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Suppliers will need to be registered on Proactis ProContract, log in and registration links are below:
Log in - https://procontract.due-north.com/Login/Index?ReturnUrl=/Login/LogoutConfirmation
Registration link - https://procontract.due-north.com/Register
Bidders will need to respond to the ProContract Expression of Interest/Advert, published under Opportunity ID DN774718, to be automatically invited to access tender documentation and submit bids.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
15 September 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Criteria | Quality | 70% |
| Price/Value for Money | Price | 20% |
| Presentation stage 2 score | Quality | 10% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
Multi Stage procedure will include a tender scoring, moderation and a supplier presentation stage for down-selected suppliers.
As Border to Coast previously posted a Planned Procurement Notice (Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-021452) on 14th May 2025, we will be utilising a reduced tendering period of 10 days.
The initial contract period is 24 months with 1x 24 month extension available.
Estimated Dates below:
Supplier Clarification Window
24/06/2025 - 30/06/2025
Tender Response Deadline
04/07/2025 - 12:00pm
Presentations (down-selected Suppliers only)
Anticipated 19/08/2025 - 21/08/2025
Successful Supplier Identified
15/09/2025
Standstill Period Start and End
16/09/2025 - 25/09/2025
Anticipated Contract Start Date
1st October 2025
Reduced tendering period
Yes
Qualifying planned procurement notice - minimum 10 days
Contracting authority
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership Limited
- Companies House: 10795539
5th Floor, Toronto Square, Toronto Street
Leeds
LS1 2HJ
United Kingdom
Contact name: Border to Coast Procurement Team
Email: procurement@bordertocoast.org.uk
Website: https://www.bordertocoast.org.uk/
Region: UKE42 - Leeds
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government