Scope
Reference
TFL 97019
Description
Transport for London (TfL) is seeking to appoint an experienced Managed Service Provider to oversee its online advertising concession and optimise revenue across its digital estate, specifically the TfL website (tfl.gov.uk) and the TfL Go mobile app. These platforms are central to TfL's digital engagement strategy, serving millions of Londoners and visitors with real-time travel information, journey planning tools, and account services.
The appointed partner will be responsible for managing and optimising digital advertising operations, including programmatic advertising via platforms such as Google Ad Manager 360, delivering high-quality direct sales, and identifying new monetisation opportunities. The service must balance commercial performance with user experience, brand safety, and full compliance with TfL's advertising policy and regulatory obligations.
Scope of the Opportunity
TfL is seeking a partner to provide a fully managed service for advertising on both the TfL website and TfL Go app:
TfL Website (tfl.gov.uk)
Based on the monthly averages from October 2024 to September 2025, the TfL website has delivered:
~6.6 million unique users
~15.5 million visits
~62.7 million page views
~41.4 million ad impressions
Additional performance insights:
Approximately 60% of pages are currently monetised, with scope to expand
Device breakdown: 76% mobile, 22% desktop, 2% tablet
Advertising formats include skins, billboards, leaderboards, mobile banners, and MPUs
Ad operations run via Google Ad Manager 360
Revenue model: Predominantly programmatic, with direct sales contributing an average of 24% of total revenue over the 12-month period from October 2024 to September 2025
Future enhancements under consideration include high-impact programmatic formats, as well as section-based and geo-specific sponsorships
TfL Go Mobile App
~1.4 million monthly unique users (as of Sep 2025)
~11.2 million monthly visits (average Oct 2024-Sep 2025)
~57 million monthly page views (average Oct 2024-Sep 2025), rising to ~77 million in recent months (Jul-Sep 2025)
Currently features Promoted Places, a venue tenancy model - the app's sole advertising format to date
Commercial opportunities include banner ads, splash ads, native formats, contextual advertising, geo-targeted notifications, and first-party data monetisation (subject to GDPR compliance)
Google Ad Manager SDK integration is required to enable programmatic display advertising
Total value (estimated)
- £3,000,000 excluding VAT
- £3,600,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 6 November 2026 to 5 November 2029
- Possible extension to 5 November 2031
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79341200 - Advertising management services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Engagement
Engagement deadline
26 November 2026
Engagement process description
Interested parties are asked to express their interest in taking part in this Early Market Engagement Exercise.
This exercise will include the completion of a short Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ).
Suppliers should confirm their interest in participating in this exercise by providing the following details via e-mail to
Organisation name
Main contact name and job title
e-mail address
MSQ's will be issued to interested parties with completion and return required by 17.00 hours GMT on 26th November 2025.
The MSQ responses will help TfL assess market appetite, refine its approach, and ensure the future concession is commercially viable, technically robust, and strategically aligned.
Procedure
Special regime
Concession
Contracting authority
Transport for London
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHMT-6197-NWNZ
5 Endeavour Square
London
E20 1JN
United Kingdom
Region: UKI41 - Hackney and Newham
Organisation type: Public authority - central government