Scope
Reference
T1170
Description
The University of Essex runs numerous advertising campaigns each year to attract students to study with us. These are run through the Marketing and Student Recruitment office who are responsible for the University's student recruitment marketing. Focus of this marketing is across UK and international priority markets, for attracting undergraduate and postgraduate taught students.
The appointed agency will work closely with the marketing team at the University of Essex to deliver activity which contributes to our recruitment growth objectives and is in-line with all other student recruitment activity. This work will need to be in-line with our brand identity and annual recruitment campaign guidelines.
Total value (estimated)
- £8,333,333.33 excluding VAT
- £10,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029
- Possible extension to 30 September 2033
- 7 years
Description of possible extension:
3 year initial contract with 2 optional 24 month extensions available
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79340000 - Advertising and marketing services
- 79341400 - Advertising campaign services
Contract locations
- UKH3 - Essex
Submission
Enquiry deadline
1 December 2025, 12:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Tender submission deadline
8 December 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
30 March 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ITT Quality evaluation is estimated to utilise 70% (ITT Stage weighting subject to change prior to commencement of ITT stage) |
Quality |
| Price | ITT Price evaluation is estimated to utilise 30% (ITT Stage weighting subject to change prior to commencement of ITT stage) |
Price |
Weighting description
PSQ stage will utilise 100% quality evaluation
ITT Quality evaluation is estimated to utilise 70%
ITT Price evaluation is estimated to utilise 30%
(ITT Stage weighting subject to change prior to commencement of ITT stage)
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
Competitive Flexible Procedure
PSQ stage with shortlisting
ITT Stage
Presentation Stage
Notification of Outcome / Assessment Summary stage
(Please see associated documentation linked to this procurement for further detail and predicted timelines)
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
On the 9th September 2024 we initiated a restricted procurement procedure under public contract regulations 2015 and published a contract notice (2024/S 000-028708) for the same requirement. Unfortunately, following the procurement process the contract was not able to continue in the way we had planned and therefore we are reaching back out to the market and conducting a new process under the procurement act 2023 regulations. However, as the previous process was just over one year ago we feel that the contract notice allowed a wide array of the market to submit interest and we evaluated fifteen supplier SQ submissions so feel we have a good knowledge of the market already but are more than happy for new entrants to also respond to this new tender notice if the requirements fit their services.
Contracting authority
University of Essex
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQBL-6931-JNGJ
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom
Region: UKH34 - Essex Haven Gateway
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government