Public Affairs (PA) and Public Relations (PR) Consultancy Services Framework

{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-COH-IP29573R",
    "name": "ASTER GROUP LIMITED"
  },
  "date": "2025-12-02T21:58:27Z",
  "id": "079138-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05989c",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Devizes",
        "postalCode": "SN10 2AZ",
        "region": "UKK15",
        "streetAddress": "Sarson Court"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "aster.procurement@aster.co.uk",
        "name": "Victor Ayaga"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government",
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ],
        "url": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/aster/aspx/Home"
      },
      "id": "GB-COH-IP29573R",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "IP29573R",
        "scheme": "GB-COH"
      },
      "name": "ASTER GROUP LIMITED",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-03-23T23:59:59+00:00"
    },
    "description": "Aster Group is undergoing a strategic transformation aimed at enhancing public engagement, improving stakeholder relationships, and increasing visibility across its key housing sectors. \nAs part of this initiative, we require expert PA/PR Consultancy services to support our internal team and boost our communications strategy, manage media relations, and ensure consistent messaging across all platforms.  \nIt is the intention of Aster Group therefore to establish a framework agreement with suitably qualified Supplier(s) who will provide selected PA/PR Consultancy Services to meet needs that cannot be met in-house by its own provision, or where additional knowledge and expertise is required.  \nWe intend to establish a framework with 3 Lots as follows:\nLot 1 \u2013 Public Affairs (PA) Services \nLot 2 \u2013 Public Relations (PR) Services \nLot 3 \u2013 Ad hoc Special Projects \nProject Objectives\n\u2022Real-time high-level counsel and insight in a period of rapid change and in a time of increased scrutiny\n\u2022Deliver media relations and 24/7 high level crisis and issues management for both media and stakeholder engagement work.\n\u2022Plan and execute creative and innovative campaigns, producing high-quality, accurate content, and effective and measurable tactical delivery\n\u2022Innovative applications of technology such as AI\n\u2022Expertise in navigating the Devolution agenda\n\u2022Strong political connections across all parties\n\u2022Nuanced understanding of the political environment\n\u2022Ways to showcase expansion in new geographies and refreshed service offers\n\u2022Create opportunities to educate and influence, as a sector leader to ensure we have a trusted and sought-after voice in the sector\n\u2022Support for M\u0026A activity\nProject Desired Outcomes\n\u2022Drive positive media coverage including key messages in key media including driving opportunities across the national and trade press\n\u2022Increased share of voice and brand awareness among key influencers and media\n\u2022Increased opportunities to build partnerships and relationships with organisations and individuals that will help us deliver our strategy\n\u2022Increased opportunities to influence and shape policy\n\u2022Creative campaigns that will support our strategy and elevate and strengthen our position in the market\nInterested suppliers are invited to participate in the Tender by following this link to express interest and access the related documents: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/aster/aspx/ProjectManage/621",
    "documents": [
      {
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "id": "L-1",
        "url": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/aster/aspx/ProjectManage/621"
      },
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "datePublished": "2025-12-02T21:58:27Z",
        "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "tenderNotice",
        "format": "text/html",
        "id": "079138-2025",
        "noticeType": "UK4",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079138-2025"
      }
    ],
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-01-07T12:00:00+00:00"
    },
    "expressionOfInterestDeadline": "2026-01-16T12:00:00+00:00",
    "id": "CAS-01125-R8Q1V8",
    "items": [
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public relations services",
            "id": "79416000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      },
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public relations services",
            "id": "79416000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "id": "2",
        "relatedLot": "2"
      },
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public relations services",
            "id": "79416000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "id": "3",
        "relatedLot": "3"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lotDetails": {
      "maximumLotsAwardedPerSupplier": 2,
      "maximumLotsBidPerSupplier": 2
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "name": "Cost (Stage 1 Evaluation)",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 30,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "price"
            },
            {
              "name": "Technical (Stage 1 Evaluation)",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 70,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2030-04-19T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2026-04-20T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "description": "PA services will focus on navigating the evolving political landscape, so we understand change and impact on our services and customers, and to help us inform and influence government policy. This includes: \n\u2022\tStakeholder Mapping and Engagement: Building relationships with key stakeholders across central and local government \n\u2022\tPolicy Monitoring and Intelligence: Monitoring political developments to anticipate and respond to change \n\u2022\tStrategic Counsel: Providing strategic advice for proactive and reactive engagement \n\u2022\tAdvocacy and Representation: Providing advocacy development, consultation input, policy insight, and stakeholder representation \n\u2022\tReporting and evaluation: Deliver regular, engaging reports that highlight stakeholder engagement, policy developments, and most importantly the campaign\u2019s outcomes and impact, while continuously evaluating and improving public affairs activities.",
        "id": "1",
        "status": "active",
        "title": "Lot 1 \u2013 Public Affairs (PA) Services",
        "value": {
          "amount": 0,
          "amountGross": 321771,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      },
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "name": "Cost (Stage 1 Evaluation)",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 30,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "price"
            },
            {
              "name": "Technical (Stage 1 Evaluation)",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 70,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2030-04-19T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2026-04-20T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "description": "PR services will focus on managing public perception and reputation of the Group, enhancing general brand awareness, and supporting our Corporate Strategy and Strategic Objectives. This includes:  \n\u2022\tStrategic communications planning: Delivering a well-executed communications plan that is driven by campaign(s) to tell our story and maintains momentum with the right and most impactful media and key influencers. \n\u2022\tCreating compelling and engaging content: a focus on high-quality communications to best connect and engage with media, customers, emerging influencers and other target audiences. \n\u2022\tStrategic counsel: Providing strategic advice for proactive and reactive engagement to inform C-Suite level counsel. \n\u2022\tCrisis and issues management: Access to 24/7 reactive communications support for high-level issues management. \n\u2022\tReporting and Evaluation: Deliver regular, engaging reports that evaluate PR activity effectiveness and highlight campaign engagement, outcomes, and their impact on achieving business objectives.",
        "id": "2",
        "status": "active",
        "title": "Public Relations (PR) Services",
        "value": {
          "amount": 0,
          "amountGross": 303998,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      },
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "name": "Cost (Stage 1 Evaluation)",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 30,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "price"
            },
            {
              "name": "Technical (Stage 1 Evaluation)",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 70,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2030-04-19T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2026-04-20T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "description": "From time to time and as need may arise, Aster Group will require support for ad-hoc projects that extend beyond our day-to-day PA and PR programmes. These projects would be delivered over fixed time periods and may need to pull on skills across the full comms mix: PR, PA, research, social media, placemaking, event support, rich media content creation, among others. Results would need to be tracked, measured with impacts and outcomes played back to the business in a compelling and engaging way. These can include but not limited to: \n\u2022\tResearch e.g. consumer, market, perception studies, economic impact reports.  \n\u2022\tRoundtable / events support e.g. thought leadership campaigns\n\u2022\tM\u0026A activity e.g. to support growth ambitions  \n\u2022\tSocial media support e.g. strategic guidance, measurement and evaluation",
        "id": "3",
        "status": "active",
        "title": "Ad Hoc Special Projects",
        "value": {
          "amount": 0,
          "amountGross": 127014.71,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procedure": {
      "features": "2 stage Procedure involving Interview"
    },
    "procurementMethod": "selective",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/aster/aspx/ProjectManage/621",
    "submissionTerms": {
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "techniques": {
      "frameworkAgreement": {
        "description": "The Framework will be operated and managed by Aster Group for internal use",
        "maximumParticipants": 8,
        "method": "withAndWithoutReopeningCompetition",
        "type": "closed"
      },
      "hasFrameworkAgreement": true
    },
    "title": "Public Affairs (PA) and Public Relations (PR) Consultancy Services Framework",
    "value": {
      "amountGross": 770557,
      "currency": "GBP"
    }
  }
}