BDU Creative Agency

Description

The BDU Marketing team is looking to extend the current creative agency contract with Stratos for an end-to-end service solution to help with the planning and delivery of design assets to be deployed across the campaigns calendar that will be delivered on an annual basis. There will also be some ad hoc projects available to support on wider design of core/always-on messaging and communications across owned channels. The agency has consistently delivered high-quality work efficiently and has played a key role in maintaining project progress. Extending the engagement will help ensure continuity of delivery, mitigate resource risks, and support the successful completion of planned initiatives.

Key facts

Procedure

Direct award

Lots

1

Contact

finance-tenders@open.ac.uk

Contract period

15 Apr 2027 → 14 Apr 2028

Value incl. VAT

£100k

Category

services

Awarded suppliers

• STRATOS CREATIVE LIMITED · GB-COH-09351113 · UKH25, GB

Ground given for limiting competition

The buyer’s own stated reason for awarding without open competition, as published. Their assertion, not a finding.

The University proposes to directly award a one-year contract extension to Stratos for the continued provision of marketing design services. Stratos is the incumbent supplier and has developed a detailed understanding of the University's brand requirements, marketing objectives, campaign delivery processes, stakeholder expectations and existing portfolio of design assets. They also currently provide design support that is embedded within ongoing marketing activity and contributes directly to the delivery of planned campaigns and initiatives. The Business Development Unit (BDU) Marketing team is currently experiencing reduced internal capacity. During this period, the continuity, consistency and responsiveness of external design support is critical to maintaining delivery of planned activities and avoiding disruption to key projects. A change of supplier at this time would require a significant transfer of knowledge, onboarding activity, familiarisation with existing brand standards, campaign objectives, stakeholder relationships and historic design materials. The resulting transition period would place additional demands on an already resource-constrained team and would create disproportionate difficulties in managing project delivery, quality assurance and stakeholder engagement. Retaining the incumbent supplier will ensure continuity of service, preserve consistency across existing marketing activity, mitigate delivery and resourcing risks, and support the successful completion of planned initiatives during the period of reduced internal capacity. It is anticipated that this will increase the total contract value £99,764.32