National Media Relations and Public Affairs Framework

To meet the University’s National Media Relations remit our supplier will need strong media relationships and real influence with key writers and commentators.

United Kingdom-Preston: Public relations consultancy services

2016/S 090-161684

Contract notice

Services

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name, addresses and contact point(s)

University of Central Lancashire
Purchasing Office, Sizer House
For the attention of: Alison Thomas
PR1 7DR Preston
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1772892221
E-mail: etenders@uclan.ac.uk

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting authority: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universitycentrallancs/aspx/Home

Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: The above mentioned contact point(s)

I.2)Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.3)Main activity

Education

I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities

The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: no

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1)Description

II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:

National Media Relations, Public Affairs and Regional Business to Business Public Relations.

II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance

Services
Service category No 27: Other services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Preston, Lancashire.

NUTS code UKD4

II.1.3)Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The notice involves the establishment of a framework agreement

II.1.4)Information on framework agreement

Framework agreement with several operators

Duration of the framework agreement

Duration in years: 4

II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s)

The University retains external consultancy companies to fulfil a brief relating to National Media Relations, Public Affairs, and Regional Business to Business Public Relations.
The University’s desire to retain the services of these companies is driven in part by a recognition of our need and opportunity to raise our profile from among the mass of ‘modern’ universities located outside the Home Counties.
The University currently retains two PR agencies split between UK offices in Manchester (helping to capitalise on the location of Media City and raise our profile nationally) and Preston with a focus on business-to-business local and regional PR and a more specific brief to support the role out of the University’s 10-year, 200 000 000 GBP Masterplan development.
Some regional Public Affairs support is also provided by the Manchester-based agency but much of our lobbying work is done via Universities UK, enabling the University to be engaged in key debates around government policy with impact on HE.
The University’s Corporate Strategy (2015-2020) reaffirmed our vision, mission and values and set out a plan to deliver these through aims and objectives aligned to strategic themes. Social engagement is at the heart of the University, and is recognised as a core theme, with a strategic aim that echoes our mission; ‘the University will continue to inspire positive change in organisations and people from all walks of life, to enable them to achieve their full potential’. This ethos is embedded across each of the themes.
The University’s External Relations Strategy determines principles and priorities to deliver on our mission; to ensure we maintain our reputation for attracting and retaining talented students, whatever their background, and work towards deep-rooted engagement with the wider communities of Preston, Lancashire and the North West. Our vision is to firmly establish Central Lancashire as an anchor institution in the city and region, with a reputation for social responsibility: a source of civic pride.

II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79416200

II.1.7)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): yes

II.1.8)Lots

This contract is divided into lots: yes
Tenders may be submitted for one or more lots

II.1.9)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2)Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:

II.2.2)Information about options

II.2.3)Information about renewals

II.3)Duration of the contract or time limit for completion

Starting 1.11.2016. Completion 31.10.2020

Information about lots

Lot No: 1 Lot title: National Media Relations

1)Short description

To meet the University’s National Media Relations remit our supplier will need strong media relationships and real influence with key writers and commentators.
National Media Relations remit criteria:
— Proven access to journalists and editors beyond news desks and education specialists, but with reach into a wide range of economic, social, and cultural areas, so as to enable a Higher Education client to contribute to comment and debate pieces on topics across the academic subject range.
— Established relationships with key media editors and journalists in print, broadcast, online, and specialist sector media channels.
— High quality and cost effective Press Release or Pack production and distribution mechanisms.
— Comprehensive and cost effective media monitoring, covering multiple online and offline channels, and the ability quickly or frequently to produce quality graphic and data reports on media coverage, by quantity, nature, and quality, and including geographical spread.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79416200

3)Quantity or scope

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 2 Lot title: Public Affairs

1)Short description

To meet the University’s Public Affairs remit our supplier will need to be able to help key academic and leadership staff in the University forge links with the real influencers of policy and with a wide range of peer and lobby organisations, political interest groups, and think tanks. Our consultants should be able to brief the University on the policy perspectives from this wide group of interests and prepare key staff to interact with them. The University has, in the past, campaigned on key topics representing the interests of students, academic research, and the role of modern universities in the UK and world HE sector.
Public Affairs remit criteria:
— Proven access to policy influencer networks in the mainstream political parties, civil service, advisory bodies, relevant commissions and consultancies, parliamentary and select committees, and quasi non-governmental organisations.
— Evidence of securing influential contact and dialogue, and securing a client voice in key policy developments.
— Prescient awareness of medium and long term policy developments, direction of travel, factors influencing policy, and the nature of advice and influence impacting policy decisions and key political perspectives.
— Production of high quality pre-contact briefing packs for University representatives on contacts, along with their links and political or policy perspectives, and key facts to present.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79416200

3)Quantity or scope

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 3 Lot title: Regional Business to Business Public Relations

1)Short description

To meet the University’s Regional Business to Business and Masterplan remit our supplier will need well established relationships with key business to business press and commentators.
Regional Business to Business Public Relations remit criteria:
— Proven access to business journalists and editors, primarily in the Preston and Lancashire region, to build awareness and foster strong relationships in relation to the regional business to business activities of the University, with a particular focus on workforce development, student and graduate recruitment and consultancy and innovation, including opportunities for expert comment and case studies.
— Regular communication updates as the Masterplan progresses to all the University stakeholder groups via news releases, newsletters and general updates.
— Broader stakeholder and public engagement events both on and off campus to ensure that individuals and groups of influence are well informed and positively disposed towards the University, so that they can act as advocates and actively promote Central Lancashire within their own spheres.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79416200

3)Quantity or scope

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

5)Additional information about lots

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:

See ITT documents.

III.1.2)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:

See ITT documents.

III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

Joint and several liability.

III.1.4)Other particular conditions

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: yes
Description of particular conditions: Expressions of interest must respond in accordance with the instructions outlined in the Pre Qualification Questionnaire. Only submissions in accordance with the stated instructions will be considered.

III.2)Conditions for participation

III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: See ITT documents.

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: See ITT documents.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
See ITT documents.

III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts

III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1)Information about a particular profession

Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: no

III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service

Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: no

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Type of procedure

IV.1.1)Type of procedure

Restricted

IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate

Envisaged number of operators: 15
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: Pre-qualification questionnaire.

IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue

IV.2)Award criteria

IV.2.1)Award criteria

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document

IV.2.2)Information about electronic auction

An electronic auction will be used: no

IV.3)Administrative information

IV.3.1)File reference number attributed by the contracting authority:

ITP16-09

IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract

IV.3.3)Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document

Payable documents: no

IV.3.4)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

6.6.2016 – 10:00

IV.3.5)Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

IV.3.6)Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up