Marketing and publicity
Communications Commodity Team
DWP operates a number of framework agreements for the supply of marketing and communications services, including:
- design
- editorial
- digital media
- Braille
- Welsh language translation
- ethnic language translations
- conference and events management services
- events managers interim personnel
- exhibition services
- photography services
- video production
- audio production
- audio/visual duplication and packaging
- British Sign Language interpretion services (not including local office face to face arrangements)
- speech to text
- reporters
- PR
The Communications Commodity Team (CCT) acts as a centre for Category Management for these contracts and is responsible for ensuring propriety and legality in the engagement of external resources.
In addition, CCT provides a procurement service for marketing and communications requirements not under the scope of the above framework agreements.
The Marketing and Commmunications frameworks
DWP let marketing and communications frameworks agreements in three batches.
The first batch of services (372KB) 
commenced on 5 December 2005.
The second batch of services (43KB) commenced on 24 April 2006. The Photography Services framework (94KB) has been set up to provide coverage across Britain.
The third batch of services (23KB) commenced on 3 July 2006.
All the marketing and communications framework agreements are in place for three years, with an option to extend a further year. The framework agreements use DWP’s general terms and conditions.
CCT recently took over the Category Management of four of the consultancy and professional services frameworks (22KB) (public relations, events managers, speech to text reporters and British Sign Language interpreters) from the Professional and Technical Services Team. These services migrated to CCT because it was identified that they would sit better as part of the DWP marketing and communications framework. These suppliers have framework contracts with DWP to provide these services. These framework agreements commenced on 11 April 2005 and are in place for three years with an option to extend a further year.
How to become a Framework Supplier
As a public sector body, the Department is required to comply at all times with the European Union Procurement Directives. The Department adopts a policy of open competition in line with public procurement guidelines and the EU Directives and has let a series of contracts known as a Framework enabling arrangement with a number of suppliers covering a broad range of marketing and communications services
The Department anticipates that the majority of its marketing and communications services requirements can be met via its framework agreements.
It is not possible to add a supplier to a specific framework arrangement, as the only means by which a framework agreement can be secured is to submit a successful tender during the competition.
The Department will however continue to advertise any requirements that it considers cannot be met using the framework arrangements in the Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), a supplement to the Official Jounal of the European Union (QJEU). Any supplier can tender for requirements advertised in this way.
You can get further general information on how to become a supplier to DWP
Re-let of the Marketing and Communications frameworks
CCT wil shortly (September 2007) be commencing work on reviewing all the existing marketing and communications arrangements in place and liaising with stakeholders over requirements to identify the future scope and supply requirements. Following this review CCT will advertise the supply requirements and conduct tender exercises in line with public procurement guidelines and the EU Directives.
Further details of the progress and conclusion of this activity will be published here when they are available.
Contact us
If you wish to find out more about becoming a marketing and communications supplier to the DWP please contact David Raper by phone on 0113 232 4757 or by email at david.raper@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.