BBC approaches non-rostered consultancies in frameworks review

The Advertising Agency Register is mediating on behalf of the BBC and has already sent out a five-page request-for-information form to design groups.

Both the marketing communications design services and the strategy and identity services rosters approach a review on 31 May. The BBC has the option of offering an extension of up to two years to groups on both rosters, but invitations from the AAR suggest that this may not be taken up.

The AAR request form states, ’We are currently working with the BBC which is looking to appoint a consultancy to help it develop its masterbrand and portfolio of product brands over a period of two to three years.’ It goes on to list requirements which include ’significant strategic skills in the area of brand and communications strategy, brand architecture, as well as outstanding creative expression of strategic recommendations including identity, creative communications strategies and campaignable multiplatform design’.

The current strategy and identity design services roster comprises 35 Communications, Fallon, Lambie-Nairn, Red Bee Media and The
Partners. The current marketing and communications design services roster comprises 999, Blast, D8, Designate, Easy Tiger Creative, Elmwood Design, Harriman Steel, Inferno, Love, Premm Design, Red Stone Design and Studio Output.

The AAR refused to comment on whether it is helping the BBC tender for the strategy and identity design roster, and would not comment on how far re-tendering has progressed or whether any new groups have been appointed. The BBC was unable to confirm how far the roster review has developed, despite the AAR request-for-information form surfacing at Design Week with a return date specified as Monday 11 January.

A strategy review is currently being scrutinised by the BBC Trust, which will look at proposals by director-general Mark Thompson to free up £600m for programming by streamlining BBC Online and culling radio stations Six Music and Asian Network.