Long Scots Government ‘shortlist’ announced
The Scottish Government has completed its long-delayed Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire (PQQ) process for its creative accounts, with 136 agencies being selected for the second stage.
It is understood that 16 advertising agencies have been selected for the second stage of the above-the-line marketing tender, while seven agencies will compete for the direct mail roster.
As many as 35 design agencies, 25 events agencies and 20 market research agencies have been put through, while 21 digital and 12 PR firms have also been successful in progressing from the initial PQQ, a process which over-ran by months due to the high number of applicants – understood to be as many as 462 agencies in total.
A spokesperson for the Government explained the high number of agencies still included in the process: “We want to ensure we have a wide range of options to choose from, to secure the highest quality of service, consistent with our overall aim of providing value for money.”
Originally, agencies that had completed a PQQ were due to hear whether or not they had made it through to the next stage of the tendering process at the end of March. The Government has now said that the invitation to tender (ITT) should be finished by the end of June, with an expected contract start date now in November.
Roger Williams (pictured left) has been overseing the complicated process.