Essex County Council have established a Framework Agreement for Communications

and Marketing Services. The Framework has an initial two year term with options to

extend in any number of periods not exceeding an extension period of 2 years in total. The

maximum duration of the Framework will not exceed 4 years.

Suppliers appointed to the Framework will deliver services to the communications and

marketing team as well as other officers across ECC who may have ad-hoc requirements. The

Framework is divided into nine Lots including:

Lot 1A: Design - Digital/Web Design: working to Web Content Accessibility Guidance

(WCAG) 2.2 level AA guidelines

Lot 1B: Design - Branding: Identity and Guidelines

Lot 1C: Design – Publications

Lot 1D: Design - Generic materials

Lot 1E: Design - Campaign: concept and application

Lot 2: PR Services

Lot 3: Photography

Lot 4: Videography

Lot 5: Media Services

Suppliers must be skilled and experienced in accessible design, in line with Public Sector

Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Requirements in this lot will involve but are not limited to:

• the creation and design of digital assets for website and mobile app interfaces, email

templates and other digital materials, ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience.

• employing user-centred design principles to create interfaces that are intuitive and visually

pleasing, optimizing the user experience.

• the development of designs that are responsive and adapt to various screen sizes and

devices.

• creation of interactive elements and animations to enhance the user experience and

engagement.

• selection of fonts and colour palettes to reinforce the brand identity and improve

readability.

• use and maintenance of expertise in industry-standard design and prototyping software,

such as Adobe XD, Sketch, Figma, and relevant tools.

• creation of wireframes, prototypes, and mock ups to illustrate design concepts and

interactions.

• collaboration with cross-functional teams, including developers and product managers, to

bring design concepts to life.

Suppliers must have an understanding of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design

principles and best practices.

Ensures all digital designs adhere to accessibility standards and brand guidelines. Creates

accessible pdfs and uses Acrobat accessibility checker, colour contrast checker and other

accessibility tools to ensure compliance with standards

Requirements in this lot will involve but are not limited to:

• development of brand identity, brand architecture including guidelines, logo, core

message.

Involves development of brand propositions, visual elements and associated multi-channel

style guides for services, programmes and partnerships, including but not limited to creation

of identity, colour palette, typography, look and feel.

• desk or secondary research, or interrogation of research provided, to ensure solutions are

in line with the requirements of the brief.

• Ensures all digital designs adhere to accessibility standards and brand guidelines. Creates

accessible pdfs and uses Acrobat accessibility checker, colour contrast checker and other

accessibility tools to ensure compliance with standards.

Requirements in this lot will involve but are not limited to:

• layout of publications, including but not limited to strategy and policy documents and

information packs, which will be made available in print or online.

• typesetting and pagination of designed documents.

• ensuring all digital designs adhere to accessibility standards and brand guidelines. Creates

accessibe pdfs and uses Acrobat accessibility checker, colour contrast checker and other

accessibility tools to ensure compliance with standards.

Requirements in this lot will involve but are not limited to:

• supply of graphic design and art working services for all media channels and formats

including but not limited to posters, leaflets, social media assets, stands and event

materials.

• ensuring all digital designs adhere to accessibility standards and brand guidelines. Creates

accessible pdfs and uses Acrobat accessibility checker, colour contrast checker and other

accessibility tools to ensure compliance with standards.

Requirements in this lot will involve but are not limited to:

• The development of creative propositions, inclusive of relevant desk and secondary

research to inform development.

• Production of concepts and communications propositions across all channel options,

ideally developing and testing new communications ideas prior to production.

• Development of design concepts includes origination of design approaches which are

suitable for the media specified. This would require delivery of a number of creative

approaches for consideration by the client, in line with the brief referenced above.

• Creative development packaged for delivery or archive, ensuring accessibility standards

are adhered to.

• Development of ideas and core messages including development of a campaign style guide

to ensure consistency of application.

• Application of a chosen concept to required media assets.

• Ensures all digital designs adhere to accessibility standards and brand guidelines. Creates

accessible pdfs and uses Acrobat accessibility checker, colour contrast checker and other

accessibility tools to ensure compliance with standards.

Suppliers shall be able to provide a full PR service across a variety of projects. This may

include but is not limited to:

• Development and implementation of PR strategies, plans and tactics across a wide range of

projects and campaigns. Either as a stand alone piece or in conjunction with other agencies

(e.g. media buying) delivering requirements for large scale campaigns

• Message development and definition

• Content creation and distribution strategy (including seeding, syndication, blogging, social

networks, video sharing, forums)

• Stakeholder mapping and engagement

• Reputation and crisis communications management

• Workshop planning

• Commission and deliver research that can extend into PR opportunities: conferences,

awards, accreditations, speaking opportunities

• Media/Journalist management, particularly with specialist trade media

• PR events/stunts

• Media training of key spokespeople

Suppliers shall be required to provide photography services to ECC for promotional and

marketing purposes both internally and externally including, where appropriate,

storyboarding, venue/actor/models sourcing, shooting and editing. This will include but not

limited to:

• offering strategic advice and guidance on best approaches;

• creation of storyboards;

• sourcing of venues, locations, props and actors/subjects/models;

• delivering the shoot;

• editing of photos;

• safe storage and sharing of images and data,

• adhering to GDPR guidelines.

The following (non-exhaustive) list provides the scope of the Videography LOT that suppliers

may be expected to supply all or some of, on behalf of ECC:

• Film production including pre- and post-production stages, storyboarding, venue/actor

sourcing,

• Webinars and webcasting

• Live video

• Animation.

Suppliers will be expected to manage all aspects of video production required including

provision of a rationale to support recommended approach, suggestions on implementation

including channels for dissemination and evaluation of effectiveness to demonstrate

achievement of objectives

Suppliers will be required to plan, cost and buy media advertising, including (but not limited

to):

• Digital – display, social, paid search and audio

• Outdoor and ambient media

• Radio

• Print

• Addressable TV and VOD

• Media partnerships