Home / Opportunities / Opportunity
PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Sails of the South Advertising

Portsmouth City Council · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 27 Sept 2026, 04:32.

Opportunity overview

Portsmouth City Council (The Council) is seeking to procure an advertising solution associated with digital projection advertising at the "Sails of the South" (Tri Sail structure). The Council has a need to update existing non-digital advertising infrastructure and create digital advertising infrastructure on the M275. As a dynamic waterfront city at the heart of South Hampshire, Portsmouth attracts visitor numbers of in excess of 12.4 million per year. The Sails of the South are a prominent 43-metre gateway structure located on the M275 at the primary entrance to Portsea Island. Installed in 2001, the landmark reflects Portsmouth's maritime identity and forms a highly visible feature for vehicles entering the city. The location benefits from significant traffic flow, with approximately 31.4 million vehicle movements per year (c. 86,000 per day), providing a strong advertising proposition in a gateway location. Historically, the structure has supported projection-based advertising, generating income for the Council. However, the previous system is no longer operational, and PCC is now considering options to reintroduce a modern, flexible, and commercially viable digital advertising solution. PCC is considering the installation of a modern projection system comprising: Three high-powered mapping projectors (one per sail) Capability for multiple adverts to be displayed on rotation Remote content management, removing the need for on-site intervention Improved image quality and flexibility compared to previous systems Operation assumed dusk to dawn (approx. 8 hours per night). The system would ideally allow both static and potentially animated content (subject to safety considerations due to the highway setting). The sails provide a large-scale projection surface which functions as a "blank canvas", offering a unique city gateway advertising asset. However, design suitability and safety considerations (e.g. animation levels) will need to be factored into content. Options PCC is exploring two potential delivery approaches: Option A - Council-Owned Model • PCC funds the purchase and installation of the projection equipment • PCC markets and sells advertising space. Option B - Concession / Partnership Model • An external advertising operator funds, installs, and maintains the projection system. They also assume operational and commercial risk • PCC receives a share of advertising revenue. We are interested in hearing from the market on option B. This engagement is intended to inform PCC's preferred delivery model and procurement approach, and no formal procurement process is being launched at this stage. We recognise the experience and innovation that suppliers can bring to these services. As such PCC would welcome your organisation's market information, which will be used to support PCC to deliver a high quality specification that meets the needs of both PCC and local business. A market consultation questionnaire has been published on the InTend procurement portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home Subject to the response PCC may wish to engage with you further in an informal discussion, however this is purely a market consultation and is in no way an indication of the selection of your organisation or a guarantee of future work. Organisations participating in the market consultation will not have any advantage over organisations who do not participate in this process. Similarly, organisations not participating in the market consultation will not be disadvantaged.

Classification

  • CPV32321200 — Audio-visual equipment
  • CPV32321300 — Audio-visual materials
  • CPV32322000 — Multimedia equipment
  • CPV79341000 — Advertising services
  • CPV79342200 — Promotional services

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
P00005251
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
No
Status
planning

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Special regime

concession

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Has Renewal
Yes
Status
planning

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Oct 2026, 00:00
Ends
30 Sept 2028, 23:59
Max Extent Date
30 Sept 2031, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
32321200
Description
Audio-visual equipment
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
32321300
Description
Audio-visual materials
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
32322000
Description
Multimedia equipment
Entry 4
Scheme
CPV
Id
79341000
Description
Advertising services
Entry 5
Scheme
CPV
Id
79342200
Description
Promotional services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKJ31
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
The council has prepared a preliminary market engagement questionnaire for completion which will be used to understand: Market interest Feasibility Financial model Revenue estimates Capital infrastructure The questionnaire can be found on the InTend procurement portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/portsmouthcc/aspx/home The submission of the questionnaire, in part or in full, is purely optional and suppliers who do not submit will not be precluded from taking part in the procurement process. Subject to the responses, the council may wish to engage with suppliers further in an informal discussion, however this is purely a market consultation and will not form part of the selection process. The Council are requesting that the questionnaire be completed and returned by 10th August at 17:00.
Due
10 Aug 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
064501-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
9 Jul 2026, 09:53
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Portsmouth City Council
Id
GB-PPON-PCNL-5714-PRZV

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PCNL-5714-PRZV

Address

Street Address
Civic Offices, Guildhall Square
Locality
Portsmouth
Postal Code
PO1 2AL
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKJ31

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Portsmouth · UKJ31 · PO1 2AL · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKJ31 · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. 064501-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·