This page provides step by step instructions on how to use the All-of-Government (AoG) design services contract. You may also find additional resources on this page.
Start by working out your service requirements and what you have the capability to do in-house.
Define whether your requirement is for a specific project or campaign, or whether you’re looking for a long-term partnership arrangement to deliver across multiple projects over a period of time.
You can choose to approach a supplier directly or shortlist several suppliers for a secondary selection process.
The panel process has determined fit-for-purpose, financial and commercial stability, and terms, conditions and other due diligence requirements. Keep other requests from potential suppliers to a minimum, as the cost of selection process responses can be significant for suppliers.
We recommend three categories of involvement. All three categories are a guide only, and should balance the complexity of the process against the size of the project.
We recommend you:
We recommend you:
We recommend you:
and either:
Detailed creative responses can be costly for suppliers to deliver. Often the best creative work and ideas come out of relationships, so think carefully about whether it's worth asking for a detailed creative response at this stage.
There’s some simple questions you can ask that will help you work out which provider could work best for you.
Relevance
Relationship
Account Management
Production
Finance and administration
Strategy and planning
Creative
Summary
Arrange a face-to-face meeting with your shortlisted suppliers to outline:
Once you've made your selection, advise those that were unsuccessful and give them any relevant feedback within 10 working days of your decision.
Before work can begin, a DSO needs to be completed and signed by both your agency and the supplier. If you select multiple suppliers a separate DSO will need to be completed with each.
All other documentation (including briefs, reverse briefs, cost estimates, and variations) can be referenced or attached as appendices for purposes of audit, invoicing, and reporting.
The DSO includes:
The DSO can include any alternative pricing models and agreement on extra costs that aren't specified in the base agreement but may be necessary for the delivery of services.
Note: if a supplier is delivering services that require a cost-per-hour pricing model, the panel directory's hourly rates must apply. If a retainer model, fixed fee or alternative pricing model is suited to an agency’s needs, this can be negotiated and captured in the DSO.
Provide a written brief for every piece of work so that everyone is clear about what your objectives and expected outcomes are.
For larger projects or campaigns you might want to follow up the written brief with a meeting to discuss.
Your provider is required to send you a survey to complete within 10 days of the engagement being completed. It is important that you complete this so that we can continue to monitor the performance of the panel. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.
End of processAn agency login is required to view this content.
This section contains information which may be commercially sensitive and should not be shared publicly.