The BBC is looking for a media agency. Two BBC business areas have joined together for the first time to invite expressions of interest in a three-year contract for media strategy, planning and buying services.

The move, bringing together the BBC”s Marketing & Audiences and Licence Fee Units, is expected to “improve financial efficiencies across the corporation while retaining a focus on quality and creativity”.

Announcing a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) for the tendering process, Director of Media Engagement and Marketing & Audiences North Simon Lloyd said the successful agency would be required to work closely with the BBC”s Media Engagement team to assist in the planning and buying of all non-BBC media. Agencies will be asked to demonstrate strong digital and specialist media capabilities as part of the £5-6m annual contract.

“The type of media bought by the BBC has changed over the last few years, with a steady rise in digital space and outdoor media. More than half of the media bought by BBC Marketing & Audiences last year was digital, giving us the opportunity to communicate with our audiences using display and mobile channels,” he explained.

Head of Sales and Marketing for BBC TV Licensing, Peter Kirk, welcomed the joint tender across BBC Divisions, in a move intended to improve value for the licence fee payer. “The appointed agency will negotiate and buy media for the Licence Fee Unit across paid-for media channels including display, VOD and search marketing. We”ll be looking for an agency which demonstrates an understanding of BBC and TV Licensing objectives and a solid commitment to achieving value for money.”

Media agencies are invited to submit a PQQ by 25 January 2012. A short list of agencies will be selected and invited to tender for the business in March 2012.