The four-year Pan Government Collaborative Framework accounts for almost half the public sector's estimated print spend and spans more than 20 departments.

Essentially, it means the majority of the tender process for each public sector job is completed via one application, the deadline of which is 22 May.

Until now, individual Official Journal to the EU (OJEU) contract notices had to be processed from scratch for jobs worth over 100,000.

The OGC said its new framework should cut tender processing time from 12 to less than four months.

Once firms land a place on the list, they are divided into categories according to region and services available.

"It's an open competition so everyone's got an equal chance," said Department for Transport head of branch Andy Seal (pictured). "It makes competition fairer."

The BPIF urged members to apply as soon as possible.

"There are going to be winners and losers, but the government has done a pretty good job," said BPIF public affairs officer Lizzy Hawkins.

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