The print and mailing company has been appointed preferred supplier of ballot papers to the Greater London Authority following a competitive tender process, managed by Transport for London.
As a result, FDM will lead on the design, print, project management and delivery of circa 18m ballot papers for the 2 May 2024 Mayor of London, London-wide Assembly and Constituency London Assembly elections. The Mayoral election will be ‘first past the post’ for the first time.
According to the tender document, expenditure of up to £2m has been approved for the project.
FDM said the sole-supplier contract will be managed in-house.
Printweek understands the contract was awarded in May, shortly before former democratic services manager at Adare, Peter Clitheroe joined the Canning Town, London-based business.
FDM sales director Ian Forster said it was a privilege to be appointed the project’s preferred supplier.
“As specialists in election services, it is a real privilege to be working on this landmark project. We are genuinely excited by the opportunity to deliver this highly complex, time-critical communication,” he said.
“We have a highly trained and skilled workforce that understands the challenges of managing critical communications. After all, we’ve been successfully delivering these contracts for more than 30 years.”
The tender highlighted “a very high volume of critical delivery activity that will take place across London within a two- or three-day timeframe” with the contract including a ‘no fail’ requirement.
“As would be expected, the tender process for this contract is detailed and rigorous. Its complexity and responsibility cannot be underestimated,” added Alex Conway, deputy Greater London returning officer.
FDM works with 40 plus UK local authorities producing canvass and postal voting electoral output and has strong history with London elections.
The business previously produced the 2016 London Mayoral booklet, where it mailed out almost 6m booklets and in 2022 it produced more than 1.1m local Mayoral booklet mailers for five London boroughs.
It has also worked on Mayoral elections for Bristol, in 2012, 2016 and 2021, West of England combined authority and Liverpool City region.
“With the electoral experience that FDM has, alongside a proven track record of delivering against the strict parameters of such contracts, we are very pleased to announce that they are our preferred partner,” said Conway.
