With its existing print framework due to expire, Haringey opened a tender to create an electronic platform for commissioning work earlier this year. This DPS runs until 4 March 2022 and printers can apply to join at any point over the next four years.
Haringey plans to create a pool of printers with a variety of specialisms for work split into five categories; standard print, mailing, signage and display, security printing, and specialist promotional work.
However, Haringey has expanded the framework to make it accessible to a wide range of organisations.
Printers accepted onto the DPS are listed for all participating local authorities looking to place print work. Local authorities have the option of signing up, including 21 London boroughs and Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Essex and Kent County Councils listed on the tender. NHS Trusts and other public sector bodies are also eligible to join the scheme.
Printers that are unsuccessful in applying to join the DPS are able to re-apply at any time when they can demonstrate that they meet the requirements.
Once printers are accepted onto the DPS, an authority or body places a notice on the platform and printers that have been approved for the type of job required are invited to bid for the specific project.
“[Haringey’s DPS] has generated a lot of interest from SMEs and some of the larger printing organisations,” a council spokesperson said. “We have also had a lot of enquiries from public bodies on how they could access the DPS.
“We are hoping to get a variety of suppliers onto the DPS. This will allow for competition among suppliers. With a variety of suppliers registered on the DPS, we hope to drive down price for prospective local authorities.
“Members of the printing industry are going to benefit more from this tender activity. The main reasons for this include wider market coverage, higher turnover and the creation of new working habits in order to be more competitive.
“We expect an ideal candidate to be creative, and have good experience to demonstrate that they are capable of successfully delivering any requirement within the lot they are qualified for. An ideal applicant will be required to satisfy all government regulations, for example, applicants are required to pay at least the National Living Wage.”
No advertised values were attributed to any of the lots on the tender “because it is difficult to envisage or predict how many authorities will take up the opportunity”. Five further lots relate to services such as design, marketing, digital communications and photography.
The DPS has been set up in accordance with Procurement Regulation 34, which means that suppliers do not have to undertake any additional work to join the supply chain.
On Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the tender is filed under the journal document number 2018/S 051-113253.
