Efficiency East Midlands (EEM), a not-for-profit consortium that counts 223 public sector organisations among its members, is looking to procure and enter into framework agreements with multiple service providers for the provision of printing, mailing, fulfilment, and additional and associated services, including the distribution to end postal providers.

It said contracting authorities who wish to procure a service provider that are able to offer these services can compliantly do so via this framework, using either direct selection or a mini competition to appoint a service provider.

Successful applicants are expected to be capable of producing a wide range of black and white and colour printed material, including direct and transactional mail; hybrid mail; a wide scope of print items; a range of alternative formats; finishing, fulfilment, and secure print services; and multichannel and digital solutions, among others.

“Service providers should be aware that on occasion, there may be a requirement for urgent printing or unscheduled and urgent mailing requirements, therefore the service provider must be capable of offering a quick turnaround service,” the organisation added.

The estimated total value of the contract, which is not divided into lots, is £20m. Its duration is 48 months, and it is not subject to renewal. The deadline for receipt of projects or requests to participate is 18 June 2021.

Meanwhile, Energia Group is seeking to procure bill and letter print services and mailing services for the delivery of bills, letters, and other mail to its customers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The provision of print services is expected to commence in September 2021, with the provision of mail services expected to follow in June 2022.

Worth £9.5m, the contract is not divided into lots, but there is the potential for multiple suppliers to be involved, with the envisaged number of candidates stated as five.

Successful applicants will be required to provide print materials including stationery and envelopes, print letters endorsed with either the Power NI or Energia brand via a white paper solution, and interface with Energia’s existing mail services provider.

The will also need to provide daily, weekly, and monthly operational reporting, including transactional data, stocking levels, and management reporting, while also providing postal and courier services for the final delivery of bills, letters, and other mail to customers’ addresses.

The contract will run for 36 months and is subject to two renewals of up to 12 months each. The deadline for receipt of expressions of interest is 2pm on 14 June 2021.

Finally, Kent County Council trading as KCS requires the printing of KCS' annual product catalogues – full colour publications with A4 sized pages, the supply of associated printing paper, and subsequent mailing services of finalised catalogues to KCS’ customers.

No estimated value was stated for this contract, which is divided into three lots, with tenders able to be submitted for all lots.

The contracting authority said it reserves the right to award contracts combining Lots 1 and 2 to create a combined paper supply and print agreement (Lot 3), and in such an event Lots 1 and 2 would not be awarded.

The duration of the contract is 48 months, and it is not subject to renewal. The deadline for receipt of projects or requests to participate is 2pm on 21 June 2021.

More details on all the tenders can be found here.