Framework for Large Print and Spoken Word Books
Essex County Council · Local authority
In brief
Essex County Council is looking for suppliers for printing work (East of England).
It is a framework worth up to £260,000 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.
The contract runs for 4 years, up to 42 months with extensions, starting 1 January 2027.
It is split into 2 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.
The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
Bids close at 2pm, Friday 2 October 2026.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
Can I win this?
Key dates
- Questions by
- 4pm, Wednesday 16 September 2026
- Bids by
- 2pm, Friday 2 October 2026
How bids are scored
Technical 30% · Cost 60% · Social Value 10%
Price matters most. Expect to compete hard on cost.
Competition
Typical: a median of 5 bids per contract for this buyer (from 36 awards in the last 12 months).
Framework
Winning puts you on a list of suppliers the buyer can call on; it does not guarantee work. The £260,000 is the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers over the framework's life, not one contract.
What the notice says
Should I bid?
Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.
How to bid
- Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
- Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
- Send clarification questions before 4pm, Wednesday 16 September 2026.
- Make sure your bid arrives before 2pm, Friday 2 October 2026. Late bids are usually rejected.
Lots
| Lot | Trade | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Large Print Books 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030 What this lot coversLot 1 covers the supply of Large Print Books for use across Essex Libraries. The Supplier will be required to provide Large Print Books that meet recognised accessibility standards and are suitable for public lending, including durable finishes and clear spine and cover labelling. Items must be supplied as library‑ready stock, including RFID tagging, barcoding, labelling and other physical processing requirements as specified by the Authority. The Supplier must provide accurate MARC bibliographic records via Bibliographic Data Services (BDS), maintain an online catalogue to support standing order plans and ad‑hoc ordering, and participate in electronic ordering processes including EDI. Deliveries will be made to a central library distribution address. The Lot includes defined obligations relating to data quality, delivery timescales, invoicing, management information, business continuity, and ongoing performance monitoring. No guarantee of volume or value is provided under this Lot. | Printing | £216,000 |
| Spoken Words Books on CDs 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030 What this lot coversLot 2 covers the supply of Spoken Word Books on CD for use across Essex Libraries. The Supplier will be required to provide audiobooks on CD supplied in cases suitable for public lending, with clear labelling and durable construction. Spoken Word recordings must be of appropriate audio quality and supplied as library‑ready stock, including barcoding, labelling and other physical processing requirements as specified by the Authority. The Supplier must provide accurate MARC bibliographic records via Bibliographic Data Services (BDS), maintain an online catalogue to support standing order plans and ad‑hoc ordering, and support electronic ordering processes including EDI. Deliveries will be made to a central library distribution address. The Lot includes requirements covering data quality, replacement of damaged items, delivery timescales, invoicing, management information, business continuity, and performance monitoring. No guarantee of volume or value is provided under this Lot. | Printing | £96,000 |
Timeline
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 002692-2026
- Tender notice · UK4, notice 084426-2026
About the buyer
Procurements
134Awards
75From notice 002692-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 13 January 2026, last updated 7 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.