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Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS) · Local or regional public body

In brief

Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS) has announced plans to buy printing work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

It is a framework worth up to £350,000,000 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 2 years, up to 4 years with extensions, starting 1 August 2027.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Typical: a median of 5 bids per contract for printing contracts across the UK (from 266 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 £350,000,000 is the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers over the framework's life, not one contract.

What the notice says

The scope of this procurement includes the retendering of the existing framework agreement (Serials, periodicals and associated services, LIB4054 SU) with the addition of a second Lot for single source subscription e-resources. It will be possible for suppliers to bid for both Lots if they wish: Lot 1: Subscriptions Agents - Subscriptions Agents enabling supply of serials, journals and other subscriptions products via a comprehensive online subscriptions management platform. Lot 2: Lot 2: Single Source Subscription E-Resources - Subscribed information e-resources that may form part of a library collection or similar service. Resources must be those where only one supplier exists, and they must be unavailable via a subscriptions agent or via a Procurement Act compliant Jisc deal.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. 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.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Pipeline notice · UK1, notice 050514-2026
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 070848-2026

About the buyer

Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS)Last 12 months

Procurements

8

Awards

0
All tenders and awards from Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS)

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From notice 050514-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 28 May 2026, last updated 27 July 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.