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Medals and Insignia Framework

Cabinet Office

This public procurement record has 9 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

14 Nov 2025 at 18:55

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

14 Nov 2025 at 18:49

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

14 Nov 2025 at 15:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

01 May 2025 at 09:33

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
PlanningUpdate

01 May 2025 at 09:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

01 May 2025 at 09:12

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

30 Apr 2025 at 18:20

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

30 Apr 2025 at 18:17

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

30 Apr 2025 at 09:19

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Cabinet Office, acting as the contracting authority, has successfully awarded framework agreements for the Medals and Insignia Framework, conducted under a competitive flexible procedure. This process took place in collaboration with the Crown Commercial Service. The framework comprises various lots providing medals and insignia integral to the UK state honours system, managed by the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood (CCOK). The procurement strives to maintain continuity of supply while encouraging participation from small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The framework is set to commence on 13 March 2026, and, with potential options for a one-year extension, it is scheduled to end on 12 March 2029, extendable to 2030. Awards for particular lots, such as Lot 91, were made on 25 February 2026, with contracts beginning in mid-March of the same year. The total framework value excluding VAT is estimated at £4 million, distributed across multiple lots.

The Medals and Insignia Framework presents lucrative opportunities for businesses specializing in crafting high-quality insignia, medals, and related items like ribbons and boxes. Suppliers are expected to manage rigorous quality control procedures, address buyer queries, and maintain an efficient supply chain, ensuring continuity and reliability in service delivery. SMEs that offer specialized skills, such as engraving, hand painting, and enamelling, stand a good chance of succeeding in this procurement process. This framework not only supports the growth potential of businesses within the honours and insignia sector but also ensures they contribute to sustainable practices—potentially enhancing their industry reputation and expanding their client base. Businesses contracted under this framework are automatically appointed to Lot 91, opening further competitive opportunities within the same framework.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Medals and Insignia Framework

Notice Description

PLEASE NOTE - there are 91 lots for this Framework. Due to technical difficulties the notice has been populated as 3 lots (Lots 1-46, Lots 47-90 and Lot 91). Some CPV codes to not apply to all Lots (eg. Pearls and Enamels and Glazing do not apply to all lots - details can be found in Attachment 6 Specification and Technical Specifications). This procurement is being undertaken by Cabinet Office ('the Authority') on behalf of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood ('CCOK' 'Buyer') to establish a series of frameworks for the provision of medals and insignia, which form part of the UK state honours system. CCOK administers UK state honours, this includes the organisation of investitures, acting as the custodian of state insignia and overseeing the day to day administration of the Orders of Chivalry. The majority of honours are awarded on the advice of Cabinet Office, including MBEs, OBEs and CBEs. CCOK was established in 1904 by King Edward VII in response to changes to the administration of the honours system. This framework opportunity includes 91 Lots. The Authority intends to award a framework agreement to the highest scoring supplier, i.e. the most advantageous tenderer, for each of the lots 1 - 90, as preferred supplier ('PS'). The Buyer intends to enter into a call-off contract on a direct award basis, pursuant to the framework, for its requirements under that particular lot with the PS. The Authority will also award a framework agreement to the second and third highest scoring suppliers as first tier contingency supplier ('FTCS') and reserve contingency supplier ('RCS') for each of the lots 1 - 90 who may be offered an opportunity to deliver under the framework in exceptional circumstances (please see the procurement documents for the exceptional circumstances). Suppliers appointed to any of the lots 1 - 90 in PS, FTCS or RCS capacity will automatically be appointed to lot 91 and will have an opportunity to participate in further competitions pursuant to lot 91, as and when those lot 91 requirements arise. Note, there is no specification for lot 91 (please see the procurement documents for the lot 1 - 90 technical specifications). There are no restrictions on the volume of lots that you may seek appointment to, although the Authority will award the lots in accordance with the Authority's lot allocation rules, where restrictions apply (please see the procurement documents for the lot allocation rules). This is to ensure continuity of supply and to ensure that the potential barriers faced by small and medium enterprises ('SMEs') are reduced to ensure SMEs can access the procurement and the requirements. The Authority is adopting a multi stage competitive flexible procedure ('CFP') process pursuant to section 20(2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023 and is inviting suppliers to submit a request to participate response. Please note the Authority and /or Buyer (as the case may be) reserves the right to obtain additional or repeat goods / services from an existing supplier similar to the goods / services procured in accordance with this procurement / tender notice pursuant to Paragraph 8 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 Suppliers wishing to access the procurement documents and submit a request to participate response must first register on the Jaggaer eSourcing Tool using the following link https://crowncommercialservice.bravosolution.co.uk.

Lot Information

Lots 1-46

Due to technical difficulties we have grouped lots 1-46 together. Please see the Documents section of this Tender Notice for the individual lot descriptions, CPV codes, specialist skills required and estimated value per Lot (please note the value is indicative only.) Please see the procurement documents for an overview of the anticipated annual volumes of medals and insignia for each of the lots 1 - 46.

Options: Please see the procurement documents for further information.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the framework agreements for a period of 1 year, with the framework agreements expiring March 2030.

Lots 47-90

Due to technical difficulties we have grouped lots 47-90 together. Please see the Documents section of this Tender Notice for the individual lot descriptions, CPV codes, specialist skills required and estimated value per Lot (please note the value is indicative only.) Please see the procurement documents for an overview of the anticipated annual volumes of medals and insignia for each of the lots 47- 90.

Options: Please see the procurement documents for further information.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the framework agreements for a period of 1 year, with the framework agreements expiring March 2030.

Lot 91

Lot 91 is for Ad hoc requirements. Please see procurement documents for more information.

Options: Please see procurement documents for more information.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the framework agreements for a period of 1 year, with the framework agreements expiring March 2030.

Planning Information

REQUEST FOR COMPLETION OF QUESTIONNAIRE BY 14TH MAY 2025 This description references the Planned Procurement Notice for this requirement, which can be found via Find a Tender at the following link: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018196-2025?origin=Dashboard Background Further to the Planned Procurement Notice published on 30th April 2025, the Cabinet Office (the Contracting Authority) intends to undertake a procurement exercise to acquire Medals and Insignia. The Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood (CCOK) is a branch of the Royal Household, which is responsible for delivering the State Honours system. CCOK is required to purchase and retain a stock of insignia and medals for presentation normally following the publication of the two main honours lists (King's Birthday and New Year). The State Honours system sees the formal recognition of individuals who have performed notable and worthy things, with Medals and Insignia providing a visible token of thanks and gratitude from a grateful Nation. CCOK places an annual medals and insignia order (typically September/October), for delivery not before 1 April the following year. This provides the stock required for one year, but may be topped up on a small ad hoc basis. Requirements The requirements can be summarised as: -Provision of high-quality medals and insignia, including ribbons, boxes. -Management of appropriate quality control procedures, including defect and repair procedures. -Management and resolution of all buyer queries. -Management of the supply chain. -Provision of Management Information and reporting on spend and buyer activity. It is expected that some 90 types of medals or insignia will be required. Further information on key items can be found in the Planned Procurement Notice, which includes technical specifications for all medals and insignia required. The intended procurement exercise will provide requirements from April 2026 (once orders are placed around September/October 2025). Based on past experience and future estimates we expect the total value across all suppliers to be approximately £3,800,000 excluding VAT throughout the duration of the framework. Our Ask We are currently planning and designing the procurement strategy and processes and it would be very useful to understand potential suppliers' views on these. We therefore wish to undertake a Preliminary Market Engagement exercise in accordance with Section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023. A questionnaire was attached in the Planned Procurement Notice, published on 30th April 2025. We would be very grateful if you could answer the questions as openly as possible, providing enough information to allow us to understand why you have responded as you have. Please could you return the completed questionnaire to commercial@cabinetoffice.gov.uk by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 14th May 2025. Principles Please note that the following principles will apply to this market engagement activity: -Completion and submission of a questionnaire is entirely voluntary. If you choose not to complete and submit a questionnaire (or not to respond to certain questions) this will not preclude you from submitting a bid later in the process. -Whether you choose to complete and submit a questionnaire or not, will not (negatively or positively) affect the evaluation of any bid you may later choose to submit. Your responses to the questionnaire will not be taken into account when bids are evaluated. -Similarly your specific responses to questions will not (negatively or positively) affect the evaluation of any bid you may later choose to submit. -The Contracting Authority does not guarantee that it will implement any suggestions, in part or in full, raised by a respondent to the questionnaire. The decision on how to proceed with the procurement process is at the discretion of the Contract Authority alone. -The Contracting Authority may wish to implement suggestions raised and by submitting their responses respondents agree that the Contracting Authority is free to do so. -While it is not the intention to do so, the Contracting Authority reserves the right to contact a respondent or respondents on specific points of interest. Please note: we are unable to respond to questions during this preliminary market engagement exercise as it may give suppliers an unfair advantage. Clarification periods will be incorporated into the procurement process at a later stage where suppliers may raise questions. Clarification responses will be published to all bidders in the procurement process subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. A further pre-market engagement exercise was conducted between 13/06-17/06. Suppliers that responded to the original pre-market engagement were invited to provide an indication of the Lots they intended to bid for. This has been used for information purposes only in order to ensure sufficient interest in the opportunity and will not be used for evaluation purposes. END

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0509b4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074185-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Nov 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
9 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Mar 2026 - 1 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
2029-06-01

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cabinet Office
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2AS
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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