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Printed Book Production/CFP/PRO/2026

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

14 Sep 2026 at 16:32

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

10 Mar 2026 at 19:49

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

28 Jan 2026 at 16:53

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Open University procured printed book production for educational materials used by its students. The requirement covers paper supply, printing, finishing and binding across a range of publication formats, with finished materials delivered to the university’s warehouse in Milton Keynes. This is a goods contract for printed books, supporting the production and distribution of student course-module materials. The university is the buyer and sought a closed framework with two suppliers, allowing it to place orders through its production-planning function. The requirement is suited to established commercial printers able to manage end-to-end book production, coordinate paper supply and deliver consistently to a central warehouse. The framework supports recurring production needs rather than a single publication run.

The procurement has been awarded. It used a selective competitive flexible procedure with three stages: a preliminary supplier questionnaire, an invitation to tender and commercial negotiation. Six valid bids were received, all reaching the final stage. The award was made on 14 September 2026 to Hobbs The Printers Limited and Sterling Press Limited, for a combined framework value of £6,500,000. The contract period runs from 5 October 2026 to 4 October 2028, with two possible 12-month extensions to 4 October 2030. Quality counted for 45%, covering delivery and implementation, capacity and resilience, quality assurance, sustainability, customer service and account management. Price counted for 55%, covering price, commercial terms and conditions. Expressions of interest were due by 7 April 2026, and enquiries closed on 31 March 2026.

This award shows sustained demand from The Open University for a capable educational-print supplier covering paper procurement, production, finishing, binding, warehousing deliveries and order fulfilment. A credible competitor for the requirement’s next market exercise would need demonstrable production capacity across multiple book formats, resilient supply and operational planning, with quality assurance built into the manufacturing process. Strong customer service and account management would matter alongside reliable delivery and the ability to support mobilisation and agreed ordering processes. Sustainability and commercial discipline are also central to the buyer’s assessment. The opportunity is suitable for small and medium-sized printers as well as larger production groups, but suppliers must be able to evidence sufficient capacity, dependable performance and competitive pricing for recurring university course-material volumes.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Printed Book Production/CFP/PRO/2026

Notice Description

The Open University intends to award a closed framework for the supply of printed book production (to include paper supply, printing, finishing and binding) of educational materials for delivery into the The Open University's warehouse. The framework will support the production of printed learning materials for The Open University's students, with annual production volumes across a range of publication formats. The framework will be awarded for an initial period of two (2) years, with the option to extend by up to two further twelve (12) month periods, to a maximum duration of four (4) years.

Planning Information

The Open University is currently preparing to initiate a procurement activity for a dual supplier framework for it’s Printed Book Production requirements for student course module materials. We wish to engage the market to establish the level of market interest and to gather information that will be beneficial in the tendering process. Suppliers who wish to participate in the market engagement exercise should complete the preliminary market engagement questionnaire by no later than the 12th February 2026. Participation or non-participation in this pre-procurement market engagement shall not prevent any supplier from participating in a potential procurement process in the future. Link to Preliminary Market Questionnaire, via the OU’s procurement portal:- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-061152
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087028-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

CPV Codes

22110000 - Printed books

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£6,500,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
3 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
14 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
5 Oct 2026 - 4 Oct 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK7 6AA
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Hobbs the Printers Limited

Sterling Press Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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