Award

Sight & Sound Retail Distribution

BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 May 2026 at 09:27

Tender

30 Mar 2026 at 10:18

Summary of the contracting process

The British Film Institute (BFI) has conducted a procurement process to secure a supplier for the retail distribution of the Sight & Sound magazine. This contract, valued at £136,554, falls under the services category and will be conducted across the UK and international markets. The BFI, located in London, launched this tender using the open procedure as per the Procurement Act 2023. The initial contract period is three years, starting from 1st June 2026, with the potential for a two-year extension, concluding in 2031. The award stage has been completed, with i-can Publisher Services Ltd being the chosen supplier, following a competitive bidding process that involved four SME bids.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for firms in retail distribution and publishing services, aiming to expand their portfolio and reach an international audience. Companies with expertise in managing magazine retail sales and distribution, particularly those that can demonstrate innovation and efficiency, are well-suited to compete in similar future opportunities. Such contracts enable businesses to collaborate with prominent industry players like the BFI, enhancing their visibility and reputation in the sector.

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Notice Title

Sight & Sound Retail Distribution

Notice Description

The British Film Institute (BFI) is seeking a supplier to deliver retail distribution services for the Sight & Sound magazine to both the UK and international markets, on a three years plus two further optional years basis, totalling five potential years. Having recently redesigned and relaunched the magazine to a hugely positive response from industry and readers, the BFI are seeking a distribution partner that is the best fit for the efficient management of the magazine's retail sales as well as providing the best opportunities for growing the magazine's business. We welcome applications from consultants, agencies or directly from the distributor themselves to provide this service. This requirement is below the PA23 threshold, but is being undertaken as a competitive process under the Open Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023), as best practice.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067788
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047577-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

22200000 - Newspapers, journals, periodicals and magazines

55900000 - Retail trade services

79824000 - Printing and distribution services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£136,554 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
21 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 May 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 31 May 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE
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
W1T 1LN
Post Town
West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI36 Camden
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Camden
Electoral Ward
Bloomsbury
Westminster Constituency
Holborn and St Pancras

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

I-CAN PUBLISHER SERVICES

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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