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The Provision of Print Services for Cambridge Matters and Open Door magazines

Cambridge City Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

17 Jul 2026 at 11:20

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

05 May 2026 at 12:45

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cambridge City Council procured print and related services for two resident publications: Cambridge Matters, its 16-page, full-colour A4 magazine for all residential households in Cambridge, and Open Door, its equivalent magazine for 7,700 council tenants and leaseholders. The appointed supplier is required to print both magazines three times a year, over a two-year service requirement, working with the council’s nominated designers. The scope also includes managing the print production process and transporting completed magazines to nominated premises before they are distributed to residents. Delivery is in Cambridge, within the United Kingdom. This is a public-sector publishing and print-production requirement, involving recurring magazine volumes, colour lithographic or digital print management, logistics and coordination with client-appointed design teams.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Warners (Midlands) Public Limited Company on 16 July 2026. The award value is £35,028 gross. The awarded contract period runs from 17 July 2026 to 15 July 2028, with continuation of services available through 14 July 2029. It followed a below-threshold open competition. The tender deadline was 27 May 2026 at 12:00. Evaluation was based on 70% quality and 30% price. There was one lot, marked suitable for SMEs. Eighteen bids were received, with 15 reaching the final stage; all 15 final-stage bidders were SMEs. The procurement was for services and was below the relevant threshold. Electronic bid submission was not allowed.

This award demonstrates recurring demand from Cambridge City Council for a supplier able to manage the complete production chain for high-volume resident magazines. A credible competitor would need dependable colour printing for 16-page A4 publications, robust production planning for three issues each year, and the capacity to coordinate effectively with nominated designers. Reliable transport arrangements are also important, since finished magazines must reach nominated premises before resident distribution. The requirement suited SMEs, and the competitive response shows that smaller print businesses can reach the final evaluation stage. Future credibility would depend on demonstrating print quality, consistency across repeated issues, operational resilience, delivery coordination and strong service management, with quality carrying substantially more weight than price in the evaluation.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The Provision of Print Services for Cambridge Matters and Open Door magazines

Notice Description

Cambridge Matters is Cambridge City Council's magazine for residents, to be delivered to all residential households in the city as a 16-page, full colour, A4 sized magazine. Open Door is Cambridge City Council's tenant and leaseholder magazine, to be delivered to all 7700 tenants and leaseholders in the city as a 16-page, full colour, A4 sized magazine. Cambridge City Council would like to contract a supplier to print the magazine three times per year for the next two years. The council's requirement is for a supplier to liaise with our nominated designers and manage the printing of the magazine and transportation of the completed magazines to nominated premises prior to distribution to residents.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069143
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067643-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79800000 - Printing and related services

79820000 - Services related to printing

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£67,500 Under £100K
Lots Value
£67,500 Under £100K
Awards Value
£35,028 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
27 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
16 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
17 Jul 2026 - 15 Jul 2028 1-2 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
Cambridge City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CAMBRIDGE
Postcode
CB2 1BY
Postcode Area
Cambridge
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH1 East Anglia
Local Authority
Cambridge
Electoral Ward
Market
Westminster Constituency
Cambridge

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Warners Midlands Plc

Further Information

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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