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Electoral Print Services

Thurrock Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

30 Sep 2026 at 15:35

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

20 Aug 2026 at 13:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Thurrock Council is buying specialist electoral printing and fulfilment services to support the statutory work of its Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer. The requirement covers annual canvass forms, ballot papers, poll cards including one-piece mailers, postal vote packs and other election-related documents, as well as ad hoc specialist items such as grass skirt notices. The supplier must handle postal vote packs end to end: collating and matching materials, inserting them into packs, packaging and distributing them. The service also includes outgoing postage for postal vote packs, canvass forms and other statutory electoral communications. Printed materials and fulfilment must meet the electoral laws, regulations, guidance and standards in force for each election, referendum or annual canvass. Delivery is in the Thurrock area, Essex.

The buyer invited offers through an open procedure. The contract is for one lot, with an estimated value of £400,000 excluding VAT (£480,000 including VAT). The contract period runs from 4 January 2027 to 31 December 2030, with an option for a 12-month extension subject to satisfactory supplier performance. Offers were due by 26 October 2026 at 17:00; the stated award decision date was 12 November 2026. Evaluation is weighted 70% on quality and 30% on price. Electronic submission was permitted, in English, through the Council’s In-tend supplier portal. The Council also held preliminary market engagement, with a stated deadline of 7 September 2026.

This opportunity is suited to specialist electoral print firms able to produce a broad range of election materials accurately and to manage secure, high-volume fulfilment and distribution. Suppliers need the operational capacity to collate, match, insert, package and dispatch postal vote packs, alongside canvass forms and other statutory communications, with outgoing postage included in their pricing. The work calls for reliable coordination against legally prescribed election and canvass timetables, and the ability to adapt to different requirements for elections, referendums and annual canvasses. Bidders should be able to demonstrate that their production and fulfilment processes can comply with relevant electoral legislation, regulations, guidance and standards, and can accommodate ad hoc specialist printing as required. Quality has greater evaluation weight than price.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Electoral Print Services

Notice Description

This contract is for the provision of specialist electoral printing and fulfilment services to support the statutory responsibilities of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and Returning Officer (RO). The scope includes the production of electoral materials such as Annual Canvass forms, ballot papers, poll cards (including one-piece mailers), postal vote packs, and other election-related documentation required under current electoral legislation. The contract also covers the end-to-end fulfilment of postal vote packs, including the collation, matching, insertion, packaging, and distribution of ballot papers and associated electoral materials. Pricing must include all outgoing postage costs associated with the distribution of postal vote packs, canvass forms, and other statutory electoral communications. Provision must also be available for ad hoc specialist electoral printing requirements, including but not limited to grass skirt notices and other election-specific materials. All printed materials and fulfilment services must comply with the electoral legislation, regulations, guidance, and standards in force at the time of each election, referendum, or annual canvass. The primary objective of the contract is to ensure that the ERO and RO are able to meet all statutory obligations and adhere to prescribed electoral timetables and deadlines.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The Council reserves the right to invoke a 12-month extension regardless of the overall contract value, as service requirements will be delivered through call-off arrangements. The exercise of any extension period will be conditional upon the supplier's satisfactory performance under the contract.

Planning Information

Please see attached documents. These can be found by registering on In-tend and expressing an interest using the attached link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/thurrockcouncil/aspx/Home

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e89c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092505-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

CPV Codes

22000000 - Printed matter and related products

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
26 Oct 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
10 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Thurrock 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
GRAYS
Postcode
RM17 6SL
Postcode Area
Romford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH32 Thurrock
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex
Local Authority
Thurrock
Electoral Ward
Grays Riverside
Westminster Constituency
Thurrock

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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