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The Economist 400 subscriptions

Home Office

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

29 Sep 2026 at 12:46

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

18 Sep 2026 at 11:50

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

18 Sep 2026 at 11:21

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Home Office bought 400 subscriptions to The Economist, a news and current-affairs publication, for use by officials preparing advice for Home Office ministers and senior officials. This is a subscription service rather than a wider news-agency or consultancy commission. The buyer is the Home Office, a central government department based in London. The procurement records the subscription requirement but does not identify a separate delivery location.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to The Economist Newspaper Limited. The Home Office used a direct award, citing the benefits of the subscriptions to officials’ performance and a rationale based on exclusive intellectual property rights. There was one lot, marked suitable for small and medium-sized businesses. The award was dated 18 September 2026; the contract was signed on 29 September 2026. Its period runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027. The contract value is £14,750 excluding VAT (£17,700 including VAT).

For suppliers considering similar demand from the Home Office, this award shows a requirement for bulk access to a recognised publication whose coverage supports officials’ policy work and advice to senior decision-makers. A credible alternative would need to demonstrate relevant news and current-affairs content, the ability to supply 400 subscriptions, and a clear case that its coverage would meet the department’s operational needs. The buyer relied on the selected publication’s exclusive intellectual property rights in making a direct award, so suppliers should be prepared to show how their content offers comparable value and whether it can meet the same specific requirement. The procurement was a single-lot service, rather than a multi-lot or broader media-services contract.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

The Economist 400 subscriptions

Notice Description

There are a number of required benefits that the subscription to the Economist will bring, that will substantially improve officials' performance in the following duties, per the need to provide the best possible advice to Home Office Ministers and senior officals

Procurement Information

There are a number of required benefits that the subscription to the Economist will bring, that will substantially improve officials' performance in the following duties, per the need to provide the best possible advice to Home Office Ministers and senior officals.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077536
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091840-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

92400000 - News-agency services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£14,750 Under £100K
Contracts Value
£14,750 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Home 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
SW1P 4DF
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

The Economist Newspaper Limited

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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