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Provision of the Distribution of Hillingdon People Magazine

London Borough of Hillingdon

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Oct 2026 at 14:18

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The London Borough of Hillingdon intends to procure a door-to-door distribution service for its residents’ magazine, Hillingdon People. The service covers eligible residential properties across the borough, plus delivery of around 2,500 copies to Uxbridge Library. Each distribution cycle is expected to involve approximately 119,660 copies, normally delivered within about two weeks. The Council currently publishes at least four editions a year, although frequency may change to meet its requirements. The magazine is currently colour, approximately A4 size and usually 32–36 pages. The service may also include distributing Council booklets, leaflets or flyers alongside the magazine. Detailed postcode sectors and boundary information will be provided for the future procurement.

This is the planning stage: the Council is conducting preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders or committing to a procurement or award. It seeks completed supplier questionnaires by 12 noon on 9 November 2026 and may then hold follow-up meetings. The Council expects to publish a future procurement notice on 16 November 2026. The proposed initial contract period is 15 April 2027 to 14 October 2030, with two possible one-year extensions, taking the maximum period to 13 October 2032. The estimated value is £389,000 excluding VAT (£466,000 including VAT). The requirement is presented as one lot. The final specification and procurement approach may be shaped by engagement feedback.

This requirement is suited to suppliers able to plan and carry out reliable, borough-wide residential distribution at substantial volume, with capacity to meet a short delivery window and provide additional copies to a library. The Council is seeking insight into delivery models, geographic coverage, distribution timescales, mobilisation, pricing, and how delivery can be monitored and tracked. Suppliers should be ready to explain their assurance and back-checking methods, how they investigate missed deliveries, and how they evidence remedial delivery. The Council is also interested in factors that could affect competition or value for money. Small and medium-sized businesses are identified as suitable for the procurement. Engagement is a chance to inform the eventual service specification; it is not a bidding opportunity.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of the Distribution of Hillingdon People Magazine

Notice Description

The London Borough of Hillingdon are conducting preliminary market engagement in advance of a future procurement and contract for the Provision of the Distribution of Hillingdon People Magazine to understand market capacity and capability and to test the viability of the Council's proposed service requirements. The Council is particularly interested in understanding potential delivery models, distribution timescales, geographic coverage, delivery assurance and tracking methods, mobilisation requirements, pricing structures and any factors which may affect competition or value for money. Feedback received may be used to inform the final specification and procurement approach. This preliminary market engagement does not constitute a call for competition or an invitation to tender and does not commit the Council to commencing a procurement process or awarding a contract. Participation or non-participation in this exercise will not prevent suppliers from participating in any future procurement opportunity. The Council may use information obtained through this exercise to inform the development of its procurement strategy, specification and tender documentation. The services under the proposed contract include, but are not limited to: The London Borough of Hillingdon requires a door-to-door distribution service for its residents' magazine, Hillingdon People. The Council currently publishes a minimum of four editions per year; however, publication frequency may vary during the contract to reflect Council requirements. Each distribution cycle is expected to involve approximately 119,660 copies, with distribution normally required to be completed within an approximately two-week delivery window. The supplier will be required to distribute Hillingdon People to eligible residential properties throughout the London Borough of Hillingdon and deliver approximately 2,500 copies to Uxbridge Library. On occasion, the Council may also require additional Council-related materials, such as booklets, leaflets or flyers, to be distributed alongside Hillingdon People. Detailed postcode sectors and boundary information will form part of the procurement documentation, so suppliers understand that the requirement is for borough-wide geographic coverage. The service will require appropriate delivery monitoring, back-checking and/or tracking arrangements to provide assurance and evidence that distribution has been completed. Suppliers will also be expected to support the investigation and resolution of reported missed deliveries and provide evidence of remedial delivery where required. For context, the current magazine is approximately A4 size (297 x 210mm), colour and normally comprises between 32 and 36 pages including the cover and is currently produced on 70gsm paper stock. The initial contract term is expected to be three years and six months, with options to extend for up to a further two years (1 year + 1 year), subject to satisfactory performance and the Council's requirements.

Planning Information

This Preliminary Market Engagement ('PME') Notice is being published in advance of a future procurement and contract for the distribution of the resident magazine ‘Hillingdon people’ on behalf of the London Borough of Hillingdon ('the Council'). Interested bidders are asked to email Hillingdon at mkenyon@hillingdon.gov.uk to request a copy of a questionnaire to complete and to return to the same email address. Please use the reference 'Hillingdon People Distribution’ - UK2: Preliminary market engagement Notice' when requesting and submitting the questionnaire. Completed questionnaires are to be returned no later than 12:00pm, Monday 9th November 2026. Following a review of completed questionnaires, the Council may invite suppliers to participate in follow-up engagement meetings where appropriate.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07928c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102142-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79823000 - Printing and delivery services

79824000 - Printing and distribution services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£389,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Nov 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Apr 2027 - 15 Oct 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
London Borough of Hillingdon
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
UXBRIDGE
Postcode
UB8 1UW
Postcode Area
Southall
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI74 Harrow and Hillingdon
Delivery Location
TLI74 Harrow and Hillingdon
Local Authority
Hillingdon
Electoral Ward
Uxbridge
Westminster Constituency
Uxbridge and South Ruislip

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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