--- title: "Printed Book Production/CFP/PRO/2026" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-061152" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061152" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061152.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061152.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "THE OPEN UNIVERSITY" published: "2026-03-10" --- # Printed Book Production/CFP/PRO/2026 Buyer: THE OPEN UNIVERSITY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-061152 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061152) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061152.json) ## Summary The Open University is seeking to establish a closed framework for the supply of printed book production services, including paper supply, printing, finishing, and binding educational materials for delivery to their warehouse in Milton Keynes, UK. This procurement falls under the 'tender' stage, initiated on 10 March 2026, with critical deadlines including an expression of interest deadline on 7 April 2026. The procurement is categorised under goods, with a substantial contract value of £6.5 million. The Competitive Flexible Procedure is being utilised, with a planned award to two suppliers for an initial two-year period, potentially extending up to four years. Companies interested in participating should complete the Procurement Specific Questionnaire as the first stage of this selective tender process, leading potentially to the tender stage followed by commercial negotiation. The opportunities presented by this tender are significant for businesses specialising in printed book production. With an annual production volume across diverse publication formats, businesses with capabilities in technical specifications, price, operational requirements, and performance stand to benefit. The Open University will place call-off orders based on agreed pricing schedules and supplier capacity, offering stable work flow to the successful bidders. Businesses with strong quality assurance protocols, sustainability practices, and customer service capabilities, paired with competitive pricing strategies, would be well-positioned to navigate this selective procurement process and expand their reach in the educational material production sector. ## Notice The Open University is commencing a competitive procurement, via a Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP) to establish a closed framework for the supply of printed book production (to include paper supply, printing, finishing and binding) of educational materials for delivery into the The Open University's warehouse. The framework will support the production of printed learning materials for The Open University's students, with annual production volumes across a range of publication formats. The framework will be awarded for an initial period of two (2) years, with the option to extend by up to two further twelve (12)-month periods, to a maximum duration of four (4) years. Interested companies are invited to complete the Procurement Specific Questionnaire in Stage 1 of the process. Following evaluation, the five (5) highest scoring suppliers will be invited to participate in the tender stage, Stage 2. At the conclusion of the procurement, the two (2) highest scoring suppliers will be appointed to the closed framework. ### Planning Information The Open University is currently preparing to initiate a procurement activity for a dual supplier framework for it’s Printed Book Production requirements for student course module materials. We wish to engage the market to establish the level of market interest and to gather information that will be beneficial in the tendering process. Suppliers who wish to participate in the market engagement exercise should complete the preliminary market engagement questionnaire by no later than the 12th February 2026. Participation or non-participation in this pre-procurement market engagement shall not prevent any supplier from participating in a potential procurement process in the future. Link to Preliminary Market Questionnaire, via the OU’s procurement portal:- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021564-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 10 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | 31 Mar 2026 | | Future notice date | 3 Mar 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 4 Oct 2026 - 4 Oct 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £6,500,000 | | Lots value | £6,500,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | THE OPEN UNIVERSITY | | Locality | MILTON KEYNES | | Post town | Milton Keynes | | Postcode | MK7 6AA | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLJ12 Milton Keynes | | Local authority | Milton Keynes | | Electoral ward | Monkston | | Westminster constituency | Milton Keynes Central | | Delivery location | TLJ12 Milton Keynes | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 22 - Printed matter and related products ### Codes - 22110000 - Printed books ## Release History - 10 Mar 2026 at 19:49 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021564-2026 - 28 Jan 2026 at 16:53 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007760-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021564-2026 10th March 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007760-2026 28th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/openuniversity The procurement documents can be accessed via the link to the Open University's e-tendering portal. ## Notice URLs - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061152. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061152.json.