Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Government
Scottish Procurement & Property Directorate (SPPD), Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH
EH6 6QQ
Contact
Marta Sito
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
www.publictenderscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
www.publictenderscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
SPPD - Publishing, Print, Design & Associated Services (PPDAS) 2025
Reference number
SP-24-006
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79970000 - Publishing services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This Framework Agreement is for the Provision of Publishing, Print, Design & Associated Services (PPDAS) across the Scottish Public Sector.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £40,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79800000 - Printing and related services
- 79810000 - Printing services
- 22314000 - Designs
- 30192700 - Stationery
- 30199700 - Printed stationery except forms
- 31682230 - Graphic display panels
- 32300000 - Television and radio receivers, and sound or video recording or reproducing apparatus
- 34928470 - Signage
- 39133000 - Display units
- 39154100 - Exhibition stands
- 39171000 - Display cases
- 39294100 - Information and promotion products
- 71354100 - Digital mapping services
- 79530000 - Translation services
- 79822500 - Graphic design services
- 79824000 - Printing and distribution services
- 79933000 - Design support services
- 79971000 - Bookbinding and finishing services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Scottish Procurement & Property Directorate (SPPD) is the organisation tasked with procuring requirements on behalf of Scottish public sector bodies. The current Publishing, Print, Design & Associated Services (PPDAS) framework is due to expire on 30 September 2025. The agreement is for a period of 4 years. The Contractor must be able to provide the full range of services as detailed in the Invitation to Tender documents to Public Sector Bodies on a cost effective and best value basis.
These include (but are not limited) to the following:
- Design Services
- Publishing Services
- Print Services
- Display Materials
- Promotional Items
- Distribution Services
- Delivery Services
- Other Services
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 65
Cost criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 35
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £40,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework will be placed for a 4-year period and may be subject to renewal at the end of the 4-year period.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
Bidders must demonstrate a Current Ratio of 0.8 or greater. See Part 4B question 4 of the SPD. Current Ratio will be calculated as follows: total current assets divided by total current liabilities.
There must be no qualification or contra-indication from any evidence provided in support of the bidders economic and financial standing as this may lead to exclusion by SG.
SPPD may seek audited accounts/Financial statements to support the bid.
In the event that the bidder does not meet the financial criteria for consideration but has a parent company that does, the tenderer may still be eligible for consideration where their Tender Submission is supported by a Parent Company Guarantee. Where the bidder does not have a Parent Company some other form of assurance such as a performance bond may be acceptable.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
It is a requirement of this framework that bidders hold or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded framework/contract the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Professional Indemnity Insurance: 1 million GBP per incident - See Q4B.5.1a of SPD
Employers (Compulsory) Liability Insurance: not less than 1 million GBP, or in accordance with any legal obligation for the time being in force - See Q4B.5.1b of SPD
Public Liability Insurance: 1 million GBP per incident - See Q4B.5.2 of SPD
Bidders who do not currently have or cannot commit to obtaining the levels of Insurance requested may be excluded from the procurement process. In event of award of a Framework, Scottish Government will seek proof that these Insurance provisions have been fully complied with.
Bidders must provide a separate SPD response from entities upon whose capability/capacity they rely on in order to meet any selection criteria including economic and financial standing.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with a single operator
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-029249
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
26 March 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 9 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
26 March 2025
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Within 4 years
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
The Framework agreement will be available for use by the Scottish Ministers (including Agencies), Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies, offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices, cross-border public authorities within the meaning of section 88(5) of the Scotland Act 1998, the Scotland Office, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, councils constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, bodies regulated as social landlords under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Scottish health boards or special health boards, Student Loan Company Limited, the Commissioner of Northern Lighthouse operating as the Northern Lighthouse Board, Scottish Futures Trust, Equality and Human Rights Commission, Business Stream Ltd, the Business Gateway National Unit at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, further or higher education institutions being fundable bodies within the meaning of Section 6 of the further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005, any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament, any association of or formed by one or more of the foregoing, bodies financed wholly or mainly by one or more of the foregoing, bodies subject to management supervision by one or more of the foregoing and bodies more than half of the board of directors or members of which, or, in the case of a group of individuals, more thank half of those individuals, being appointed by one or more of the foregoing. In addition to the contracting authorities listed, the framework agreement will be available to charities entered on the Scottish Charity Register and voluntary organisations entered on the Membership Database of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisation.
Information about agencies of the Scottish Ministers, Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies and offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices are listed at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/about/Bodies.
The estimated total value of 40,000,000 GBP advised at II.1.5 is a genuine estimate, which may be exceeded for services within scope, up to a value of 60,000,000 GBP.
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public
Contracts (Sco) Regs 2015.
SPD Section 2: Sub-Contractors who are not being relied upon to meet Selection Criteria - Separate SPD will not be required at this
Stage.
SPD.4C.4: Ability of Suppliers to pay members of their supply chain promptly & effectively, including providing evidence.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 28477. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
New Entrants
1. Work experience 16+ years: 2 per year, 4 Person Weeks per year
2. Apprentices - can be existing: 1 per year, 26 Person Weeks per year
3. Apprentices - new: 1 in total during life of Framework, 26 Person Weeks per year
4. Progression into employment: 1 in total during life of Framework
Existing Workforce
5. Continued professional development/training e.g. First Aid, Health, and Safety/Vocational Qualifications: Minimum 25% of workforce
Supply Chain Opportunities
6. SMEs in the Supply Chain: At least 50%
To the extent that it has not already done so, the Contractor shall support and shall ensure that its supply chain also support the Scottish Government's Community Benefits Initiative.
(SC Ref:787762)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court & Justice of Peace Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Telephone
+44 1312252525
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
An economic operator that suffers or risks suffering loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session.