Official UK procurement notice
002713 British Library Conservation, Bindery & Enclosures Framework
Authority: British Library Board (Central government)
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe British Library is establishing a framework arrangement with suppliers who can demonstrate their capability in providing high quality conservation and binding services to Library collections.
This Tender is divided into 3 Lots and the classification of lots is based on types of treatment, as stated below.
1.Lot 1 - Conservation of volumes covered in leather, cloth, buckram or paper as well as general paper conservation
2.Lot 2 - Rebinding and binding of unbound material, including lettering
3.Lot 3 - Buckram-covered enclosures for Library collections, including lettering
CPV: Bookbinding and finishing services · Bookbinding services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs are awarded directly to appointed suppliers, without further competition
- Bids received
- 7 bids on the busiest of 3 lots · 7 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 1 yr · up to 4 yrs from 1 Apr 2026
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- N/A
Published description of the framework
Requirements for specific work-packages will be established and defined by the British Library representative department during the duration of the framework arrangement. Details of specific Work-Packages will be communicated to the appropriate framework supplier, as determined by the Library's External Conservation & Preservation department on an individual work-package basis. The decision to allocate work to individual suppliers will be at the sole discretion of the British Library Representative.
Lot 2 and Lot 3 of this Contract are awarded as a fixed price which will be paid according to the deliverables/milestones as stated in the Specification of Requirements.
Lot 1 - Pricing for any work under this Contract will be subject to price on request, which will be paid according to the deliverables/milestones as stated in the Specification of Requirements (Section 2).
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Rebinding and binding of unbound material, including letteringAwardedRenewalPublished value£360,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #2Conservation of volumes covered in leather, cloth, buckram or paper as well as general paper conservationAwardedRenewalPublished value£1,260,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #3Buckram-covered enclosures for Library collections, including letteringAwardedRenewalPublished value£180,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Criterion 2: 80%
- Criterion 1: 20%
Published award criteria (2)
- Criterion 1
- Criterion 2
- Price carries 20 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “002713 British Library Conservation, Bindery & Enclosures Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract, and call-offs are awarded directly: getting appointed is the whole game.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 7 Jan 2026, 12:05 GMT
- Last source update
- 20 May 2026, 15:29 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 6 Mar 2026
- Authority reference
002713- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-001016- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0600ddFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 2 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 23 Jan 2026
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- call-off levy · N/A
Timeline
7 Jan 2026 → 20 May 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published288 days ago7 Jan 2026, 12:05 GMT
- Clarification questions by272 days ago23 Jan 2026
- Admission / appointment period ends262 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown2 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by229 days ago6 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent217 days ago19 Mar 2026
- Standstill ends205 days ago30 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts204 days ago1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published155 days ago20 May 2026, 15:29 BST
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 7 Jan 2026- Tender notice published7 Jan 2026, 12:05 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published19 Mar 2026, 12:19 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete19 Mar 2026, 12:19 GMT
- Contract signature expected31 Mar 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published20 May 2026, 15:29 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Rebinding and binding of unbound material, including lettering1 award | |||
| Bookends BinderySME, Downie Allison Downie LtdSME, FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD, MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTD, RDW Book and Paper Conservation LimitedSME, SPINK AND THACKRAY (LEEDS) LIMITED1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2030Extensions: The duration of the framework arrangement will be an initial period of 12 months commencing on the 1 April 2026 with a further three optional 12-month extensions thereafter. The total maximum duration of the framework arrangement will therefore be four years from 1 April 2026. | £360,000 | 19 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Conservation of volumes covered in leather, cloth, buckram or paper as well as general paper conservation1 award | |||
| Bookends BinderySME, Downie Allison Downie LtdSME, FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD, MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTD, RDW Book and Paper Conservation LimitedSME1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2030Extensions: The duration of the framework arrangement will be an initial period of 12 months commencing on the 1 April 2026 with a further three optional 12-month extensions thereafter. The total maximum duration of the framework arrangement will therefore be four years from 1 April 2026 | £1,260,000 | 19 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Buckram-covered enclosures for Library collections, including lettering1 award | |||
| Bookends BinderySME, Downie Allison Downie LtdSME, FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD, MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTD, RDW Book and Paper Conservation LimitedSME, SPINK AND THACKRAY (LEEDS) LIMITED +1 more1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2030Extensions: The duration of the framework arrangement will be an initial period of 12 months commencing on the 1 April 2026 with a further three optional 12-month extensions thereafter. The total maximum duration of the framework arrangement will therefore be four years from 1 April 2026. | £180,000 | 19 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Lot 1 - Conservation of volumes covered in leather, cloth, buckram or paper as well as general paper conservation · Bookends BinderySME, Downie Allison Downie LtdSME, FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD, MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTD, RDW Book and Paper Conservation LimitedSME
- Signed
- 31 Mar 2026
- Value
- £1,260,000
- Period
- 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The duration of the framework arrangement will be an initial period of 12 months commencing on the 1 April 2026 with a further three optional 12-month extensions thereafter. The total maximum duration of the framework arrangement will therefore be four years from 1 April 2026.
Lot 2. Rebinding and binding of unbound material, including lettering · Bookends BinderySME, Downie Allison Downie LtdSME, FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD, MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTD, RDW Book and Paper Conservation LimitedSME, SPINK AND THACKRAY (LEEDS) LIMITED
- Signed
- 31 Mar 2026
- Value
- £360,000
- Period
- 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The duration of the framework arrangement will be an initial period of 12 months commencing on the 1 April 2026 with a further three optional 12-month extensions thereafter. The total maximum duration of the framework arrangement will therefore be four years from 1 April 2026.
Lot 3 - Buckram-covered enclosures for Library collections, including lettering · Bookends BinderySME, Downie Allison Downie LtdSME, FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD, MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTD, RDW Book and Paper Conservation LimitedSME, SPINK AND THACKRAY (LEEDS) LIMITED +1 more
- Signed
- 31 Mar 2026
- Value
- £180,000
- Period
- 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The duration of the framework arrangement will be an initial period of 12 months commencing on the 1 April 2026 with a further three optional 12-month extensions thereafter. The total maximum duration of the framework arrangement will therefore be four years from 1 April 2026.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Rebinding and binding of unbound material, including lettering | 6final-stage tenders | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Conservation of volumes covered in leather, cloth, buckram or paper as well as general paper conservation | 5final-stage tenders | 5 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Buckram-covered enclosures for Library collections, including lettering | 7final-stage tenders | 7 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
7 commercial parties on the notice- DOWNIE ALLISON DOWNIE LIMITEDFramework contractor
- FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTDFramework contractor
- MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTDFramework contractor
- RDW BOOK AND PAPER CONSERVATION LIMITEDFramework contractor
- SPINK AND THACKRAY (LEEDS) LIMITEDFramework contractor
- SYCAMORE BOOKBINDING, RESTORATION & PAPER CONSERVATION LIMITEDFramework contractor
- THE BOOKENDS BINDERY LTDFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (7)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender