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Published 17 Mar 2026, 11:06 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Distribution of the Sandwell Herald council newspaper 2026-28

Official notice

Authority: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (Local council)

ServicesBelow threshold - open competitionBelow thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: Business Services & Consultancy (79) Delivery: West Midlands (UKG37)
Published estimate£96,000≈ £52k / year · £120,000 inc. VAT19.8% above published estimate
Submissions closed 27 Mar 2026awarded 20 Apr 2026
Awarded to The Letterbox Consultancy Limited
Contract term 1 yr 10 moends 19 Feb 2028 · extension options published · starts 20 Apr 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Distribution of the Sandwell Herald council newspaper 2026-28

Sandwell Council requires an experienced supplier to handle the distribution of the Sandwell Herald newspaper in line with its current specifications for up to six editions for the period 20 April 2026 to 19 April 2028. Please note that the Herald is designed separately and printing is handled via a separate contract.

The most recent edition can be viewed at www.sandwell.gov.uk/herald ↗

The number of Herald editions per annum, and over the 2-year contract, will be subject to demand and budget. The first edition under the contract is expected to distribute in July 2026. We anticipate up to six editions over the two-year contract.

CPV: Printing and distribution services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Awarded 1 yr 10 moSMEVCSEPublished value£96,000
Contract period: 20 Apr 2026 – 19 Feb 2028 (1 yr 10 mo)Value: £96,000 exc. VAT · £120,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: West MidlandsEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: If the cost is below contract value and there is enough budget for another print this will possibly be done.
79824000 Printing and distribution services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Condition of participation

    This is being conducted through Sandwell's e-sourcing portal ( in-tend ) Please Follow link below to register on in-tend portal Link is

    tendhost.co.uk/sandwellmbc/aspx/Home ↗

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored

Lot awarding rule: 60% Price 40% Quality

Conditions of participation1
  • Condition of participation

    This is being conducted through Sandwell's e-sourcing portal ( in-tend ) Please Follow link below to register on in-tend portal Link is

    tendhost.co.uk/sandwellmbc/aspx/Home ↗

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Below threshold - open competition
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Below threshold
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
17 Mar 2026, 11:06 GMT
Last source update
21 May 2026, 14:10 BST
Authority reference
SMBC 26009
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-023928
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Printing and distribution services
Delivery area
West Midlands (UKG37)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-066bf0 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: portal not identified
Electronic submission allowed
Submission deadline
27 Mar 2026, 17:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
18 Mar 2026, 17:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

tendhost.co.uk/sandwellmbc/aspx/Home ↗

Timeline

17 Mar 2026 → 21 May 2026 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published220 days ago
    17 Mar 2026, 11:06 GMT
  2. Clarification questions by218 days ago
    18 Mar 2026, 17:00 GMT
  3. Submission deadline209 days ago
    27 Mar 2026, 17:00 GMT
  4. Contract starts186 days ago
    20 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
  5. Latest notice published155 days ago
    21 May 2026, 14:10 BST

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 17 Mar 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    17 Mar 2026, 11:06 GMT
    UK4
  2. Contract details notice published
    21 May 2026, 14:10 BST
    UK7
  3. Status changed to complete
    21 May 2026, 14:10 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £115,0121 contract exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 20 Apr 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
The Letterbox Consultancy Limited£115,012 †—Awarded

Contracts

  • Distribution of the Sandwell Herald council newspaper 2026-28 · The Letterbox Consultancy Limited

    Signed
    20 Apr 2026
    Value
    £115,012
    Period
    20 Apr 2026 – 19 Apr 2028
    Status
    active
    Options
    six editions - but we may come in a good bit below that depending on how many editions we do and whether we reduce any volumes or pagination over the course of the contract.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PJHD-8764-YRJJ Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 3DEContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • THE LETTERBOX CONSULTANCY LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 05635286GB-PPON: PCPZ-3547-PLDT Abacus House 14-18, Loughton, East of England, IG10 1DXContact email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender