Official UK procurement notice
Exercise Books and Paper Products Partnership
Authority: Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionYPO's objective is to establish a long term strategic partnership that initially focuses on exercise books but creates opportunities to jointly develop wider paper product categories throughout the public sector.
- How the procedure runs: 3.3. This Competitive Flexible Procedure will be conducted in two (2) stages. The two (2) stages are described in more detail below. 3.4. Stage 1: Invitation to Tender Stage 3.5. Stage 1 commenced with the issuing of a Tender Notice [Note: insert link to Tender Notice published on the Central Digital Platform] and the publication of this document. 3.6. This Invitation to Tender explains the Procurement process and includes the procurement specific questionnaire (PSQ), Conditions of Participation and Mandatory Requirements. Tenderers wishing to be considered must complete and return all required responses in accordance with the timetable and instructions in this document. 3.7. Under Section 20 of PA 2023, Contracting Authorities may limit the number of Tenderers invited to the next stage of a Competitive Flexible Procedure. YPO will invite 3 Tenderers to Stage 2. 3.8. Under the public procurement rules, Contracting Authorities may require Tenderers to satisfy minimum levels of financial, technical, and legal requirements. These matters are commonly described as "Conditions of Participation." 3.9. Tenderers must answer all online questions; failure to do so may result in disqualification. Responses will be used to determine which Tenderers progress to Stage 2, and YPO may request clarification. 3.10. This Invitation to Tender sets out the key steps for selecting the Tenderer that will enter into the Contract with YPO. 3.11. This Invitation to Tender: explains YPO's approach to each stage of the Competitive Flexible Procedure; outlines the Contract requirements; provides key Contract information; and outlines how Tender Responses will be assessed. 3.12. At this stage, YPO will check whether the Tenderer, related persons in its corporate group, Associated persons relied on to meet the Conditions of Participation, or proposed sub-contractors appear on the Cabinet Office Debarment List. If they do, YPO will consider exclusion in accordance with the Act. 3.13. YPO will also consider whether a Tenderer, related person, Associated person or proposed sub-contractor is an Excluded or Excludable Supplier. Before making that determination, YPO will give the Tenderer a reasonable opportunity to make proportionate representations and provide evidence. Where exclusion arises only from an Associated person or proposed sub-contractor, YPO will give the Tenderer a reasonable opportunity to replace them. YPO will notify the Procurement Review Unit within 30 days if it excludes a Tenderer or becomes aware of such a replacement. 3.14. YPO will review each completed PSQ against relevant information on the Central Digital Platform. Conditions of Participation and Mandatory Requirements will be assessed under the selection process and criteria in this document to identify up to 3 Tenderers for Stage 2. 3.15. Stage 1 concludes when Tenderers are notified in writing whether they have been shortlisted for Stage 2. Unsuccessful Tenderers will receive written reasons. 3.16. Suppliers should note that YPO reserves the right to re-assess any Response to the PSQ, in light of any new relevant information that comes to YPO's attention. 3.17. After the submission deadline, YPO will assess Initial Tenders against the process and award criteria in the Tender Notice and this document to select Tenderers for Stage 2 discussions. 3.18. Following assessment, YPO will notify Tenderers in writing whether they are invited to Stage 2. YPO intends to shortlist a maximum of 3 suppliers; those not invited will receive written reasons. 3.19. The 3 highest-scoring Stage 1 suppliers will progress to Stage 2. 3.20. YPO may award the Contract before any Discussion Meetings, based on the submitted Tenders. Stage 2: Invitation to conduct Discussion Meetings Stage 2 begins when YPO issues a 'Stage 2 Information' document setting out the requirements and expectations for Discussion Meetings, together with any new information available at this stage. 3.21. Stage 2 will explore how YPO and each Tenderer would work in partnership. 3.22. It is YPOs intention to invite the top three scoring suppliers from stage 1 to stage 2. However, YPO reserve the right to invite more or less suppliers. 3.23. Scores awarded during Stage 1 will not be carried forward to the assessment of Dialogue. A minimum quality threshold will be applied, requiring bidders to achieve at least 60% of available marks from stage 1 and any score of 0 against any scored criteria (award or sample) should result in a disqualification. For stage 2, scores will be reset to zero (0) and Tenderers will be scored out of 100% for their dialogue. Below are the criteria and weightings in which the dialogue will based around: Theme Discussion points Weighting Partnership Approach Long term vision, relationship management, continuous improvement and senior leadership commitment 25% Innovation Product innovation, social value innovation, manufacturing innovation and digital progression 25% Market Growth Growth ambition & capability, category expansion, sales & marketing support and commitment to growing the partnership 25% Procurement Strategy Supply chain resilience, government ambitions, sustainability, risk management and capacity planning 25% 3.24. YPO intends to hold meetings during the week commencing 1 February 2027. It will provide available dates, times and draft agendas, with final arrangements agreed with each Tenderer. 3.25. The meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams and will be recorded to allow for evaluation post discussion. 3.26. Failure to attend may result in disqualification from the tendering process. 3.27. YPO reserve the right to change, reschedule, or introduce additional meetings and will notify Tenderers if it decides to do so. 3.28. The meetings will be held commercially in confidence and Tenderers are directed to the information in Section 6 in relation to the obligations of YPO under the FOIA and EIR. 3.29. YPO request that no more than 3 representatives of the Tenderer are present during the dialogue 3.30. Stage 2 will conclude with the issuing of letters to all participating Tenderers confirming the closure of the meetings. Contract Award Decision 3.31. Once the assessment has concluded, to YPO's satisfaction, YPO will be in a position to decide whether to proceed to award the Contract to the Preferred Tenderer. 3.32. If YPO proceeds to award, it will provide an Assessment Summary to all Tenderers that submitted a Tender, stating whether they were successful and explaining the assessment against the relevant award criteria in accordance with the Act. Where applicable, it will also identify the most advantageous tender, the supplier and its assessment against those criteria. 3.33. Suppliers disqualified or rejected earlier will be notified at that time and given the reason. YPO will issue Assessment Summaries to all Tenderers whose Tender Responses were assessed under Section 50 of PA 2023. 3.34. Once the Assessment Summaries have been provided YPO will also publish a Contract Award Notice on the Central Digital Platform to commence the mandatory standstill period. 3.35. After the mandatory standstill period, YPO will enter into the Contract with the Preferred Tenderer and publish a Contract Details Notice on the Central Digital Platform within 30 days. As the value exceeds £5 million, YPO will also publish the Contract in accordance with transparency requirements.
CPV: Exercise books
How this framework works
From the published notice- Framework period
- 6 yrs · up to 10 yrs from 4 Mar 2027
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£144,000,000
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 (3)
- Quality: 40%
- Pricing, Commercial and Service: 40%
- Social Value: 20%
Published award criteria (3)
- Pricing, Commercial and Service
- Quality
- Social Value
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Exercise Books and Paper Products Partnership” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation runs Exercise books (CPV 2283) tenders for its clients, and who usually turns up
Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation procures on behalf of other bodies; its record below covers every client it has tendered for, next to the published market for the same work. This notice is a framework or DPS, so only frameworks and DPS are compared. Whole-market view: Exercise books (CPV 2283) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Here, local means registered in Yorkshire and the Humber (authority’s region).
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered outside Yorkshire and the Humber.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 99 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
The market share is a minimum: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid11% / 12%
2–315% / 40%
4–621% / 44%
7+53% / 4%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
On a framework or DPS, prices are agreed when work is called off.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Not comparable on a framework or DPS. The notice sets up a supplier panel and a ceiling value; what the work actually costs is agreed later, on each call-off or mini-competition, and those publish as contract notices of their own. The award-vs-estimate record of this market therefore sits on the call-offs; this page shows it on the contracts, not on the panel that frames them.
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1CPV 2283Published estimate£144m
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid5%
2–339%
4–623%
7+34%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 awards in 36m · last 15 months ago | 3 live · £24m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 10 awards in 36m · last 15 months ago | 10 live · £73m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 5 awards in 36m · last 15 months ago | 5 live · £33m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 6 awards in 36m · last 17 months ago | 6 live · £58m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| 1 awards in 36m · last 17 months ago | 1 live · £9.6m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the match score are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Open admission
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use the vehicle
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 8 May 2026, 10:27 BST
- Last source update
- 2 Oct 2026, 09:36 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 19 Feb 2027
- Authority reference
001342- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-093129- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069448Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
Please refer to the procurement documentation
- How it runs
3.3. This Competitive Flexible Procedure will be conducted in two (2) stages. The two (2) stages are described in more detail below.
3.4. Stage 1: Invitation to Tender Stage
3.5. Stage 1 commenced with the issuing of a Tender Notice [Note: insert link to Tender Notice published on the Central Digital Platform] and the publication of this document.
3.6. This Invitation to Tender explains the Procurement process and includes the procurement specific questionnaire (PSQ), Conditions of Participation and Mandatory Requirements. Tenderers wishing to be considered must complete and return all required responses in accordance with the timetable and instructions in this document.
3.7. Under Section 20 of PA 2023, Contracting Authorities may limit the number of Tenderers invited to the next stage of a Competitive Flexible Procedure. YPO will invite 3 Tenderers to Stage 2.
3.8. Under the public procurement rules, Contracting Authorities may require Tenderers to satisfy minimum levels of financial, technical, and legal requirements. These matters are commonly described as "Conditions of Participation."
3.9. Tenderers must answer all online questions; failure to do so may result in disqualification. Responses will be used to determine which Tenderers progress to Stage 2, and YPO may request clarification.
3.10. This Invitation to Tender sets out the key steps for selecting the Tenderer that will enter into the Contract with YPO.
3.11. This Invitation to Tender:
explains YPO's approach to each stage of the Competitive Flexible Procedure;
outlines the Contract requirements;
provides key Contract information; and
outlines how Tender Responses will be assessed.
3.12. At this stage, YPO will check whether the Tenderer, related persons in its corporate group, Associated persons relied on to meet the Conditions of Participation, or proposed sub-contractors appear on the Cabinet Office Debarment List. If they do, YPO will consider exclusion in accordance with the Act.
3.13. YPO will also consider whether a Tenderer, related person, Associated person or proposed sub-contractor is an Excluded or Excludable Supplier. Before making that determination, YPO will give the Tenderer a reasonable opportunity to make proportionate representations and provide evidence. Where exclusion arises only from an Associated person or proposed sub-contractor, YPO will give the Tenderer a reasonable opportunity to replace them. YPO will notify the Procurement Review Unit within 30 days if it excludes a Tenderer or becomes aware of such a replacement.
3.14. YPO will review each completed PSQ against relevant information on the Central Digital Platform. Conditions of Participation and Mandatory Requirements will be assessed under the selection process and criteria in this document to identify up to 3 Tenderers for Stage 2.
3.15. Stage 1 concludes when Tenderers are notified in writing whether they have been shortlisted for Stage 2. Unsuccessful Tenderers will receive written reasons.
3.16. Suppliers should note that YPO reserves the right to re-assess any Response to the PSQ, in light of any new relevant information that comes to YPO's attention.
3.17. After the submission deadline, YPO will assess Initial Tenders against the process and award criteria in the Tender Notice and this document to select Tenderers for Stage 2 discussions.
3.18. Following assessment, YPO will notify Tenderers in writing whether they are invited to Stage 2. YPO intends to shortlist a maximum of 3 suppliers; those not invited will receive written reasons.
3.19. The 3 highest-scoring Stage 1 suppliers will progress to Stage 2.
3.20. YPO may award the Contract before any Discussion Meetings, based on the submitted Tenders.
Stage 2: Invitation to conduct Discussion Meetings
Stage 2 begins when YPO issues a 'Stage 2 Information' document setting out the requirements and expectations for Discussion Meetings, together with any new information available at this stage.
3.21. Stage 2 will explore how YPO and each Tenderer would work in partnership.
3.22. It is YPOs intention to invite the top three scoring suppliers from stage 1 to stage 2. However, YPO reserve the right to invite more or less suppliers.
3.23. Scores awarded during Stage 1 will not be carried forward to the assessment of Dialogue.
A minimum quality threshold will be applied, requiring bidders to achieve at least 60% of available marks from stage 1 and any score of 0 against any scored criteria (award or sample) should result in a disqualification.
For stage 2, scores will be reset to zero (0) and Tenderers will be scored out of 100% for their dialogue.
Below are the criteria and weightings in which the dialogue will based around:
Theme Discussion points Weighting
Partnership Approach Long term vision, relationship management, continuous improvement and senior leadership commitment 25%
Innovation Product innovation, social value innovation, manufacturing innovation and digital progression 25%
Market Growth Growth ambition & capability, category expansion, sales & marketing support and commitment to growing the partnership 25%
Procurement Strategy Supply chain resilience, government ambitions, sustainability, risk management and capacity planning 25%
3.24. YPO intends to hold meetings during the week commencing 1 February 2027. It will provide available dates, times and draft agendas, with final arrangements agreed with each Tenderer.
3.25. The meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams and will be recorded to allow for evaluation post discussion.
3.26. Failure to attend may result in disqualification from the tendering process.
3.27. YPO reserve the right to change, reschedule, or introduce additional meetings and will notify Tenderers if it decides to do so.
3.28. The meetings will be held commercially in confidence and Tenderers are directed to the information in Section 6 in relation to the obligations of YPO under the FOIA and EIR.
3.29. YPO request that no more than 3 representatives of the Tenderer are present during the dialogue
3.30. Stage 2 will conclude with the issuing of letters to all participating Tenderers confirming the closure of the meetings.
Contract Award Decision
3.31. Once the assessment has concluded, to YPO's satisfaction, YPO will be in a position to decide whether to proceed to award the Contract to the Preferred Tenderer.
3.32. If YPO proceeds to award, it will provide an Assessment Summary to all Tenderers that submitted a Tender, stating whether they were successful and explaining the assessment against the relevant award criteria in accordance with the Act. Where applicable, it will also identify the most advantageous tender, the supplier and its assessment against those criteria.
3.33. Suppliers disqualified or rejected earlier will be notified at that time and given the reason. YPO will issue Assessment Summaries to all Tenderers whose Tender Responses were assessed under Section 50 of PA 2023.
3.34. Once the Assessment Summaries have been provided YPO will also publish a Contract Award Notice on the Central Digital Platform to commence the mandatory standstill period.
3.35. After the mandatory standstill period, YPO will enter into the Contract with the Preferred Tenderer and publish a Contract Details Notice on the Central Digital Platform within 30 days. As the value exceeds £5 million, YPO will also publish the Contract in accordance with transparency requirements.
- Risks
Please refer to the procurement documentation
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Apply via YPO eSourcing- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Appointment period ends
- 16 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 2 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
8 May 2026 → 4 Mar 2027 · 7 dates- Planning notice published159 days ago8 May 2026, 10:27 BST
- Market engagement144 days ago22 May 2026, 23:59 BST
If you are interested in this opportunity there is a PME questionnaire to complete.
Please contact [email protected] and [email protected]
This will be sent via email to be completed and returned by the deadline above.
- Tender notice published12 days ago2 Oct 2026, 09:36 BST
- Today14 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 19 days2 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period endsin 33 days · period end, not a bid countdown16 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 129 days19 Feb 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 141 days4 Mar 2027
Notice history
6 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 May 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published8 May 2026, 10:27 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published2 Oct 2026, 09:36 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £144,000,0002 Oct 2026, 09:36 BSTwas £89,000,000
- Status changed to active2 Oct 2026, 09:36 BST
- Procurement method changed2 Oct 2026, 09:36 BST
- Deadline published: 16 Nov 2026, 14:00 GMT2 Oct 2026, 09:36 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender