Official UK procurement notice
Framework for Large Print and Spoken Word Books
Authority: Essex County Council (Local council)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionEssex County Council (ECC) are seeking to establish a multi-Supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of Large Print Books and Spoken Word Books on CDs for use across Essex Libraries.
This will divided into two (2) Lots:
Lot 1: Large Print Books
Lot 2: Spoken Word Books on CDs
Large Print Books are defined as 16-18 point size, and Spoken Word Books on CDs are defined as a book that has been read and recorded onto one or more CDs in a format playable by standard CD players.
Suppliers will be required to provide durable, library-ready materials suitable for public lending, including RFID tagging, barcoding, labelling and the provision of accurate MARC bibliographic records.
Ordering will be undertaken through electronic processes, including EDI, supported by an online catalogue enabling standing order plans and ad-hoc purchases. Deliveries will be made to a central distribution location.
To access the tender, please register on our procurement portal, Open
CPV: Library books
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 1 Jan 2027
Published description of the framework
The Framework will operate through a combination of:
- Direct ordering via standing order arrangements; and
- Individual call-off orders placed as required.
The Authority will purchase stock only when required and subject to the availability of budget.
When the same publication is available from two or more suppliers appointed to the same Lot, the Authority may undertake a simple price comparison exercise.
In these circumstances:
Suppliers may be invited to submit pricing through the quotation process.
- Evaluation will be based on 100% price.
- The order will be awarded to the supplier offering the most advantageous price for the publication(s) concerned.
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Large Print BooksRenewal UK, East of EnglandPublished value£216,000
Lot 1 covers the supply of Large Print Books for use across Essex Libraries.
The Supplier will be required to provide Large Print Books that meet recognised accessibility standards and are suitable for public lending, including durable finishes and clear spine and cover labelling. Items must be supplied as library‑ready stock, including RFID tagging, barcoding, labelling and other physical processing requirements as specified by the Authority.
The Supplier must provide accurate MARC bibliographic records via Bibliographic Data Services (BDS), maintain an online catalogue to support standing order plans and ad‑hoc ordering, and participate in electronic ordering processes including EDI.
Deliveries will be made to a central library distribution address.
The Lot includes defined obligations relating to data quality, delivery timescales, invoicing, management information, business continuity, and ongoing performance monitoring.
No guarantee of volume or value is provided under this Lot.
Lot #2Spoken Words Books on CDs East of EnglandPublished value£96,000
Lot 2 covers the supply of Spoken Word Books on CD for use across Essex Libraries.
The Supplier will be required to provide audiobooks on CD supplied in cases suitable for public lending, with clear labelling and durable construction. Spoken Word recordings must be of appropriate audio quality and supplied as library‑ready stock, including barcoding, labelling and other physical processing requirements as specified by the Authority.
The Supplier must provide accurate MARC bibliographic records via Bibliographic Data Services (BDS), maintain an online catalogue to support standing order plans and ad‑hoc ordering, and support electronic ordering processes including EDI.
Deliveries will be made to a central library distribution address.
The Lot includes requirements covering data quality, replacement of damaged items, delivery timescales, invoicing, management information, business continuity, and performance monitoring.
No guarantee of volume or value is provided under 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 (3)
- Technical: 30%
- Cost: 60%
- Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Technical
- Cost
- Social Value
- Price carries 60 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 6 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
- “Framework for Large Print and Spoken Word Books” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
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
- Goods
- Notice status
- Closed
- 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
- 13 Jan 2026, 14:02 GMT
- Last source update
- 7 Sept 2026, 13:43 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 16 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
C025PA- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-084426- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0604b3Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 2 Oct 2026, 14:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 16 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Interested suppliers can access the tender opportunity via the Authority's eSourcing portal ('OPEN') at:
The portal provides access to tender documents and enables submission of clarification questions and responses.
Registration Requirements:
Suppliers must be registered (free of charge) on both of the following platforms:
OPEN (the Authority's eSourcing portal): Via the link, open-uk.org ↗
Central Digital Platform (CDP): Via the link, supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/faq/en_GB/Central_Di… ↗
Timeline
13 Jan 2026 → 1 Jan 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published286 days ago13 Jan 2026, 14:02 GMT
- Market engagement276 days ago23 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
To engage, fill out the attached form: forms.office.com/e/fVWvzLRYn9 ↗
- Next notice expected208 days ago1 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published49 days ago7 Sept 2026, 13:43 BST
- Clarification questions by40 days ago16 Sept 2026, 16:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends24 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown2 Oct 2026, 14:00 BST
- Award decision expected by10 days ago16 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today26 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 66 days1 Jan 2027
Notice history
6 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 13 Jan 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published13 Jan 2026, 14:02 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published7 Sept 2026, 13:43 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £260,0007 Sept 2026, 13:43 BST
- Status changed to active7 Sept 2026, 13:43 BST
- Procurement method changed7 Sept 2026, 13:43 BST
- Deadline published: 2 Oct 2026, 14:00 BST7 Sept 2026, 13:43 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender