Official UK procurement notice
Lettering and Print Fulfillment Services
Authority: CADENT GAS LIMITED (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionCadent is seeking a long‑term lettering and print‑fulfilment partner capable of delivering high‑quality physical print outputs alongside advanced digital and data‑driven integration. The scope includes production of personalised letters, region‑specific leaflets, and C5 envelopes, with camera‑matched fulfilment and the ability to meet same‑day print and dispatch for files received by 3pm.
The supplier must provide robust service levels, including first‑ or second‑class postage options, recorded delivery where required, and full weekly reporting. Strong digital capability is essential, including full API integration with Cadent CRM, automated PDF generation, template management, mailmark reporting, and bespoke portal/API configuration.
The service also includes quality control, data handling, template configuration, item‑level tracking, and traffic‑management tools for address verification. Suppliers must maintain stock levels, manage change controls, and provide timely issue escalation. Cadent anticipates the procurement will cover (but may not be limited to):
High‑quality printed letters, leaflets, and envelopes (multiple regional versions)
Camera‑matched fulfilment and personalisation
First‑class, second‑class, and recorded delivery postage options
Full API integration for data exchange, job submission and tracking
Daily PDF generation and SharePoint upload
Detailed reporting, manifest generation, and mailmark tracking
Template management, approval workflows, and change controls
Error‑prevention processes and quality control checks
Stock monitoring and replenishment alerting
Strong governance, auditability and compliance with Guaranteed Standards of Performance (GSOP)
- How the procedure runs: The procedure will comprise a number of defined stages, which may include selection, invitation to tender, clarification, negotiation, and final tender submission. Cadent reserves the right to structure and sequence these stages in accordance with the flexibility permitted under the Procurement Act 2023. Stage 1 - Selection Interested suppliers will be required to submit selection information demonstrating their suitability, capability, and capacity to deliver the requirement. Only suppliers meeting the stated selection criteria will be invited to participate in subsequent stages. Stage 2 - Initial Tender Selected suppliers will be invited to submit an initial tender setting out their proposed solution and commercial offer in response to Cadent's requirements and published award criteria. Stage 3 - Clarification and Engagement Cadent may engage with tenderers to seek clarification of submitted tenders. This stage may include written clarification and/or supplier presentations to ensure mutual understanding of requirements and proposed solutions. Stage 4 - Negotiation Cadent may conduct negotiations with one or more tenderers. Negotiations may relate to technical, commercial, or contractual aspects of the tender. Any negotiation will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner and in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Stage 5 - Refined / Final Tenders Following clarification and/or negotiation, remaining tenderers may be invited to submit a refined or final tender. Final tenders will be evaluated against the published award criteria. Contract Award The contract will be awarded to the supplier submitting the most advantageous tender in accordance with the stated award criteria. Cadent reserves the right to award the contract without further negotiation or to conclude the procedure at any stage, as permitted under the Procurement Act 2023.
CPV: Data services · Mailing services · Printed matter and related products · Printing and distribution services · Software programming and consultancy services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedWhat 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)
- Technical: 50%
- Commercial: 50%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical
- Commercial
- Price carries 50 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 5 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 20 Feb 2026, 11:49 GMT
- Last source update
- 18 Sept 2026, 14:15 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Sept 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-032019- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-065902Find a Tender
- How it runs
The procedure will comprise a number of defined stages, which may include selection, invitation to tender, clarification, negotiation, and final tender submission. Cadent reserves the right to structure and sequence these stages in accordance with the flexibility permitted under the Procurement Act 2023.
Stage 1 - Selection
Interested suppliers will be required to submit selection information demonstrating their suitability, capability, and capacity to deliver the requirement. Only suppliers meeting the stated selection criteria will be invited to participate in subsequent stages.
Stage 2 - Initial Tender
Selected suppliers will be invited to submit an initial tender setting out their proposed solution and commercial offer in response to Cadent's requirements and published award criteria.
Stage 3 - Clarification and Engagement
Cadent may engage with tenderers to seek clarification of submitted tenders. This stage may include written clarification and/or supplier presentations to ensure mutual understanding of requirements and proposed solutions.
Stage 4 - Negotiation
Cadent may conduct negotiations with one or more tenderers. Negotiations may relate to technical, commercial, or contractual aspects of the tender. Any negotiation will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner and in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
Stage 5 - Refined / Final Tenders
Following clarification and/or negotiation, remaining tenderers may be invited to submit a refined or final tender. Final tenders will be evaluated against the published award criteria.
Contract Award
The contract will be awarded to the supplier submitting the most advantageous tender in accordance with the stated award criteria. Cadent reserves the right to award the contract without further negotiation or to conclude the procedure at any stage, as permitted under the Procurement Act 2023.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 8 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadline
- 8 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Requests to participate will be submitted via email to
Please ensure during request you provide:
Company name
Registered address
Contact name and details (email, telephone, job title)
The Conditions of Participation will then be released via the Ariba purchasing platform service.ariba.com ↗ the week commencing 13th April and will close on 8th May.
Timeline
20 Feb 2026 → 18 Sept 2026 · 8 dates- Planning notice published245 days ago20 Feb 2026, 11:49 GMT
- Market engagement230 days ago6 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
We are inviting suppliers who wish to participate in this procurement to email [email protected] to register their interest. Following receipt of an expression of interest, we will share a Request for Information (RFI) document, giving suppliers the opportunity to confirm whether they would like to be included in the subsequent tender process.
- Tender notice published197 days ago8 Apr 2026, 15:00 BST
- Submission deadline167 days ago8 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts52 days ago1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by51 days ago1 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent35 days ago18 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published35 days ago18 Sept 2026, 14:15 BST
Notice history
8 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 Feb 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published20 Feb 2026, 11:49 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published8 Apr 2026, 15:00 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £1,050,0008 Apr 2026, 15:00 BST
- Status changed to active8 Apr 2026, 15:00 BST
- Procurement method changed8 Apr 2026, 15:00 BST
- Contract award notice published18 Sept 2026, 14:15 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete18 Sept 2026, 14:15 BST
- Contract signature expected12 Oct 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS DIRECT MAIL LTD1 Nov 2026 – 31 Oct 2029 | £2,759,600 | 11 Sept 2026 | Awarded |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- CMS DIRECT MAIL LTDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender