Official UK procurement notice
Election and Electoral Registration Print
Authority: The Association of North East Councils Limited (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Association of North East Councils Trading as the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) is establishing a multi-supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of election and electoral registration printing and related services for use by contracting authorities throughout the North East region.
This Framework provides NEPO Member Authorities with access to a wide range of Suppliers capable of delivering specialised election and electoral registration printing and related services.
Suppliers appointed to the Framework are required to deliver services in a reliable, cost-effective and compliant manner, ensuring high standards of safety and quality.
The Framework is open for North East Member Authorities only, enabling them to procure efficiently and effectively to meet the needs of their service users.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Dec 2027, 23:59 GMT.
CPV: Printed matter and related products · Printing and related services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 4 bids received · 4 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 1 Dec 2025
- Scheme runs until
- 30 Nov 2033
- Buyer regions
- UKC
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
1% of call-off value · NEPO operates a contract rebate arrangement whereby Suppliers are asked to repay NEPO a set percentage of each invoice in respect of orders placed by any Contracting Authority accessing the Framework. The maximum rebate taken by NEPO against the value of awarded contracts will not exceed 1.0%.
Who may buy through it
The Solution will be available for use by NEPO Member Authorities and any associated organisation only.
NEPO Member Authorities Include:
Darlington Borough Council
Durham County Council
Gateshead Council
Hartlepool Borough Council
Middlesbrough Council
Newcastle City Council
North Tyneside Council
Northumberland County Council
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
South Tyneside Council
Stockton On Tees Borough Council
Sunderland City Council
Published description of the framework
The successful Suppliers will enter into a Framework Agreement (NEPO504 Election and Electoral Registration Print) with NEPO. This Framework will be made accessible to the North East Member Authorities via Call-Off Contracts.
Prices are an inclusive cost for each product detailed in the Pricing Schedule.
The Price will be fixed for the initial period of the Framework. Thereafter, price increases, conducted as price change request, will be considered where the Supplier can demonstrate in a transparent manner that such increases are justified. Price increases will be managed in accordance with the Terms & Conditions detailed in the Framework Terms and Conditions for Goods. Any agreed price changes will remain fixed for a minimum of 12 months.
Any Price variations must be submitted to NEPO by the Supplier before the scheduled deadline, with full supporting evidence to justify the variations. The application must be made in writing and observe the notice period for review and must be submitted in the correct format as determined by NEPO.
Suppliers may also request a Price Variation inline with Royal Mail's published price guidance where the Supplier is able to demonstrate any changes which apply.
Contracting Authorities may establish Call-Off Contracts through either Direct Award or Further Competition. A Direct Award may be used where the Contracting Authority objectively determines that a supplier can fully meet their specific requirements. This is subject to the Contracting Authority's internal procurement and legal guidelines permitting a Direct Award.
All suppliers awarded to the Framework may be invited to participate in Further Competitions. The evaluation criteria for any Further Competition will be specified by the Contracting Authority and included in the competition documentation. Suppliers will be required to submit pricing based on the specific project requirements.
The Framework will be established as an Open Framework under section 49 of the Procurement Act. The second Framework will be awarded before the third anniversary of the commencement date; it is estimated this will be Q2/2028. As such, suppliers which have not been appointed to the first Framework will have the opportunity to be appointed to a subsequent Framework. Following the second Framework, NEPO intends to award further successive Frameworks at least every 3 years until expiry of the Open Framework term, which will not exceed eight years in total (in accordance with section 49(2)(c) of the Act).
NEPO reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reopen the Open Framework throughout its term to award a successive Framework in the scheme. NEPO may exercise this right where there is a need to increase capacity in the market or to respond to emerging market conditions or to address additional works requirements or to replace a supplier due to failure/poor performance/material breaches. In each case, a Tender Notice shall be published informing suppliers of the procurement process for the next Framework in the scheme.
Each Framework under the Open Framework will expire on the award of the next Framework in the scheme. However, if a Framework expires while a process for the award of a Call-off Contract is ongoing, a Contracting Authority may continue to process and award the Call-off Contract as though the Framework had not expired.
NEPO reserves the right not to procure or award any successive Framework in the Open Framework scheme
- Election and Electoral Registration Print · South Tyneside Borough Council · 3 Feb 2026
Notices that name this framework as their framework in the official record. Many call-offs are never published, so this is a floor, not utilisation.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedPublished value£75,000,000
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: 60%
- Price: 30%
- Social Value (Quality): 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Price
- Quality
- Social Value (Quality)
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Election and Electoral Registration Print” 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
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use the vehicle
- The Solution will be available for use by NEPO Member Authorities and any associated organisation only. NEPO Member Authorities Include: Darlington Borough Council Durham County Council Gateshead Council Hartlepool Borough Council Middlesbrough Council Newcastle City Council North Tyneside Council Northumberland County Council Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council South Tyneside Council Stockton On Tees Borough Council Sunderland City Council · open scheme: new suppliers can join during the term
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 1 Dec 2027
- First published
- 23 May 2025, 13:42 BST
- Last source update
- 28 Jan 2026, 13:49 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 20 Oct 2025
- Authority reference
NEPO504- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-037345- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0522a0Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 5 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · 1% of call-off value · NEPO operates a contract rebate arrangement whereby Suppliers are asked to repay NEPO a set percentage of each invoice in respect of orders placed by any Contracting Authority accessing the Framework. The maximum rebate taken by NEPO against the value of awarded contracts will not exceed 1.0%.
All submissions must be via Open www.open-uk.org ↗.
Timeline
23 May 2025 → 28 Jan 2026 · 10 dates- Planning notice published23 May 2025, 13:42 BST
- Market engagement10 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
NEPO intend to publish a preliminary market engagement questionnaire via Open e-Tendering system (www.open-uk.org ↗). The questionnaire responses will help NEPO design the framework by providing the level of market interest and provide insight from suppliers on the shaping of the future provision.
The questionnaire will be made accessible via the Open e-Tendering system on 23 May 2025 with a submission deadline of 16:00 on 30 May 2025.
Suppliers wishing to access and complete the questionnaire must first register on the e-Tendering system using the following link www.open-uk.org ↗ For guidance on how to create an account or submit your questionnaire response through Open, please visit www.open-hub.org/training ↗ to access the available Training Guides. If you need technical assistance from the Open Support team, this can be requested via [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE: Open is accessible 24/7 however, technical support is available Monday to Thursday 08:30 - 17:00 and Friday 08:30 - 16:30.
NEPO also intend to hold a meeting via Microsoft Teams on 5 June 2025 between 11:00 - 13:00 pm. A presentation will be given and there will be an opportunity to ask questions in the session.
Suppliers must submit their questionnaire via Open before 16:00 on 30th May 2025.
Suppliers must confirm their attendance by Monday 2nd June 2025, via email to [email protected], for the meeting on Thursday 5 June 2025.
Attendance at the Microsoft Teams meeting is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Presentations and Q&A from the session will be published as part of the procurement process.
Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement.
Please note the above information may be subject to change.
- Tender notice published4 Jul 2025, 11:05 BST
- Next notice expected7 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown5 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by360 days ago20 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent344 days ago6 Nov 2025
- Standstill ends332 days ago17 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts319 days ago1 Dec 2025
- Latest notice published261 days ago28 Jan 2026, 13:49 GMT
Notice history
10 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 23 May 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published23 May 2025, 13:42 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published4 Jul 2025, 11:05 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £75,000,0004 Jul 2025, 11:05 BST
- Status changed to active4 Jul 2025, 11:05 BST
- Procurement method changed4 Jul 2025, 11:05 BST
- Deadline published: 5 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST4 Jul 2025, 11:05 BST
- Contract award notice published6 Nov 2025, 15:05 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete6 Nov 2025, 15:05 GMT
- Contract signature expected21 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published28 Jan 2026, 13:49 GMTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-05: 1 release · 23 May 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adare SEC Ltd, CIVICA ELECTION SERVICES LIMITED, Financial Data Management LtdSME, Print Image Network LtdSME1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2029 · up to 30 Nov 2033Extensions: The Framework will be established as an Open Framework under section 49 of the Procurement Act. The second Framework will be awarded before the third anniversary of the commencement date, it is estimated this will be Q2/2028. As such, suppliers which have not been appointed to the first Framework will have the opportunity to be appointed to a subsequent Framework. Following the second Framework, NEPO intends to award further successive Frameworks at least every 3 years until expiry of the Open Framework term, which will not exceed eight years in total (in accordance with section 49(2)(c) of the Act). NEPO reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reopen the Open Framework throughout its term to award a successive Framework in the scheme. NEPO may exercise this right where there is a need to increase capacity in the market or to respond to emerging market conditions or to address additional works requirements or to replace a supplier due to failure/poor performance/material breaches. In each case, a Tender Notice shall be published informing suppliers of the procurement process for the next Framework in the scheme. Each Framework under the Open Framework will expire on the award of the next Framework in the scheme. However, if a Framework expires while a process for the award of a Call-off Contract is ongoing, a Contracting Authority may continue to process and award the Call-off Contract as though the Framework had not expired. NEPO reserves the right not to procure or award any successive Framework in the Open Framework scheme. | £75,000,000 | 5 Nov 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · Adare SEC Ltd, CIVICA ELECTION SERVICES LIMITED, Financial Data Management LtdSME, Print Image Network LtdSME
- Signed
- 1 Dec 2025
- Value
- £75,000,000
- Period
- 1 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2033
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonADARE SEC LIMITED · East Midlands
- wonCIVICA ELECTION SERVICES LIMITED · Greater London
- wonFinancial Data Management LtdSME · Greater London
- wonPrint Image Network LtdSME · North West England
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
4 commercial parties on the notice- ADARE SEC LIMITEDFramework contractor
- CIVICA ELECTION SERVICES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- Financial Data Management LtdFramework contractor
- Print Image Network LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- 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