14 August 2015

Book publication and fulfilment services business opportunity

The UK Hydrographic Office is looking for a 3rd party to offer a full book publication and fulfilment service using print-ready files provided by the UKHO. The successful Contract will be for a minimum period of 5 years, starting in 2016.

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is a Trading Fund of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Its primary role is to meet national, defence and civil needs for navigational and other hydrographic information in the most efficient manner. The UKHO's route to market is using a worldwide network of 127 distributors.

The UKHO has three major product streams, sold under the 'ADMIRALTY' brand:

• Traditional paper navigational charts compiled and printed in hard copy;
• Traditional paper navigational books that make up a worldwide series of nautical publications;
• Digital products including Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC), electronic publications and raster products.

The UKHO is intending to outsource its traditional paper navigational books which are currently produced using lithographic machines printing circa 1.3m publications each year, with an average weekly despatch of 21,500 volumes. 

The successful 3rd party will need to offer a full book publication and fulfilment service using print-ready files provided by the UKHO via Azure Cloud or secure FTP site. The successful Contract will be for a period of 5 years, starting in 2016, with options to extend for a further 4 years.

The UKHO is managing this process in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the procurement exercise will follow the Open procedure. Further information can be found in the Draft Statement of Requirements (SOR), which can be accessed through free registration on ProContract, https://ukhocontracts.ukho.gov.uk/procontract/ukho/supplier.nsf/frm_home?openForm.

An OJEU advert and tender are expected to be published in early September with a tender return date of mid-October. Further key dates can be found on ProContract.

Market engagement pre-tender conference calls are being offered, where the draft SOR can be discussed with key UKHO stakeholders. Conference calls will take place on 18 and 20 August, with additional provisional dates of 2 and 4 September. If you would like to register for a 40mins conference call please contact Procurement [email protected].