Catalogue Printing, Associated Paper and Mailing Services

KCS is a trading unit of Commercial Services and provides a purchasing, warehousing and distribution service to a wide ranging customer base within local government and associated public bodies in Kent, neighbouring counties and across the UK. Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest local authority in England covering an area of 3,500 square kilometres.

It has an annual expenditure of circa. £1bn on goods and services with a population of 1.5m. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and 309 parish/town councils.

One of the major marketing tools used by KCS are the catalogues produced on a annual basis featuring all the goods available from the central warehouse and a wide range of the goods and services available from arrangements with external suppliers. Catalogues are full colour publications printed throughout to a high quality.

In addition to the standard catalogues KCS may also require the production and printing of ad hoc promotional catalogues both for themselves and other departments of Commercial Services. Our Main Catalogue contains over 15,000 products which are delivered from our warehouse and through our contracted Suppliers nationwide.

The Furniture Directory contains in excess of 4000 products. Professional Services Catalogue 72pg pull from main catalogue with new cover.

In accordance with best procurement practice, EU and UK Procurement Directives and Regulations, KCS wishes to create an Agreement (the Agreement) with one or more providers for the supply and delivery of Catalogue Printing, Paper and Mailing Services. Additional information: Information about delivery location: Paper to be delivered direct to printer anywhere in the UK.

Mailing Services are required through out the UK (incl. Northern Island and Channel Islands Instructions to Suppliers: This opportunity will be completed electronically via ProContract, a site run by ProActis.

Interested organisations should go to www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk to register and express interest. To express interest select ‘Current Opportunities’, from the ‘Organisation’ drop down box select ‘Commercial Services’, click search and select the appropriate opportunity.

Once you have successfully expressed interest via the portal you will be sent an email directing you to the ProContract site from which you will be able to access and download the invitation to tender documentation and any other relevant information. This email should be retained, as it will contain your direct link to the ProContract portal, for information purposes only the link is www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/procontract/supplier.nsf DO NOT USE THIS LINK NOW.

Tenderers should also note that final submissions must be made via ProContract, no other submission route is permitted. Failure to follow this path will result in the tender submission being disregarded.

ALL DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD VIA THE PROCONTRACT PORTAL FROM THE OUTSET. Please ensure you are able to download all files immediately after accessing the ProContract portal.