Spending information regarding print, publishing, design and associated services: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/18/03279  
Date received: 7 November 2018
Date responded: 22 November 2018

 

 

PPDAS (Print, Publishing, Design and Associated Services) 

1.    What is the annual government spend through PPDAS with the contractor?

2.    Of this annual spend how much is on printed materials expressed as a percentage and monetary value?

3.    Of the annual spend on printed materials what value is outsourced by the contractor to Scottish Print companies (i.e. excluding APS)?

4.    How many Scottish print companies benefit from the contractors spend on behalf of the government?

     PAS (Print and Associated Services) 

1.    Please explain the rationale behind having the PAS tender as 2 years +1,+1 when the PPDAS tender is 5 years +1, +1?

2.    Can you please confirm the additional expected spend as a result of incorporating APUC into the framework?

 

Response

 

PPDAS (Print, Publishing, Design and Associated Services)

 

Question 1.  What is the average annual government spend through PPDAS with the contractor.

Answer :  The average yearly spend through the previous PPDAS Framework (excluding Baby Boxes) was approximately £7.5m per annum.   Note : This is the total average spend for all organisations using the framework.

 

Question 2.  Of this annual spend how much is on printed materials expressed as a percentage and monetary value?

Answer :  Average annual spend on convential printed materials is estimated to be in the region of £3.1m which is approximately 41% of the overall PPDAS spend.  Note : This figure is based on average spend for all organisations using the framework.

 

Question 3.  Of the annual spend on printed materials what value is outsourced by the contractor to Scottish Print companies (i.e. excluding APS)? 

Answer :  The average annual spend with Scottish suppliers on conventional printed materials is approximately £2.4m.  This represents approximately 77% of annual print spend.   Note that 19% of the Non Scottish supplier print spend is for specialist secure products.

 

Question 4.  How many Scottish print companies benefit from the contractors spend on behalf of the government?

Answer :        2015/16 – 33 suppliers

                       2016/17 – 44 suppliers

                       2017/18 – 43 suppliers

 NOTE : All figures quoted in Answers 1 to 4 above are based on conventional printed materials and exclude screen print, promotional items and display materials print.

 

PAS (Print & Associated Services)

 

Question 1.  Please explain the rationale behind having the PAS tender as 2 years +1,+1 when the PPDAS tender is 5 years +1, +1?

Answer :  The decision to award a 5 years + 2 years framework for PPDAS took into consideration the wide range of services to be procured.  The decision also took into consideration that any new bidders may incur initial investment to set up the services for the new framework and also the TUPE obligations associated with a large number of staff that could potentially transfer to any new supplier.  It was therefore considered that a shorter duration framework may limit competition due to the potential for initial set up costs and limited time for return on investment.   The decision was made in accordance with Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 34(2).  The justification was provided in the Contract Notice and is detailed below:

“Potential for 7 year Framework duration justified on the basis of a wide range of services and recognition of the requirement to continually develop technologically and the potential investment required to meet framework provision.”

The new Print and Associated Services framework will be a multi-supplier framework with up to 18 suppliers.  It is expected that spend will be distributed across up to 18 suppliers.  There is no guarantee of business under the framework and therefore set up costs in association with the framework are a matter for the supplier to consider in the knowledge that there is no guarantee of business.  There is no justification under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations for awarding a framework for Print Services for longer than four years.

 

Question 2.  Can you please confirm the additional expected spend as a result of incorporating APUC into the framework?

 Answer 2 :  Use of the framework agreement is not mandated and all Scottish public sector bodies have the option to use the framework or make their own arrangements to procure print services.  As a consequence, we cannot determine how much APUC or the Universities and Colleges will spend through the new framework.

 

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