This report details the procurement process and outcomes of the Elections and Electoral Registration Print Contract for Wirral as part of a Merseyside/Lancashire procurement exercise. Furthermore, it requests the Director of Law & Governance to agree to award a contract to Civica Electoral Services at a cost of £400,000 for the printing contract for the period 2022-2026.

The contract meets the objectives of the Wirral Plan by supporting the themes for Brighter Futures and Inclusive Economy. The Framework will achieve “Brighter Futures” by providing robust and secure printed materials for the correct conduct of annual canvass and elections, CES will work with local authorities to ensure the most efficient use of printed material that is fit for purpose and helpful to those in the local communities.  The Framework will achieve “Inclusive Economy” through Social Value by procuring and paying for printed items to support all elections teams in the delivery of the new requirements of the Elections Act, they will pay a local print company in the region to produce the print items.

The recommendations detailed in the report do not constitute a key decision.

The Director of Law & Governance has agreed to enter into a contract with the first named supplier (Civica Electoral Services) on the Elections and Electoral Registration Print Framework at a cost of £400,000 for the printing contract for the period 2022-26.

Following a full procurement process to identify a print provider for all Elections and Electoral Registration printing, the Director of Law and Governance is requested to agree to award a contract for a four-year period to the first named supplier on the Elections and Electoral Registration Print Framework.

The Wirral Elections Team reviewed the option of entering into a contract alone, however, the option of joining a Framework presented the opportunity for bulk savings on print products and the security of having a second supplier named on the Framework should the first named supplier be unable to fulfil any part of the contract.