This report requests that the Assistant Director- Leisure Libraries and Customer Engagement agrees to award a Floral Seasons Guide Printing & Fulfilment contract for the council to Sterling Press Ltd This will be for a three-year term and is to commence subject to contract on 1 February 2023.

The Floral Pavilion requires a printer and fulfilment service provider to produce a print version of the season’s brochure, three times a year. The Floral Pavilion produces three seasonal brochures with each having a print run of 50,000. 20,000 of the brochures are posted out to a selected database of regular bookers. 20,000 are distributed in Liverpool City Centre shops, cafes, restaurants and culture boxes and a further 20,000 are distributed across Wirral in cafes, shops, restaurants etc. A digital version of the brochure is created and promoted via our weekly e-newsletter which is sent to 21k + subscribers, via social media and from a link on the homepage of the website. A priority version of the digital brochure is also sent out to Friends of the Floral members, a subscription based scheme. The brochure is also distributed to Wirral Council hospitality and is a sales tool for the theatrical programme as well as the hospitality offering at the Floral Pavilion.

The decision supports the delivery of the Wirral Plan by enabling financial processes supporting plan delivery to continue.

Resolved – The Assistant Director – Leisure, Libraries and Customer Engagement has agreed to award the Floral Pavilion Seasons Guide Printing & Fulfilment contract to Sterling Press Ltd for a three-year term and is to commence subject to contract on 1 February 2023.

A detailed specification of requirements was issued in October 2022 and a tender exercise undertaken. 10 bids were received. The bids were scored on a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) basis with Sterling Press Ltd meeting the necessary requirements and being the highest scoring bidder.

This is a fixed term contract for 3 years with no extension.

The prices are fixed for one year and will increase with the cost of paper and any Royal Mail increases in year 2 & 3

Costs based on:

Print run of 50,000 brochures, three times per year - for three years

20k mailing of brochures, three times per year, for three years

Delivery of 30k brochures to two addresses, three times per year, for three years

The Floral Pavilion requires a print seasons brochure print & fulfilment service provider in order to support sales. No further extension periods were available on the existing contract. Therefore an award needed to be made. Sterling Press Ltd was the highest bidder. Awarding to another bidder would not be feasible and would leave the council open to legal challenge.