HO_HMPO_Passport Production and Associated Services Contract(s)

Due to the expiry of its current passport production contract in 2019, the Authority is commencing market engagement in respect of a new contract(s). The Authority issues around 7 million passports annually and is the only provider of passports to British citizens living anywhere globally. The UK passport is a secure travel document which contains many world leading security features; the integrity of which allows British Citizens to travel without a visa to a large number of countries.

Passport production involves a range of services such as design, book production, book personalisation and delivery. In addition to the standard passport, a number of variant travel documents are required, both on behalf of the Authority and on behalf of other contracting Authorities.

The Authority has made no decisions about whether to seek separate bids for the provision of the services or to seek bids for a combination of the services and reserves the right to discuss a broad range of associated services with the market.

The length of contract(s) is yet to be determined.

The Authority’s position on these matters at this time reflects its objective to inform the development of its requirements and approach through market engagement. Any related OJEU notice will only be issued post-market engagement.

This notice seeks to instigate market engagement. The objectives of the market engagement are to build our understanding of the market, capture market views on how best to package and procure our requirements and to obtain a fuller view of market opportunities and constraints in order to inform the development of our requirements.

It is envisaged that market engagement will conclude in November 2016.

Following market engagement, the Authority will determine its route to market and proceed with any supplemental notices accordingly.

To participate in this market engagement exercise please follow the instructions outlined in section 5 below.

Lots: No decision has been made on whether lotting should occur. However, the Authority reserves the right to divide this requirement into lots.

Additional information: Suppliers are invited to express an interest in the provision of services by e-mailing the project at PassportProcurement@hmpo.gsi.gov.uk.

Documents will be made available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge via the eSourcing portal, subject to interested parties signing a confidentiality (Non Disclosure) agreement first.

Any organisation wishing to participate in this or associated procurement activities must be registered as a supplier with the Crown Commercial Services eSourcing Portal. To register, visit the portal's login page at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by clicking on the Register for CCS eSourcing link on the portal homepage.

For technical assistance on use of the e-Sourcing Suite please contact the Crown Commercial Services Helpdesk: + 44 3450103503; or email: supplier@ccs.gsi.gov.uk.

The entire registration process should take no more than 10 minutes. Passwords are issued via e-mail, normally within 1 working day.

Please ensure that you notify us at PassportProcurement@hmpo.gsi.gov.uk when you have completed the registration process.

The contract falls under Regulation 74 of and Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. As a result the Authority shall determine the procurement procedure that will be followed. The Authority will ensure that the procurement procedure is at least sufficient to ensure compliance with the principles of transparency and equal treatment of Bidders. As yet no decision has been made on the procurement process(es) that will be adopted.