Passports

Tender description

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 7 000 000 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 II.8) below. Lots: No decision has been made on whether lotting should occur. However, the Authority reserves the right to divide this requirement into lots.