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In deliveryUnited KingdomServicesFramework agreement£1,800,000Add to pipeline

002713 British Library Conservation, Bindery & Enclosures Framework

Awarded to DOWNIE ALLISON DOWNIE LIMITED, FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD, MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTD +4 more

British Library Board(buyer)

Published
Published 7 January 2026
Deadline
Closed 2 February 2026
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Overview

The British Library has established a framework arrangement for conservation, bindery, and enclosures services across three lots: leather, cloth, buckram, or paper conservation and general paper conservation (Lot 1); rebinding and binding of unbound material with lettering (Lot 2); and buckram-covered enclosures with lettering (Lot 3). The contract was awarded on 19 March 2026 to seven suppliers: Downie Allison Downie Limited, Farcroft Restorations Ltd, Max Communications Ltd, RDW Book and Paper Conservation Limited, Spink and Thackray (Leeds) Limited, Sycamore Bookbinding, Restoration & Paper Conservation Limited, and The Bookends Bindery Ltd, with a total contract value of £1.8 million.

Contracting authority

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Lots (3)

  • Rebinding and binding of unbound material, including lettering

    £360,000Won by THE BOOKENDS BINDERY LTDWon by DOWNIE ALLISON DOWNIE LIMITEDWon by MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTDWon by SPINK AND THACKRAY (LEEDS) LIMITEDWon by RDW BOOK AND PAPER CONSERVATION LIMITEDWon by FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD

  • Conservation of volumes covered in leather, cloth, buckram or paper as well as general paper conservation

    £1,260,000Won by DOWNIE ALLISON DOWNIE LIMITEDWon by MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTDWon by RDW BOOK AND PAPER CONSERVATION LIMITEDWon by THE BOOKENDS BINDERY LTDWon by FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD

  • Buckram-covered enclosures for Library collections, including lettering

    £180,000Won by DOWNIE ALLISON DOWNIE LIMITEDWon by SYCAMORE BOOKBINDING, RESTORATION & PAPER CONSERVATION LIMITEDWon by MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTDWon by SPINK AND THACKRAY (LEEDS) LIMITEDWon by THE BOOKENDS BINDERY LTDWon by RDW BOOK AND PAPER CONSERVATION LIMITEDWon by FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD

Key details

Country
United Kingdom
Status
In delivery
Category
Services
Estimated value
£1,800,000
Procedure
Open procedure
Rules
Procurement Act 2023
Contract type
Framework agreement
SME suitable
Yes
Published
7 January 2026
Questions by
23 January 2026
Deadline
Closed
Classification (CPV)
Bookbinding and finishing servicesBookbinding services

Award outcome

Awarded value
£1,800,000
Award date
19 March 2026
Contract period
31 March 2026 → 31 March 2027
Contract length
1 year
Could run to
31 March 2030
Bids received
5
Winners
  • DOWNIE ALLISON DOWNIE LIMITED
  • FARCROFT RESTORATIONS LTD
  • MAX COMMUNICATIONS LTD
  • RDW BOOK AND PAPER CONSERVATION LIMITED
  • SPINK AND THACKRAY (LEEDS) LIMITED
  • SYCAMORE BOOKBINDING, RESTORATION & PAPER CONSERVATION LIMITED
  • THE BOOKENDS BINDERY LTD

This contract ends on 31 March 2027, or 31 March 2030 if every extension is used.

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Competition and scoring

Bids received

5

Open and restricted tenders in Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security drew a median of 4 bids over the last 24 months; 21% received only one.

How bids were scored

Price 20% · Quality 80%

  • Criterion 120%
  • Criterion 280%

Price and cost criteria in black, quality in blue.

Market context

Typical award in Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

£73,970

Median of 18,950 awards in the last 24 months

This award is 24.3× the median.

British Library Board in the last 12 months

70

contracts awarded, worth £14,156,902 in total

See their procurement profile →

Recent awards in Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

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Notice history

Every published notice in this contracting process, newest first.

  1. Contract

    20 May 2026

  2. Contract

    19 March 2026

  3. Contract Notice

    7 January 2026

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