Print and Related Services DPS
Framework Description
Portsmouth City Council's Print and Related Services DPS is a dynamic purchasing system for print, design, distribution and merchandise. It is divided into nine categories, from digital print and signage to door-to-door distribution and creative services, and is run through the Panacea Software portal. It is live until 1 September 2028, with an option to extend by up to four further years.
Context & Use Case
Council departments use it for everyday and specialist print: leaflets and reports, magazines and brochures, signs and large format displays, parking-related items, branded merchandise and mailings. Each requirement is competed among suppliers admitted to the relevant category, so a signage specialist only sees signage work. The mailing, fulfilment and distribution lots let the council take a campaign from design through to doorstep.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: standard print and specialist digital printing Lot 2: magazines, brochures, fulfilment and mailing Lot 3: signage and large format printing Lot 4: parking-specific items Lot 5: branded promotional items and merchandise Lot 6: envelopes Lots 7 and 8: mailing and fulfilment; door-to-door distribution Lot 9: creative services
Lots
Lot 1 Standard print and specialist digital printing; Lot 2 Magazines, brochures, fulfilment and mailing; Lot 3 Signage and large format printing; Lot 4 Parking-specific items; Lot 5 Branded promotional items and merchandise; Lot 6 Envelopes; Lot 7 Mailing and fulfilment; Lot 8 Door to door distribution; Lot 9 Creative services
Who Can Apply
Suits printers, sign makers, mailing houses, distribution firms, merchandise suppliers and creative agencies, including local SMEs. As a live DPS, it accepts applications now: register on Panacea and complete the Standard Selection Questionnaire for each category you want.
Buyer Benefits
The council can compete print jobs quickly among pre-qualified suppliers, use specialists for each type of job, and add new suppliers when it needs more capacity or a better price. Narrow categories mean buyers compare like with like, and creative services sit in the same system as print, so design and production can be bought through one route.
Next Steps
Create an account on the Panacea Software portal, find Portsmouth's Print and Related Services DPS (Find a Tender notice 021824-2024 describes it) and complete the Standard Selection Questionnaire for your chosen categories. Have insurances, environmental credentials, sample work and turnaround times ready. Once admitted, respond promptly to call-offs; print competitions often turn on price and delivery date.
How Athena Can Help
Getting onto the right categories is the first job. Athena can work out which of the nine lots suit your presses or services, complete the Standard Selection Questionnaire and check it before submission through our DPS and framework registrations.
Once admitted, our help writing winning bids sharpens your call-off responses, and our public bid pricing advice helps you price quick-turnaround print jobs to win while still making a profit.
