Germany – Printing and delivery services – Druckdienstleistungen

The services requested in the context of this tendering procedure include the production and further processing of the personalized letters issued by the Contribution Service annually, as well as the production of other papers. Furthermore, the envelopes needed for the mailing of the letters are to be procured as part of this tendering procedure. The aim of the tendering measure is to conclude a framework agreement with the most economical bidder. The framework agreement is to be concluded for a four-year fixed term. The earliest start of services is 01.10.2026. The contracting authorities (AG) are the regional public broadcasters of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ARD), the Zweite Deutsche Fernsehen (ZDF) and the Deutschlandradio, represented by the management of the Contribution Service of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio (hereinafter referred to as "Contribution Service" or "AG"). To ensure smooth business operations, the Contribution Service intends to conclude a framework agreement for the services required below with a fixed term of 4 years as part of this tendering procedure. After successfully completing a test phase, the contractor (AN) will take over both the production and further processing of the personalized letters (simplex or duplex printing, partially TwoUp) issued by the AG annually, as well as the production of other papers on colour digital printers. The printing services are to be provided exclusively at one location of the AN. A change of location is only possible exceptionally and with the prior consent of the AG. The AN must have the necessary technical equipment, in particular IT technology, hardware and software, as well as sufficiently dimensioned printing and inserting machines for transaction printing. The AG intends to gradually convert its text processing to the Inspire software of Quadient and to supply the AN with print data, for example in the Inspire Native Format incl. TNO, during the contract period. With this tendering procedure, the AG is looking for a printing service provider who ensures both the timely and material procurement (papers and envelopes, etc.) and the production and further processing of its personalized letters in colour transaction printing, as well as the production of other papers. The aim is for the AN to ensure sufficient and timely material procurement (papers, envelopes, mail containers, etc.), to produce the personalized letters on a daily basis according to the AG's specifications and to make the letters available for collection by the PDL employed by the AG at 14:00. In addition, the AN must produce or procure "other papers" used by the AG in two annual calls and deliver them free of charge to the AG's location. To fulfill its task, the AG requires the following services: - Storage and production on continuous blank paper For the four-year fixed term of the framework agreement, the following planned quantities result: For the standard procedure, 157.6 million units of continuous blank paper for testing and production of 164.8 million letters are required. For the mailing procedure, approximately 23.6 million units of continuous blank paper for testing and production of 22.3 million letters are required as part of market development. For the MDA 2026, an additional 3.8 million units of continuous blank paper for testing and production of 3.7 million letters are expected to be required in 2027. In total, approximately 185.0 million units of continuous blank paper for testing and production are expected to be required over the fixed term. - Storage and production as well as delivery of other papers to the AG For the four-year fixed term of the framework agreement, the following planned quantities result: approximately 1.048 million form letters 0330 for single-sheet printing. approximately 6.0 million applications for exemption/reduction (7420) for single-sheet printing approximately 4.4 million separator sheets (4006) for scanning operation. In total, approximately 11.4 million other papers are expected to be required over the fixed term. - Procurement and storage of envelopes for the personalized letters For the four-year fixed term of the framework agreement, the following planned quantities result: For the standard and mailing procedure, approximately 187.1 million outgoing letter envelopes (0030) for testing and production during the contract period (4 years) are required. For the MDA 2026, an additional 3.7 million outgoing letter envelopes (0030) for testing and production are expected to be required in 2026/2027. In total, approximately 190.8 million outgoing letter envelopes (0030) are expected to be required over the fixed term. Approximately 600 mailing bags (0028) are required for testing and production of the planned large letters. Approximately 2.5 million reply letter envelopes (0006) are expected to be required for testing and production of letter 9692. The above planned quantities serve exclusively for calculation purposes. The Contribution Service must be entitled to deviate from the specified planned quantities and to call off larger and smaller quantities. The planned quantities forecast by the Contribution Service do not constitute a guaranteed minimum order quantity. The planned quantities cannot therefore be guaranteed for the contract period and are subject to fluctuations.