Supply and distribution of third party publications across Cadw's estate.

Descriptions

Cadw is the Welsh Government’s Historic Environment Service and it operates 30 retail units across Wales.This notice seeks a contractor to supply and distribute appropriate third party publications to these units. The value of gross sales in 2013 is circa £80kThe publications will need to be appropriate, considered and complete in terms of their relevance to the monuments in general and localised for specific monuments. Knowledge and experience of supplying and distributing publications for specialist areas such as Welsh Industrial Heritage, different eras of Welsh History, Culture, Religion and Architecture will be required.The supplier will need to demonstrate that a team of suitably qualified sales representatives can visit the sites and discuss all relevant publications with the custodians at Cadw’s sites.A full and complementary range of books in the Welsh language is also required.Books are to be supplied on a sale or return basis.A minimum 40% trade discount will be required.The supplier will provide monthly management information broken down by site and title and make further monthly recommendations based on this information for adaptations to stock.Cadw will consider and adapt recommendations by the supplier as necessary and appropriate.Transport and packing will be at the suppliers cost.Welsh Government on behalf of Cadw will be undertaking a review of all opportunities in early 2014 in relation to the requirement, however wish to inform the market in advance that a procurement exercise in relation to the supply and distribution of third party publications across Cadw’s estate will be undertaken. Interested parties are advised that no formal decision has been made at this point on how this (or any other) requirement will be managed and operated and that this will be made available following the review of the category as whole.The Welsh Government are looking for expressions of interest from contractors interested in working with Cadw in delivering and growing this requirement.The Welsh Government invites the market place to inform the' procurement process and to this end would welcome written submissions (not exceeding 2 sides of A4 paper) from potential suppliers indicating:(i) their likely interest in bidding for such procurement;(ii) the potential technical and commercial options for meeting the above requirements and deliver the above requirement;(iii) observations on any proposed duration of the contract;(iv) any other factors considered relevant or suggestions on how your organisation could add value to this requirement.Following consideration of the written submissions the Welsh Government may wish to engage in further discussions with the respondents. Dependent on the level of such initial interest the Welsh Governmentl may undertake soft market testing and preliminary discussions with potential providers which may also further help to inform any subsequent Tender documentation.This Prior Information Notice serves to alert the marketplace to this potential opportunity and the Welsh Government invites interested prospective contractors to lodge an initial expression of interest in this opportunity by submitting their details electronically to the email address listed below.Additional details about the current operation of the service can be requested as part of your expression of interest to be submitted by e-mail only to maniza.sabir@wales.gsi.gov.uk before 12:00 noon on 14th January 2014.It is currently the intention of the Welsh Government to utilise an open tender route, although this may be reviewed following the outcome of this PIN.Please note, the Welsh Government intends to use the information gathered to shape the proposed procurement process and specification for this project. Accordingly, commercially confidential information should be marked accordingly. Participating in this market sounding exercise will not guarantee short-listing at a later stage in the procurement, and the Welsh Government reserves the right not to proceed with the procurement process. The Welsh Government will not meet any costs incurred by any party in responding to this notice.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=4411.