Xerox Leads GBP400m UK Government Print Contract

Edited by the Printingtalk editorial team Feb 5, 2007

The UK Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that a contract to provide it with print and associated services should be awarded to ION, a group led by Xerox.

The UK Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that a contract to provide it with print and associated services should be awarded to ION, a group led by Xerox.

It is intended that the term of the contract will be for seven years and will be worth approximately GBP400 million, with an option to extend for a further three years.

The contract will provide a single service management infrastructure for all the DWP's core print and related requirements and will facilitate the transformation of the department's document services and improve the quality and effectiveness of its document related communications with the general public, said Xerox.

The deal will also result in overall savings for the department in line with its commitment to the UK Government's efficiency review targets, it is claimed.

David Smith, the commercial director for the Department for Work and Pensions, said: "Through ION, Xerox and its partners will provide us with a streamlined and coherent system to meet DWP's current and future needs for print, publicity material and associated services.

This will give us improved value for money, greater efficiency and a vehicle for continuous improvement in this important area of our business." In addition to Xerox - the prime contractor - the ION group includes EDS, Accenture, CEVA Logistics (formerly TNT Logistics), Remploy, The Stationery Office and TNT.

The group will provide the DWP with a combination of skills and expertise to deliver a transformation of some key business processes related to document management and production, said Xerox.

Armando Zagalo de Lima, president of Xerox Europe, said: "The awarding of this significant contract to the ION group demonstrates Xerox's strength in document management services and our ability to bring together an unbeatable combination of service providers.

Together we are creating a customised and high quality service that will deliver tangible benefits to the DWP." The contract is intended to be signed by and to start on June 1 with the transition and transformation of services planned to be phased over two years from commencement.