The Central Office of Information (COI) is to review its merchandise and promotional framework roster of agencies.

The roster, worth over £3million a year was established in 2005 and will be reviewed every four years.

The new framework will be divided into 'lots and labels’ broken down into the following specialisms:

1. in-house producers, manufacturers or stockists
2. suppliers of standard imported products
3. suppliers of bespoke imported products
4. suppliers that can provide online corporate merchandise schemes
5. gift voucher suppliers.

An Approved Suppliers List will also be formed to allow COI to add suppliers when requirements for products not covered in the main framework arise.

Agencies will be selected through a procurement process on the basis of their proven success in the lot specialisms.
 
Criteria will include:
* price;
* product functionality;
* product range;
* technical merit, aesthetics and branding potential;
 
* creativity and design innovation;
* quality control;
* flexibility and ability to meet specific deadlines;
* track record; and
* financial soundness and organisational information.
 
The sustainability, recycling and green credentials of applicants to lots one to four will be particularly considered. Applicants to lots two and three will be particularly considered with regards to information on their supply chain including factory audit reports.
 
Leading the review, Sarah Walsh, head of merchandising, said: "The new framework calls for a broad range of suppliers that offer a wide range of merchandise.
 
"Our aim is to provide excellent merchandising solutions for government departments and the public sector, and we want to work with the best suppliers out there.
 
"In most cases we are looking for product specialists not general suppliers, so distributors with no added value elements or specialisms relating to the stated lots are not encouraged to apply."

To see the current framework suppliers click here