Iceland's State Printing Framework Opens to Five Suppliers Under a Four-Year, ISK 1.1 Billion Agreement Printing and Publishing

Standfirst:

Fjársýsla ríkisins, Iceland's state procurement agency, has concluded a framework agreement for printing services with five companies: PIXEL ehf, Ísafoldarprentsmiðja, Svansprent, Prentmet Oddi and Prentmiðlun. The framework has a maximum value of ISK 1,100,000,000 and runs from 14 February 2025 to 14 February 2029. Seven tenders were received, and the framework operates with reopening of competition, meaning the five appointed suppliers will compete for individual call-offs. No complaints were filed against the award.

Introduction

Printing is one of those public services that quietly underpins the functioning of the state. Governments print legislation, forms, certificates, identity documents, reports, brochures and internal materials. Even in an increasingly digital age, public bodies still need physical documents, and they need them to be produced reliably, securely and at predictable prices.

Iceland's state procurement agency, Fjársýsla ríkisins, has concluded a framework agreement for printing services that will serve government bodies for four years. The agreement appoints five Icelandic printing companies as framework suppliers, with a maximum value of ISK 1.1 billion. It replaces an earlier arrangement and will be used by state bodies to procure printing work through a reopening-of-competition mechanism.

This is a useful case study in how small states structure framework agreements for essential but non-specialist services. It shows how competition can be preserved even after the initial award, and how framework design affects the behaviour of both buyers and suppliers.

Why This Contract Matters

This contract matters because it is a framework agreement, not a single contract. That distinction is important. A framework agreement does not guarantee any supplier a specific volume of work or revenue. It establishes a set of pre-qualified suppliers who can be invited to compete for individual assignments. The maximum value of ISK 1.1 billion is a ceiling, not a commitment. Actual spending will depend on the printing needs of state bodies over the four-year term.

It also matters because of the reopening-of-competition mechanism. Rather than awarding work directly to a single supplier, the framework allows the buyer to reopen competition among the appointed suppliers for each call-off. That preserves price competition throughout the life of the framework, rather than locking in prices at the initial award stage.

The number of suppliers is also significant. Five companies have been appointed. That is a healthy number for a small national market like Iceland, where the pool of qualified printing companies is limited. It gives state bodies a genuine choice while ensuring that the framework is not so broad that it becomes unwieldy.

Finally, the contract matters because of the competition it attracted. Seven tenders were received and no complaints were filed. In a small market, a clean procurement with multiple bidders and no legal challenge is a positive outcome.

Contract Timeline

• Contract start date: 14 February 2025
• Winner selected: 24 February 2025
• Contract concluded: 24 February 2025
• Contract end date: 14 February 2029
• Notice dispatched: 1 October 2026
• Notice published: 5 October 2026

Contract Overview

The framework agreement covers printing services for Icelandic state bodies. It is a services contract, classified under CPV 79810000 (printing services). It is a single-lot procurement, identified as LOT-0000, with the internal identifier 23111.

The place of performance is the Höfuðborgarsvæði region (IS001), the capital region of Iceland, which includes Reykjavík and surrounding municipalities. The framework is not financed with EU funds and is not covered by the Government Procurement Agreement.

The maximum value of the framework agreements in this notice is ISK 1,100,000,000, and the approximate value is also recorded as ISK 1,100,000,000. The value of all contracts awarded in the notice is also ISK 1,100,000,000. In the case of a framework agreement, these figures represent the ceiling value rather than guaranteed expenditure. The contracting authority has structured the framework with reopening of competition, meaning that individual call-offs will be competed among the appointed suppliers.

The procurement was conducted as an open procedure under Directive 2014/24/EU. It is not a dynamic purchasing system. The framework agreement was created by a previous notice, identified as 922bd17b-a030-4b2b-8351-e58902d59567-01.

Key Contract Details

Project Scope

The scope is printing services for Icelandic state bodies. The notice does not describe the specific types of printing covered, the volumes expected, or the categories of work that will be called off under the framework. The contracting authority has not disclosed this information.

Printing services in a public sector context can cover a wide range of work: legislative texts, official forms, certificates, reports, publications, envelopes, letterheads, promotional materials and secure documents. The framework is likely to cover a broad spectrum of these needs, but the notice does not specify.

The framework operates with reopening of competition. That means that when a state body needs printing work, it will invite the five appointed suppliers to bid for that specific assignment. The supplier offering the best price — since price was the only award criterion at framework level — will win the call-off. This mechanism allows the buyer to take account of the specific requirements of each job, including volume, format, deadlines and finishing requirements.

About the Contracting Authority

The buyer is Fjársýsla ríkisins, Iceland's state procurement agency. It is classified as a central government authority with public order and safety as its main activity. Its registration number is 5402697509, and its address is Katrínartún 6, Reykjavík, postcode 105, in the Höfuðborgarsvæði region.

Fjársýsla ríkisins is responsible for procurement and financial management on behalf of the Icelandic state. It handles framework agreements and centralised procurement for government bodies, allowing individual agencies to access pre-competed contracts rather than running their own tenders.

The agency's contact point for this procurement is Bára Hafsteinsdóttir, whose email address is [email protected]. The agency is both the buyer and the organisation signing the framework agreement. It will manage the framework and administer the reopening-of-competition process for individual call-offs.

About the Organisations Involved

Fjársýsla ríkisins

Fjársýsla ríkisins is the contracting authority. It is Iceland's central government procurement and financial management agency. Its role in this procurement is as buyer, signatory of the framework agreement and administrator of the call-off process.

It is registered in Reykjavík, with registration number 5402697509. Its procurement department handled the framework competition, which attracted seven tenders. The agency will now manage the framework over its four-year term, reopening competition among the five appointed suppliers as state bodies require printing services.

PIXEL ehf

PIXEL ehf is one of the five framework suppliers and is recorded in the notice as the winner of LOT-0000. It is classified as a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise. Its registration number is 4611012910, and its registered office is at Ármúli 1, Reykjavík, postcode 108. Its contact point is Ingi Hlynur Sævarsson.

PIXEL submitted tender 23111-PIXEL for LOT-0000 with a value of ISK 1,100,000,000. It declared no subcontracting. The notice does not disclose which specific printing services PIXEL will provide or how much work it will receive under the framework. In a framework with reopening of competition, no supplier is guaranteed volume.

Ísafoldarprentsmiðja

Ísafoldarprentsmiðja is one of the framework suppliers. It is classified as an SME. Its registration number is 5406024330, and its registered office is at Suðurhraun 1, Garðabær, postcode 210. Its contact point is Stefan Hjaltalín. It submitted a tender identified as "FA Printing services Isafold 2025" and declared no subcontracting.

Svansprent ehf

Svansprent ehf is one of the framework suppliers. It is classified as an SME. Its registration number is 6810730199, and its registered office is at Auðbrekka 12, Kópavogur, postcode 200. Its contact point is Jón Svan Sverrisson. It submitted a tender identified as "Svansprent - tilboð" and declared no subcontracting.

Prentmet Oddi

Prentmet Oddi is one of the framework suppliers and is also listed among the non-winning tenderers in the notice. It is classified as an SME. Its registration number is 4701932559, and its registered office is at Lyngháls i, Reykjavík, postcode 110. Its contact point is Díana Hrönn Sigurfinnsdóttir. It submitted a tender identified as "Prentverk" and declared no subcontracting.

Prentmiðlun ehf

Prentmiðlun ehf is one of the framework suppliers. It is classified as an SME. Its registration number is 4402080290, and its registered office is at Hólmatún 55, Álftanes, postcode 225. Its contact point is Eyþór Páll Hauksson.

Prentmiðlun is the only tenderer to declare subcontracting. Its tender lists a subcontractor: Jelgavas tipografija, Langervaldes iela 1A, Jelgava, LV-3002, Latvia, registration number 43603009384. The subcontracting value and percentage are recorded as not known.

Non-winning tenderers

In addition to the five framework suppliers, the notice lists two other tenderers who were not appointed to the framework: Litróf and Litlaprent ehf.

Litróf is classified as an SME. Its registration number is 4402696059, and its registered office is at Vatnagarðar 14, postcode 104. Its contact point is Erlingur Þórsson. It submitted a tender identified as "FA Printing services" and declared no subcontracting.

Litlaprent ehf. is classified as an SME. Its registration number is 4402697109, and its registered office is at Skemmuvegur 4, Kópavogur, postcode 200. Its contact point is Björk Guðmundsdóttir. It submitted a tender identified as "23111" and declared no subcontracting.

Kærunefnd útboðsmála

Kærunefnd útboðsmála is Iceland's Public Procurement Complaints Board. It is listed as the review organisation. Its registration number is 550169-1269, and its address is Stjórnarráðshúsið við Lækjartorg, Reykjavík, postcode 101.

Its role is to hear complaints from bidders who believe a procurement has been conducted improperly. The notice records that no complaints were received (number of complainants: 0), which means the award was not challenged. The review deadline is described as "about one month."

Mercell Holding ASA

Mercell Holding ASA is listed as the TED eSender. Its role is administrative: it transmits the notice to Tenders Electronic Daily. It is based in Oslo, Norway, and is not involved in the procurement decision itself.

Procurement Analysis

The procurement was conducted as an open procedure under Directive 2014/24/EU. The open procedure is the standard route for a framework agreement of this type, allowing any qualifying supplier to bid.

The award criterion was price alone, weighted at 100%. Specifically, the criterion was "lowest price." This is a simple, objective evaluation method. In a framework agreement with reopening of competition, the initial award decides which suppliers are appointed to the framework, while individual call-offs are then competed among those suppliers. The price criterion at framework level therefore serves mainly to establish which suppliers are admitted, rather than to determine the price for every job.

Seven tenders were received, of which five were successful. All the tenderers were Icelandic SMEs, with the exception of one subcontractor based in Latvia. That is consistent with the nature of the market: printing services are typically provided by local or regional firms, and Iceland's small population means the pool of qualified suppliers is limited.

The framework agreement includes reopening of competition. This is an important design feature. It means that the buyer is not obliged to use a single supplier for all printing work, and it means that suppliers must continue to compete for work throughout the framework term. That preserves price discipline and allows the buyer to take account of specific requirements for each job.

The notice records some data issues. The range of tenders section records the value of the lowest admissible tender as ISK 1,100,000,000,000 and the highest admissible tender as ISK 1,800,000,000,000. These figures are three orders of magnitude larger than the framework maximum value of ISK 1,100,000,000. They appear to be errors, possibly reflecting a unit conversion or formatting issue. The contracting authority has not explained this discrepancy.

There is also an inconsistency in how the framework suppliers are recorded. Prentmet Oddi appears both as a framework supplier (in the contract title) and as a non-winning tenderer in the notice's non-winning tenderers section. The notice does not explain this. It may be that Prentmet Oddi was appointed to the framework but was not ranked first in the initial competition, or that the notice uses "non-winning" to mean "not the top-ranked bidder" rather than "not appointed." The contracting authority has not clarified this.

The framework is not covered by the Government Procurement Agreement and is not financed with EU funds. That is consistent with Iceland's position outside the EU, although Iceland is part of the European Economic Area and applies EU procurement rules. The GPA exclusion reflects the fact that Iceland's GPA commitments may not extend to this particular procurement.

No complaints were filed against the award. That is a positive signal: it suggests that the procurement was conducted fairly and that the unsuccessful bidders accepted the outcome.

Additional Procurement Facts

• Legal basis: Directive 2014/24/EU.
• Procedure: Open procedure, not accelerated.
• Award criteria: Price – 100% lowest price.
• Number of tenders: 7.
• Framework suppliers: 5.
• Framework type: Framework agreement with reopening of competition.
• Maximum framework value: ISK 1,100,000,000.
• Framework duration: 14 February 2025 to 14 February 2029.
• EU funding: The procurement project is not financed with EU funds.
• GPA: Not covered by the Government Procurement Agreement.
• Dynamic purchasing system: None.
• Subcontracting: Only Prentmiðlun declared subcontracting, naming Jelgavas tipografija in Latvia as subcontractor.
• Complaints: None received.
• Review body: Kærunefnd útboðsmála (Public Procurement Complaints Board).
• Data discrepancy: The range of tenders records values three orders of magnitude larger than the framework maximum. The notice does not explain this.

Market & Industry Perspective

Iceland's printing market is small and concentrated. The country has a population of around 380,000, and the number of printing companies capable of serving government contracts is limited. The seven tenders received for this framework represent a substantial proportion of the qualified market.

In such a small market, framework agreements are an efficient way to organise public procurement. Rather than each state body running its own tender for printing services, the central procurement agency runs one competition and appoints multiple suppliers. That reduces administrative costs for both buyers and suppliers, and it preserves competition through the reopening mechanism.

The inclusion of five suppliers in the framework is notable. It means that state bodies have a genuine choice for each call-off, and that no single supplier can dominate the framework. It also means that the suppliers themselves must remain competitive throughout the four-year term, rather than relying on a guaranteed share of work.

The presence of a Latvian subcontractor in one tender is also notable. It suggests that Icelandic printing companies are willing to look outside the country for capacity, particularly for larger or more specialised jobs. That introduces a small element of international competition into an otherwise domestic market.

The price-only award criterion is common in framework agreements for standardised services. It is simple, objective and easy to administer. However, it does not allow the buyer to reward quality, sustainability or other non-price factors at the framework stage. Those factors may be considered at call-off stage, depending on how the reopening of competition is structured.

Economic Significance

A framework agreement with a maximum value of ISK 1.1 billion over four years is significant for Iceland's printing industry. It provides a steady stream of potential work for the five appointed suppliers, though the actual value will depend on demand from state bodies. For a small market, a framework of this size is a meaningful commercial opportunity.

The framework also has an economic efficiency dimension. By centralising the procurement of printing services, Fjársýsla ríkisins reduces duplication and administrative overhead across government. State bodies can access pre-competed suppliers without running their own tenders, which saves time and resources.

The economic significance extends to the suppliers' workforces. Printing is a labour-intensive industry, and a framework of this size helps sustain employment at the five appointed companies and their subcontractors. The inclusion of a Latvian subcontractor also spreads some of the economic benefit beyond Iceland.

The fact that all seven tenderers were SMEs is consistent with the structure of the printing industry. Large companies are rare in this sector, particularly in small markets. The framework therefore supports small business participation in public procurement, which is often a policy objective.

Future Procurement Opportunities

The most obvious future opportunity is the renewal of this framework when it expires on 14 February 2029. If the framework is renewed, a new competition will be held, and suppliers will have the opportunity to bid for appointment. Suppliers not currently on the framework should prepare for that opportunity.

There may also be opportunities arising from individual call-offs under the framework. The five appointed suppliers will be invited to compete for each printing assignment, and the volume of work will depend on the needs of state bodies. Suppliers on the framework should monitor call-off invitations closely.

More broadly, Fjársýsla ríkisins is likely to have ongoing needs for framework agreements covering other services and supplies. Suppliers in adjacent sectors — such as document management, digital printing, design and fulfilment — should monitor the agency's procurement activity for future opportunities.

Suppliers should also monitor the Icelandic public procurement portal and TED for notices from other Icelandic public bodies, including municipalities, hospitals and universities, which may have their own printing needs.

Opportunities for Suppliers

• Framework renewal: The framework expires on 14 February 2029. Suppliers not currently appointed should prepare to bid for the next iteration.
• Call-off competitions: The five appointed suppliers will compete for individual printing assignments. They should monitor call-off invitations and respond competitively.
• Subcontracting: The framework allows subcontracting. Suppliers with specialist capabilities, including foreign printers, may find opportunities through the appointed suppliers.
• Adjacent services: Suppliers in document management, digital printing, design and fulfilment may find opportunities as state bodies adapt their printing needs.
• Other Icelandic public bodies: Municipalities, hospitals, universities and other public bodies may have their own printing needs. Suppliers should monitor their procurement activity.
• Monitoring the buyer: Fjársýsla ríkisins is likely to run other framework competitions. Suppliers should monitor its procurement notices.

What Businesses Should Watch

• How much work is actually called off: The framework maximum is ISK 1.1 billion, but the actual value will depend on demand. Suppliers should watch for call-off activity.
• Whether the framework is renewed or extended: The framework ends on 14 February 2029. Suppliers should watch for a renewal notice as that date approaches.
• Whether the data discrepancies are explained: The notice records tender values three orders of magnitude larger than the framework maximum, and Prentmet Oddi appears both as a supplier and a non-winning tenderer. Suppliers should watch for clarification.
• Whether the supplier mix changes: Five suppliers were appointed. If call-off activity shows that some suppliers are winning most of the work, that could affect future framework design.
• Whether other central purchasing bodies follow suit: Other small countries may look to Iceland's model for framework design in concentrated markets.
• Whether quality criteria are introduced: The framework used price only. If future frameworks introduce quality or sustainability criteria, suppliers should prepare accordingly.

TendersOnTime.com Procurement Intelligence

This framework agreement represents a broader procurement trend in small markets: centralised framework agreements with multiple suppliers and reopening of competition. That model is particularly suited to countries like Iceland, where the pool of qualified suppliers is small and running individual tenders for every need would be inefficient. By appointing five suppliers and preserving competition through call-offs, Fjársýsla ríkisins has created a structure that balances efficiency with price discipline.

The award is strategically important because it shows how a small state organises the procurement of an essential but non-specialist service. Printing is not a strategic priority in the way that defence or healthcare is, but it is a necessary function of government. Getting the procurement model right matters because it affects cost, reliability and supplier viability. The four-year term gives the appointed suppliers a degree of stability, while the reopening mechanism prevents them from becoming complacent.

Suppliers can learn several things from this procurement. First, framework agreements are not guaranteed revenue. The ISK 1.1 billion maximum is a ceiling, not a commitment. Suppliers should plan their capacity and pricing accordingly. Second, reopening of competition means the work is never secure. Suppliers must remain competitive throughout the framework term, not just at the initial award. Third, subcontracting is permitted and can be used to access specialist capacity, including from abroad. Fourth, price is the only framework-level criterion, so suppliers must be able to compete on cost. Fifth, a clean procurement with no complaints is a positive signal for the buyer and for the market.

Suppliers should position themselves accordingly. They should understand the reopening mechanism and be ready to respond quickly to call-off invitations. They should price their framework submissions competitively, recognising that the initial award is only the entry ticket. They should consider whether subcontracting arrangements could strengthen their offering. And they should monitor the framework's performance over its four-year term, because the next competition will be shaped by how this one works in practice.

Future contracts in this market are likely to evolve in two directions. First, more central purchasing bodies in small markets will adopt multi-supplier frameworks with reopening of competition, as Iceland has done. Second, buyers may introduce quality or sustainability criteria alongside price, particularly if they want to reward environmentally friendly printing or local production. Suppliers that can compete on price, quality and sustainability will be best positioned. Suppliers that compete on price alone may find themselves appointed to frameworks but winning little work.

Supplier Takeaways

• A framework agreement is not a guarantee of work. The ISK 1.1 billion maximum is a ceiling, not a commitment.
• Reopening of competition means suppliers must remain competitive throughout the framework term, not just at the initial award.
• Five suppliers were appointed from seven tenders. The market is small, and the competition was genuinely contested.
• Price was the only framework-level award criterion, weighted at 100% lowest price.
• Subcontracting is permitted. Prentmiðlun declared a Latvian subcontractor, showing that cross-border capacity is used.
• The framework runs from 14 February 2025 to 14 February 2029. Renewal is likely as that date approaches.
• No complaints were filed against the award, which is a positive signal for the procurement process.
• The notice contains data discrepancies: tender values three orders of magnitude larger than the framework maximum, and Prentmet Oddi appears as both a supplier and a non-winning tenderer.
• The framework is not covered by the GPA and is not financed with EU funds.
• The review body is Kærunefnd útboðsmála (Public Procurement Complaints Board).

Key Takeaways

• Fjársýsla ríkisins, Iceland's state procurement agency, concluded a framework agreement for printing services with five suppliers: PIXEL ehf, Ísafoldarprentsmiðja, Svansprent, Prentmet Oddi and Prentmiðlun.
• The framework has a maximum value of ISK 1,100,000,000 and runs from 14 February 2025 to 14 February 2029.
• Seven tenders were received. All tenderers were Icelandic SMEs, with one Latvian subcontractor declared.
• The award criterion was price – 100% lowest price.
• The framework operates with reopening of competition, meaning the five suppliers compete for individual call-offs.
• The procurement was an open procedure under Directive 2014/24/EU.
• The framework is not covered by the Government Procurement Agreement and is not financed with EU funds.
• No complaints were filed against the award.
• The notice contains data discrepancies: the range of tenders records values three orders of magnitude larger than the framework maximum, and Prentmet Oddi appears as both a supplier and a non-winning tenderer.
• The review body is Kærunefnd útboðsmála (Public Procurement Complaints Board).

Conclusion

Iceland's state procurement agency has concluded a four-year framework agreement for printing services, appointing five suppliers to serve government bodies. The framework, with a maximum value of ISK 1.1 billion, is designed to preserve competition through a reopening mechanism, meaning the appointed suppliers will compete for individual assignments rather than receiving guaranteed work.

The procurement attracted seven tenders, all from Icelandic SMEs, and no complaints were filed. That is a positive outcome in a small market where the pool of qualified suppliers is limited. The framework's design — multiple suppliers, reopening of competition, price-only award criterion — reflects the practical realities of procuring a standardised service in a concentrated market.

For suppliers, the framework offers access to state printing work but no guarantee of volume. For the buyer, it offers administrative efficiency and continued price competition. The notice leaves some questions unanswered — the data discrepancies in the range of tenders and the status of Prentmet Oddi — but the core structure is clear: five Icelandic printers will compete for state work over the next four years, and the framework will be renewed or replaced in 2029.

Source: Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), Contract Award Notice 682027-2026, Official Journal of the European Union, OJ S 192/2026, published on 5 October 2026.