University of NSW print contract goes up for grabs

Sydney-based University of NSW begins searching through bids after making the decision to outsource all jobs for its mail and print centre.

"We are still in the tendering process and yet to determine the winner of the tender," explained Timothy Ho, mail, print and publishing manager. Ho listed benefits such as better efficiency and price savings as being behind the move to outsource the centre's print jobs.

Martin Booth, vice president and spokesperson for NIPPA warned of the dangers of tertiary institutions outsourcing print. "It bucks the trend when you consider that, in these times when funding to the tertiary sector is getting tighter, other educational facilities have determined that retaining or re-establishing an in-house service is more cost effective," he said.

"Case study after case study highlights that the initial savings and efficiency gains from outsourcing an in-house print facility are soon eroded by the combination of complacency, lack of scrutiny and deteriorating customer service. It costs a lot of money and resources to manage an outsourced part of your business properly and most organisations are not aware of these costs until it's too late - if ever. The secret to having an efficient and cost competitive in-house facility is to have it managed by a print professional whose commitment, loyalty and direct accountability is to the host organisation."

Ho said that it would be between March and April this year before the University of NSW knew when its new print and mail centres would be up and running.