KBS Awards €15M Customer Magazine Publishing Contract to Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbH

Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See (KBS) has awarded a framework agreement for editorial creation, printing, and distribution of its customer magazine "tag" to Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbH. The €15 million framework covers the production of four issues per year with a circulation of approximately 1 million copies each, running initially until 30 November 2027 with options for up to three additional years (maximum until 30 November 2030). The contract was awarded following an open procedure that attracted a single tender.

Introduction

Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See (KBS), a German public-law body responsible for pension insurance, has conducted an open procedure for the procurement of publishing services for its customer magazine "tag". The contract covers editorial creation (including text, image, and infographic editing), design, proofreading, printing, and distribution of the magazine.

The magazine currently has 24 pages (in German), with a potential future increase to 28 pages. The circulation is approximately 1 million copies per issue, with four issues published annually. The framework agreement has a maximum value of €15 million and runs initially until 30 November 2027, with options for up to three additional years (maximum until 30 November 2030).

The contract was awarded to Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbH, a large enterprise based in Berlin. Only one tender was received. No subcontracting was declared.

Why This Contract Matters

This contract ensures that KBS can effectively communicate with its approximately 1 million readers through a high-quality customer magazine.

This contract matters because it:

• Supports customer communication: Enables KBS to inform its insured persons
• Significant value: €15,000,000 maximum framework value
• Long-term commitment: Up to 4 years (1 + 3 option years)
• Large circulation: Approximately 1 million copies per issue, four times a year
• Comprehensive scope: Editorial, design, proofreading, printing, distribution
• Quality focus: Quality weighting of 55%
• Sole bidder: Only one tender received

Contract Timeline

• Contract concluded: 17 August 2026
• Contract start date: 1 December 2026
• Initial end date: 30 November 2027
• Initial duration: 1 year
• Maximum renewals: 3 years (1 year each, total 4 years)
• Maximum end date: 30 November 2030
• Maximum total duration: 4 years
• Notice published: 3 September 2026 (OJ S 170/2026)

Contract Overview

KBS conducted an open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU and the German VgV (Procurement Regulation).

Key features include:

• Single lot: One framework covering all publishing services
• Maximum framework value: €15,000,000
• Initial duration: 1 year (1 December 2026 – 30 November 2027)
• Extension options: 3 years (1 year each)
• Maximum duration: 4 years (until 30 November 2030)
• Framework type: Without reopening of competition
• Evaluation: Price (30%), Quality (70%)
• Winner: Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbH (large enterprise)
• No subcontracting declared
• No EU funding

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting authority	Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See (KBS)
Contract title	Redaktionelle Erstellung, Druck und Versand des Kundenmagazins (Verlagsleistung)
Main CPV	79970000 Publishing services
Procedure type	Open procedure (standard regime)
Legal basis	EU Directive 2014/24/EU; German VgV
Maximum value (EUR)	€15,000,000.00
Number of lots	1
Initial duration	1 year (1 December 2026 – 30 November 2027)
Maximum renewals	3 years (1 year each)
Maximum total duration	4 years (until 30 November 2030)
EU funding	None
Covered by GPA	Yes
Evaluation criteria	Price (30%), Quality (70%)
Location	Bochum, Germany (NUTS: DEA51)
Subcontracting	No
Number of tenders	1

Scope of Services

The contract covers the complete publishing process for the customer magazine "tag":

• Editorial creation: Text, image, and infographic editing
• Design: Layout and graphic design
• Proofreading: Lektorat and quality control
• Printing: Printing of the magazine
• Distribution: Delivery and distribution to readers

Magazine Specifications

• Title: Gesundheitsmagazin "tag"
• Language: German
• Current page count: 24 pages
• Potential future page count: 28 pages
• Circulation: Approximately 1 million copies
• Frequency: 4 issues per year
• Special cases: Higher circulations may be ordered depending on the number of insured persons and business policy objectives

Excluded Services

The following are not part of this procurement:

• Editorial creation and printing of the prosper/proGesund Zeitung

Framework Specifics

• Type: Framework agreement without reopening of competition
• Call-offs: Individual call-offs as needed
• Maximum volume: €15 million gross
• Termination: KBS can terminate from 1 December 2027 with 3 months' notice
• Validity: Call-offs remain valid beyond the framework end date until complete service delivery

Evaluation Criteria

The contract was awarded based on multiple criteria with the following weightings:

Price (30%)

• Annual costs "Standard" (22.5%): Based on current 24 pages
• Annual costs "Alternative" (2.5%): Based on potential 28 pages
• Other additional services (5%): As specified in the performance description

Quality (70%)

• Logistics/Workflow concept (20%):
  • Logistics chain with individual work steps, processes, and timelines (10%)
  • Quality assurance and further development through reader surveys (5%)
  • Refinancing concept for supplement business (5%)
• Work samples (50%):
  • Technical accuracy (15%)
  • Linguistic quality (15%)
  • Target group-specific performance (10%)
  • Design quality (10%)

About the Contracting Authority

Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See (KBS) is a German public-law body controlled by a central government authority, responsible for pension insurance for employees in the mining, railway, and maritime sectors. KBS provides pension, rehabilitation, and health services to its insured persons.

About the Winning Supplier

Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbH is a large German publishing and corporate solutions company based in Berlin, part of the Vogel Communications Group.

• Size: Large enterprise
• Headquarters: Axel-Springer-Str. 65, Berlin, Germany (NUTS: DE300)
• Registration number: HRB 283748 B
• Specialisation: Corporate publishing, content creation, print and digital media
• Subcontracting: No

Procurement Analysis

• Procedure: Open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU and German VgV.
• Competition: Only one tender was received (sole bidder).
• SME participation: No SME bids were received.
• Subcontracting: No subcontracting was declared.
• No EU funding: The procurement was not financed with EU funds.
• No framework agreement with reopening: The framework is without reopening of competition.
• No dynamic purchasing system used.
• Accelerated procedure: No.
• Strategic procurement: No strategic objectives specified.
• Review body: Vergabekammer des Bundes beim Bundeskartellamt.

Additional Procurement Facts

• The contract is covered by the WTO's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).
• No EU funds were used for this procurement.
• The framework has a maximum value of €15,000,000.
• The initial contract duration is 1 year with up to 3 additional years.
• Quality accounts for 70% of the evaluation.
• Price accounts for 30% of the evaluation.
• Only one tender was received.
• The winner is a large enterprise.
• No subcontracting was declared.
• The magazine has a circulation of approximately 1 million copies per issue.
• The contract is subject to the Federal Tariff Compliance Act (Bundestariftreuegesetz).

Market & Industry Perspective

The German publishing and corporate communications market is competitive, with a limited number of large providers capable of handling high-volume, high-quality magazine production for public sector clients. The sole bidder situation suggests that the requirements for this contract (1 million copies, four issues per year, full editorial and production services) may be beyond the capacity of many SMEs.

Key trends in this market include:

• Corporate publishing: Growing demand for customer magazines
• Quality focus: 70% weighting on quality
• Scale requirements: Large volumes require large providers
• Long-term contracts: Up to 4 years provides stability
• Public sector: Strong demand from government agencies

Economic Significance

At €15 million, this framework represents a significant investment in customer communications for KBS. The contract will:

• Support customer communication: Enable KBS to inform its insured persons
• Provide long-term stability: Up to 4-year framework
• Support large enterprise: Vogel Corporate Solutions
• Ensure quality: 70% weighting on quality
• Reach large audience: 1 million copies per issue

Future Procurement Opportunities

With this framework now in place, future opportunities include:

• Re-tender: Expected after the 4-year maximum duration
• Related services: Additional publishing and communications services
• Subcontracting: Potential opportunities with Vogel Corporate Solutions
• Other public bodies: Similar publishing framework agreements

Opportunities for Suppliers

While this contract is awarded, opportunities remain for publishing and communications suppliers:

• Re-tender: Prepare for the next procurement cycle
• Subcontracting: Potential opportunities with Vogel Corporate Solutions
• Related services: Other public sector publishing contracts
• Digital services: Digital publishing and content services

What Businesses Should Watch

• KBS's future procurement notices
• Other German public sector publishing tenders
• Corporate publishing market trends
• Changes to German procurement regulations

GermanyTenders Procurement Intelligence

This publishing services framework is a notable example of German public sector procurement. Several features stand out:

• Scale: €15 million over up to 4 years
• Quality focus: 70% weighting on quality
• Sole bidder: Only one tender received
• Large winner: Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbH
• Long-term: Up to 4 years
• High volume: 1 million copies, 4 issues per year

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of:

• Quality demonstration: Quality accounts for 70% of evaluation
• Scale capability: Ability to handle 1 million+ copy print runs
• Competitive pricing: Price accounts for 30%
• Work samples: Required for quality evaluation
• Logistics expertise: Workflow and logistics concept required

Supplier Takeaways

• Demonstrate high quality – 70% of evaluation is quality-based
• Show scale capability for large print runs
• Offer competitive pricing – 30% weighting
• Provide strong work samples for evaluation
• Develop logistics and workflow expertise
• Monitor German public sector publishing opportunities

Key Takeaways

• KBS awarded a €15M publishing framework to Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbH
• Single lot covering editorial, design, proofreading, printing, and distribution
• Duration: 1 year + 3 x 1-year options (max 4 years)
• Evaluation: Price (30%), Quality (70%)
• One tender received (sole bidder)
• Winner: Large enterprise
• No subcontracting declared
• Circulation: ~1 million copies, 4 issues/year

Conclusion

This customer magazine publishing framework ensures that KBS can effectively communicate with its insured persons through a high-quality magazine reaching approximately 1 million readers four times a year. By awarding the contract to Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbH, KBS secures a large publishing house with the capacity to handle the significant scale and quality requirements of this project.

The 70% weighting on quality reflects the importance of editorial excellence, design quality, and target-group relevance in customer communications, while the 30% weighting on price ensures cost-effectiveness. The sole bidder situation suggests that the scale and complexity of this contract may limit the number of qualified suppliers.

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of quality, scale capability, and logistics expertise in winning large-scale German public sector publishing contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is KBS?

Ans: Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See, a German public-law body responsible for pension insurance for employees in the mining, railway, and maritime sectors.

Q: What is the value of the framework?

Ans: €15,000,000 maximum value.

Q: Who is the winner?

Ans: Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbH, a large German publishing company based in Berlin.

Q: What is being procured?

Ans: Editorial creation, design, proofreading, printing, and distribution of the customer magazine "tag".

Q: What were the evaluation criteria?

Ans: Price (30%) and Quality (70%).

Q: How long is the contract?

Ans: 1 year initial, with up to 3 additional years (maximum 4 years).

Q: How many tenders were received?

Ans: One tender was received.

Q: Is this contract funded by the EU?

Ans: No, the procurement is not financed with EU funds.

Q: What is the review body?

Ans: Vergabekammer des Bundes beim Bundeskartellamt.

Q: What is the circulation of the magazine?

Ans: Approximately 1 million copies per issue, with 4 issues per year.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 608026-2026, OJ S 170/2026, published 3 September 2026.