Trinity Mirror currently holds the contract. A spokeswoman for the GLA said the tender would invite expressions of interest from both printers and distributors.

Interested parties would be included on an approved suppliers' list or framework. Once on there, they will take part in a mini-competition held annually to decide which firm will hold the print contract for that year.

The 12pp bi-monthly title, which commenced publication in 2002, is distributed to 3m households in the Greater London area.
According to the spokewoman, "in the past, the GLA has used Northcliffe, West Ferry and Trinity Mirror to print The Londoner".

She said that the authority would be looking for as many expressions of interest as possible and that this would form the first part of a two-part Europe-wide tender process.

The contract for each framework will commence on 1 April 2006 and cover a three-year period, with an option to extend for an additional year.

The GLA is also considering using e-auctions to select companies for both the framework and the annual mini-competitions.

Interested companies may also be evaluated on their employee policy.

Candidates will be required to complete a pre-qualification questionnaire, for which there is a deadline of 29 November.

The Londoner
- The contract to print The Londoner is worth in excess of 1m

- The Londoner is a 12pp bi-monthly newspaper with a print run of 3m copies

- Publication of The Londoner commenced in 2002

- Trinity Mirror currently holds the print contract

- It is distributed to households in the Greater London area