Capacity Assessment of Liberian Printers and Recommendations for Printing Procurement

The program is comprised of four Intermediate Results, with one of the key objectives being to improve early grade reading classroom instruction. To achieve this, Read Liberia will be printing and distributing evidence-based early reading materials to support classroom instruction in grades K, 1 & 2. The printing requirements for the Read Liberia program are significant, with large volumes and numbers of pages posing challenges. Print-runs range between as few as 150 copies per title to more than 30,000 copies per title, and books with many pages require high-quality binding. Additionally, the trim size for some titles cannot easily be updated to the ISO Standard A4 size until the Year 2 release. The program also faces short timelines, with materials needing to be approved for print by mid-January and delivered to schools by mid-February. In order to address these challenges, blueTree Group conducted a capacity assessment of printers in Liberia to provide recommendations for print procurement. The assessment report is based on desktop research, in-country assessment, and information collected through responses from a hypothetical Request for Quotation (RFQ). The report aims to inform Read Liberia on the various viable options for printing, packaging options, negotiation strategies, and efficient quality controls. The assessment involved a review of various reports and publications containing information on Liberia's access and quality of books or production capacity. A hypothetical RFQ was also developed and disseminated to various local, regional, and international printers. The quotes received were used for a comparative analysis based on quality, price, capacity, and previous experience. The printers engaged for this purpose included local printers such as Sabanoh Enterprises Inc., Dremags Inc., Imagi Printing and Publishing Company, and National Printers, as well as regional and international printers. The assessment report provides a technical capacity matrix for the printers, which includes information on their production capacity, equipment, and quality control measures. The report also provides a comparative analysis of quotes from the printers, which highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each printer in terms of quality, price, and capacity. The report concludes by providing recommendations for print procurement, including the selection of printers and negotiation strategies. The technical capacity matrix for the printers reveals that Sabanoh Enterprises Inc. has the highest production capacity, with the ability to produce up to 100,000 copies per month. However, the company's equipment is outdated, and its quality control measures are limited. In contrast, Imagi Printing and Publishing Company has modern equipment and a strong quality control system, but its production capacity is lower than that of Sabanoh Enterprises Inc. The comparative analysis of quotes from the printers reveals that National Printers offers the lowest price for printing services, but its quality is lower than that of the other printers. Dremags Inc. offers a good balance between price and quality, but its production capacity is limited. Sec Print Limited - Ghana offers high-quality printing services, but its price is higher than that of the other printers. Overall, the assessment report provides a comprehensive analysis of the printing capacity in Liberia and provides recommendations for print procurement. The report highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each printer and provides guidance on the selection of printers and negotiation strategies.