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HH014-25-TW02 UHI Library Services

NHS Highland

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

16 Sep 2026 at 08:43

Award Notice
Award

01 Jun 2023 at 11:53

Award Notice
Award

26 Apr 2023 at 13:44

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Highland procured library services for education and learning through its UHI-related provision. The requirement covers physical library space, printed and written resources, library management, and electronic support, including online accounts and digital resources. The service is intended to support users who need access to library and learning materials, with library books and archive-related services included in the scope. Delivery is associated with NHS Highland’s Highland area and the service relationship involving Inverness College UHI; the procurement rationale also refers to a smaller NHS Highland library service in Oban. This is a public service requirement rather than a supply-only book contract, so relevant suppliers are those able to manage library operations alongside physical collections and electronic access for education and healthcare users.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a limited procedure without a prior call for competition. The stated rationale was that immediate open tendering was not feasible while NHS Highland and UHI considered joint provision, the possible transfer of printed stock and a move from a service-level agreement to a partnership arrangement. The requirement was evaluated solely on price, described as a priced agreement with 100% cost weighting. One bid was recorded, with no SME or electronic bids. Three recorded awards were made to Inverness College UHI, each associated with the same requirement and each valued at £311,000. The corresponding contracts are active, were signed on 20 April 2023, and each carries the same value. The single lot is recorded as cancelled, despite the active awards and contracts.

This procurement demonstrates established demand for an integrated library service supporting education and learning within a healthcare setting. A credible future competitor would need to provide or manage physical library space, printed collections and stock, library books, library and archive services, and electronic resources, accounts and user support. Experience of operating across organisational boundaries would be particularly relevant, because the stated model involved joint working between NHS Highland and UHI, possible transfer of printed material, and a partnership approach rather than a standalone supply arrangement. Suppliers should also be able to manage the practical transition from an existing service-level agreement and maintain continuity for users. The award was decided entirely on price, so efficient delivery, control of operating costs and the capacity to support a substantial established service would be important when this requirement is next tested.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

HH014-25-TW02 UHI Library Services

Notice Description

The agreement is for the provision of library services. This constitutes the provision of physical library space as well as written resources and also includes electronic support for education and learning such as support for online accounts and online resources.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The agreement is for the provision of library services. This constitutes the provision of physical library space as well as written resources and also includes electronic support for education and learning such as support for online accounts and online resources.

Procurement Information

A tendering process would not be immediately feasible owing to the current joint working of the library services with NHS Highland and potential transfer of the stock of printed material. The intention is to move from the current service level agreement to a partnership agreement of joint provision of library services between NHS Highland and UHI. If agreement can be secured for that joint provision, it would be able to be put in place during the term of the extended contract. A separate and much smaller library service run by NHS Highland exists in Oban.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03c45d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087552-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

22113000 - Library books

79995000 - Library management services

92510000 - Library and archive services

92511000 - Library services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£311,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS Highland
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV2 3BW
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness South
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

INVERNESS COLLEGE UHI

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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