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Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services

APUC Limited

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

16 Mar 2026 at 14:30

Award Notice
Tender

24 Jul 2024 at 09:46

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process for the "Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services" involves APUC Limited as the buying organisation. The procurement focuses on IT services including consulting, software development, and internet support, with a specific emphasis on services for libraries in universities and colleges across the United Kingdom, including Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The procurement is in the award stage, having been completed as of 16 March 2026. It includes a framework agreement covering two key lots: Library Services Platform(s) and Resource and Reading List Management Systems. The procurement method used is the open procedure, and although no deadlines are currently specified since the procurement is complete, the contracts were signed on 25 February 2025 and 3 March 2026 respectively, with a total value of £27 million.

This procurement process provides significant opportunities for IT service providers, particularly those able to offer comprehensive solutions and support for library platforms and management systems. Businesses that can deliver efficient system implementation, migration support, and software maintenance are well-positioned to benefit from such a multi-campus environment requirement. Large suppliers like OCLC (UK) Ltd, Sirsi Limited, and Education Software Solutions Limited have already been awarded contracts under this process, demonstrating the competence required to meet the rigorous criteria laid out. The tender entails high competition, with quality service delivery taking precedence, making it ideal for established IT companies with experience in the education sector, capable of offering effective and sustainable library service solutions across UK institutions. The services under this framework can bolster business growth through long-term contracts and collaborations with various UK universities, offering substantial commercial benefits to active participants.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services

Notice Description

Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland including provision of all software and any associated licensing. Potential Services include, but are not limited to: System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. The framework agreement includes: Lot1 - Library Services Platform(s) and Lot2 - Resource and Reading List Management Systems. The agreement will be open to the members of Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC Limited) and other UK procurement consortia as listed further below.

Lot Information

Library Services Platform(s)

Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland and the UK. Lot 1, Library Services Platform(s)including provision of all software and any associated licensing and subscription. Potential Services include, but are not limited to: System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. This framework agreement is available to participation from Full and Associate Members, and future members, within the UK higher education purchasing consortia as follows: Advanced Procurement Universities and Colleges (APUC Ltd) and associated members listed in Appendix E1. http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/#!/members Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC); https://www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members/our-members London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC); https://www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC); https://www.neupc.ac.uk/our-members North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC); https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-members Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales (HEPCW) https://www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) https://www.thecpc.ac.uk/members Scottish Confederation of University Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/about-members

Renewal: Two further extension periods of up to twelve months each.

Resource and Reading List Systems

Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland and the UK. Lot 2, Resource and Reading List Systems including: provision of all software and any associated licensing and subscription. Potential Services include, but are not limited to: System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. This framework agreement is available to participation from Full and Associate Members, and future members, within the UK higher education purchasing consortia as follows: Advanced Procurement Universities and Colleges (APUC Ltd) and associated members listed in Appendix E1. http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/#!/members Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC); https://www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members/our-members London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC); https://www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC); https://www.neupc.ac.uk/our-members North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC); https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-members Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales (HEPCW) https://www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) https://www.thecpc.ac.uk/members Scottish Confederation of University Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/about-members

Renewal: Two periods of up to twelve months each.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0483fc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023559-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48190000 - Educational software package

48611000 - Database software package

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72260000 - Software-related services

72261000 - Software support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£27,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£27,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£27,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Mar 20265 months ago
Submission Deadline
3 Sep 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Four years

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
APUC Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
STIRLING
Postcode
FK8 2DZ
Postcode Area
Falkirk and Stirling
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM0 Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM02 Perth and Kinross, and Stirling
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Stirling
Electoral Ward
Stirling East
Westminster Constituency
Stirling and Strathallan

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
8
Supplier Names

EBSCO INTERNATIONAL INC

Education Software Solutions Limited

Ex Libris UK Ltd.

Kortext Limited

OCLC (UK) Ltd

PTFS Europe

Sirsi Limited (trading as "SirsiDynix")

Talis Education Ltd (trading as Technology from SAGE)

Further Information

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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