Award

ICT-20-022 E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI

THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

18 Mar 2025 at 11:27

Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority has completed its procurement process for the supply and delivery of e-Books and downloadable audiobooks for Libraries NI. This contract, titled "ICT-20-022 E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI," falls under the services category within the library services industry. The procurement process, conducted via a limited method without prior publication of a call for competition, covers the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2022 with an option to extend for an additional 36 months. Key dates include the contract award date of 28 May 2021 and the most recent update on 18 March 2025. The main delivery locations are within Northern Ireland.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities for suppliers specialising in digital library services, including large-scale providers like Overdrive INC. and SMEs such as Bolinda UK Ltd. Businesses with a robust range of digital stock, effective marketing strategies, and strong product usability would be well-suited to compete in similar tenders. The award criteria emphasised quality aspects like range of stock and training, alongside price considerations, making this tender beneficial for experienced suppliers looking to expand their market share in public digital library services.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

ICT-20-022 E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI

Notice Description

Supply and delivery of E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI

Lot Information

Lot 1

ICT-20-022 -- E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2022 with the option to extend for up to a further 36 months.

Options: With the option to extend for up to a further 36 months.

Procurement Information

The purpose of this VEAT notice is to inform the market of the Contracting Authorities intention to extend the contract period for an additional four months. The modification is covered under Reg 72 (1) (e) and (f) therefore the EA is not obliged to publish a modification notice. The modification meets the following conditions in relation to paragraph 5: (5) (a) the relevant threshold mentioned in regulation 5; and (b) 10 % of the initial contract value for service and supply contracts and 15% of the initial contract value for works contracts The modification to the period is for 4 months which represents less than 10% of the overall period of 48 months and is therefore deemed to be non-substantial as it does not meet any of the conditions of paragraph 8 detailed below. (8) A modification of a contract or a framework agreement during its term shall be considered substantial for the purposes of paragraph 1(e) where one or more of the following conditions is met: (a) the modification renders the contract or the framework agreement materially different in character from the one initially concluded; (b) the modification introduces conditions which, had they been part of the initial procurement procedure, would have-- (i) allowed for the admission of other candidates than those initially selected; (ii) allowed for the acceptance of a tender other than that originally accepted; or (iii) attracted additional participants in the procurement procedure; (c) the modification changes the economic balance of the contract or the framework agreement in favour of the contractor in a manner which was not provided for in the initial contract or framework agreement; (d) the modification extends the scope of the contract or framework agreement considerably; (e) a new contractor replaces the one to which the contracting authority had initially awarded the contract in cases other than those provided for in paragraph (1)(d).

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ee61
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009862-2025
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, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

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

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services


CPV Codes

22113000 - Library books

72500000 - Computer-related services

92511000 - Library services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Mar 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 May 20214 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
educationresource.procure@eani.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT1 2NQ
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland, TLN0 Northern Ireland

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Duncairn
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

BOLINDA

OVERDRIVE

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04ee61-2025-03-18T11:27:40Z",
    "date": "2025-03-18T11:27:40Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04ee61",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04ee61",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "ICT-20-022 E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "92511000",
            "description": "Library services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "Supply and delivery of E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "ICT-20-022 -- E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2022 with the option to extend for up to a further 36 months.",
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "name": "Range of stock",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "50"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Statistics",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "2"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Marketing",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "2"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Usbaility of product",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "4"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Training",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "1"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Supplier selection",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "1"
                        },
                        {
                            "name": "Social clause",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "2"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "description": "38"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "hasOptions": true,
                "options": {
                    "description": "With the option to extend for up to a further 36 months."
                }
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "92511000",
                        "description": "Library services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "22113000",
                        "description": "Library books"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72500000",
                        "description": "Computer-related services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKN"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKN0"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "limited",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition",
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "reviewDetails": "The UK does not currently have any such bodies with responsibilities for appeal/mediation procedures",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL",
                "id": "D_OUTSIDE_SCOPE",
                "description": "The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationale": "The purpose of this VEAT notice is to inform the market of the Contracting Authorities intention to extend the contract period for an additional four months. The modification is covered under Reg 72 (1) (e) and (f) therefore the EA is not obliged to publish a modification notice. The modification meets the following conditions in relation to paragraph 5: (5) (a) the relevant threshold mentioned in regulation 5; and (b) 10 % of the initial contract value for service and supply contracts and 15% of the initial contract value for works contracts The modification to the period is for 4 months which represents less than 10% of the overall period of 48 months and is therefore deemed to be non-substantial as it does not meet any of the conditions of paragraph 8 detailed below. (8) A modification of a contract or a framework agreement during its term shall be considered substantial for the purposes of paragraph 1(e) where one or more of the following conditions is met: (a) the modification renders the contract or the framework agreement materially different in character from the one initially concluded; (b) the modification introduces conditions which, had they been part of the initial procurement procedure, would have-- (i) allowed for the admission of other candidates than those initially selected; (ii) allowed for the acceptance of a tender other than that originally accepted; or (iii) attracted additional participants in the procurement procedure; (c) the modification changes the economic balance of the contract or the framework agreement in favour of the contractor in a manner which was not provided for in the initial contract or framework agreement; (d) the modification extends the scope of the contract or framework agreement considerably; (e) a new contractor replaces the one to which the contracting authority had initially awarded the contract in cases other than those provided for in paragraph (1)(d)."
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "009862-2025-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-140971",
                    "name": "Overdrive INC."
                },
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-140972",
                    "name": "Bolinda UK Ltd"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-84187",
            "name": "the Education Authority",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "the Education Authority"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "40 Academy Street",
                "locality": "Belfast",
                "region": "UK",
                "postalCode": "BT1 2NQ",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "educationresource.procure@eani.org.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps",
                "buyerProfile": "https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "BODY_PUBLIC",
                        "description": "Body governed by public law"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "09",
                        "description": "Education"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-140971",
            "name": "Overdrive INC.",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Overdrive INC."
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Cleveland",
                "region": "US",
                "countryName": "United States"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "mkertesz@overdrive.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps",
                "scale": "large"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-140972",
            "name": "Bolinda UK Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Bolinda UK Ltd"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Newbury",
                "region": "UK",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "libraryuk@bolinda.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps",
                "scale": "sme"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-140973",
            "name": "The UK does not currently have any such bodies with responsibilities for appeal/mediation proceduresTown:",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "The UK does not currently have any such bodies with responsibilities for appeal/mediation proceduresTown:"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Belfast",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-84187",
        "name": "the Education Authority"
    },
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "009862-2025-1",
            "awardID": "009862-2025-1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 10000000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2021-05-28T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
    ],
    "links": [
        {
            "rel": "prev",
            "href": "https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:288073-2021:TEXT:EN:HTML"
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}