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E-Books, E-Book Collections and E-Textbooks - APUC

APUC Limited

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

15 Dec 2025 at 16:16

Tender Notice
Planning

17 Apr 2025 at 09:10

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The contracting process initiated by APUC Limited centres on procuring e-books, e-book collections, and e-textbooks for higher education and further education institutions in Scotland. This tender is in the planning stage with intentions to hold individual supplier engagement sessions to explore potential online acquisition platforms. The procurement targets digital academic content across various library books, aiming at a range of institutions including members of the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL). The planned framework agreement is anticipated to commence with a projected value of £20,000,000, enhancing educational resource availability. Key dates include a future notice on 1st August 2025, and engagement is encouraged as part of preparing for possible partnerships.

The tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in digital academic content, library management systems, and innovative e-book platforms. Organisations that excel in providing educational materials, electronic information services, and textbook content are well-positioned to benefit from this procurement process. With a focus on goods catering to educational institutions, suppliers that can demonstrate robust digital service offerings, particularly those enabling content delivery via electronic platforms, will find this tender a viable avenue for business growth. As the procurement method is open, it encourages a competitive bidding environment, allowing established entities and emerging suppliers to showcase their capabilities and expand their market presence within Scotland's educational sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

E-Books, E-Book Collections and E-Textbooks - APUC

Notice Description

The Authority is acting on behalf of the HE and FE institutions in Scotland and oversea campuses, Members of the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) which includes amongst its members, the National Library of Scotland, the National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Scotland Excel and its members Please refer to Appendix E - List of Institutions for more detail. The Authority is seeking Contractors to supply a wide range of academic content in digital format and associated content and services from Aggregators and Publishers. The scope will include: E-Books E-Book Collections (Publishers packages) E-Textbooks Associated digital content

Lot Information

Title by Title purchase and Collections

This exercise is being undertaken on behalf of the HE/FE Institutions in Scotland and the members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL), including the National Library of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Scotland Excel and its members. The Authority intends to appoint a maximum of 8 Contractors to supply Title-by-title purchasing of e-books via an aggregator platform for delivery via the aggregator's own platform. Packages may be offered, such as DDA and EBA Programmes, and audiobooks. Contractors will offer perpetual access licences but may also offer alternatives (e.g. 365-day licences, including POA models) where perpetual licensing is not available. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 01.04.2026 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 31.03.2028 The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a further 2 x 12 month periods subject to satisfactory performance and continued requirements of the Authority's members and the members of SCURL

Title by Title and Collections (Access on a Third Party Platform)

This exercise is being undertaken on behalf of the HE/FE Institutions in Scotland and the members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL), including the National Library of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Scotland Excel and its members. The Authority intends to appoint a maximum of 8 Contractors to supply Title by Title and Collections, with access provided on a 3rd Party Platform) The lot will enable the purchase of content via an aggregator with the content provided on a third-party's platform. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 01.04.2026 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 31.03.2028 The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a further 2 x 12 month periods subject to satisfactory performance and continued requirements of the Authority's members and the members of SCURL

Aggregated subscriptions packages

This exercise is being undertaken on behalf of the HE/FE Institutions in Scotland and the members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL), including the National Library of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Scotland Excel and its members. The Authority intends to appoint a maximum of 6 Contractors to provide Subscription e-book packages via an aggregator or a third-party platform. Packages may include wider digital content in addition to e-books. Package content is likely to be pre-defined in nature. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 01.04.2026 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 31.03.2028 The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a further 2 x 12 month periods subject to satisfactory performance and continued requirements of the Authority's members and the members of SCURL

E-Textbooks

This exercise is being undertaken on behalf of the HE/FE Institutions in Scotland and the members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL), including the National Library of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Scotland Excel and its members. The Authority intends to appoint a maximum of 5 Contractors to supply E- Textbook content via an aggregator and hosted on the aggregators or publisher's platform Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 01.04.2026 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 31.03.2028 The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a further 2 x 12 month periods subject to satisfactory performance and continued requirements of the Authority's members and the members of SCURL

E-Books and E-Textbooks (Title by Title & Collections)

1. This exercise is being undertaken on behalf of the HE/FE Institutions in Scotland and the members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL), including the National Library of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Scotland Excel and its members. The Authority intends to appoint a maximum of 20 Contractors to supply E-Books and E-Textbooks (Title by Title & Collections) negotiated directly with the publisher and hosted on the publisher's or an aggregator's platform. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Framework Agreement will commence on the 01.04.2026 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 31.03.2028 The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a further 2 x 12 month periods subject to satisfactory performance and continued requirements of the Authority's members and the members of SCURL

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050477
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083039-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

CPV Codes

22112000 - Textbooks

22113000 - Library books

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£34,500,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£34,500,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Dec 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
4 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
April 2029

Notice Status

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

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
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
Stirling
Electoral Ward
Stirling East
Westminster Constituency
Stirling and Strathallan

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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