Planning

Access to Online Databases and Publications

FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

24 May 2025 at 14:35

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has initiated a tender process, currently in the planning stage, for the procurement of access to online databases and publications. This opportunity, titled "Access to Online Databases and Publications," falls under the services industry category, with specific classifications in publications and database services. The procurement process is set to begin with notices being issued by 1 January 2027, and the contract period will run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with the potential for renewal extending to 31 March 2032. The services are required for both domestic and overseas operations of the FCDO, located at King Charles Street, London. This planned procurement is above threshold and valued at approximately £4.2 million GBP.

This tender provides significant business growth opportunities for companies involved in digital media and information services. Ideal contenders would include small and medium-sized enterprises specialising in the provision of comprehensive digital information and database services. The opportunity is suited for businesses capable of supplying a variety of high-demand online resources, such as those already in use by the FCDO, including major news outlets and academic publishers. This procurement not only requires a broad range of digital access provisions but also offers a lucrative long-term contract with the UK government, promising substantial exposure and a foothold in the public sector services market.

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.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

Access to Online Databases and Publications

Notice Description

The requirement is for the supply of a broad range of commercially produced online, web-based and other digital and electronic media databases of published information, and associated services, to the Knowledge and Information Services and/or directly to FCDO departments both in the United Kingdom and overseas diplomatic missions. [Online databases and publications currently include but not limited to: Washington Post, NewsBank, Dods, Databeuro, Journal Store (JSTOR), New York Times, Oxford University Press, Wall Street Journal, Press Reader, Factiva, EBSCO Databases (Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, Discovery Tool, World Politics Review), and BSI Online. Access to these resources supports staff from across the organisation to deliver informed diplomatic and development outcomes as well as provide global insight and analysis.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0525a7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027307-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

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

CPV Codes

22120000 - Publications

72320000 - Database services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jan 202711 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercial.smi@fcdo.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2AH
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

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-0525a7-2025-05-24T15:35:56+01:00",
    "date": "2025-05-24T15:35:56+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0525a7",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "027307-2025",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK1",
                "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027307-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-05-24T15:35:56+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PXRR-8771-PHVX",
            "name": "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PXRR-8771-PHVX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "King Charles Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1A 2AH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "commercial.smi@fcdo.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PXRR-8771-PHVX",
        "name": "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0525a7",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Access to Online Databases and Publications",
        "description": "The requirement is for the supply of a broad range of commercially produced online, web-based and other digital and electronic media databases of published information, and associated services, to the Knowledge and Information Services and/or directly to FCDO departments both in the United Kingdom and overseas diplomatic missions. [Online databases and publications currently include but not limited to: Washington Post, NewsBank, Dods, Databeuro, Journal Store (JSTOR), New York Times, Oxford University Press, Wall Street Journal, Press Reader, Factiva, EBSCO Databases (Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, Discovery Tool, World Politics Review), and BSI Online. Access to these resources supports staff from across the organisation to deliver informed diplomatic and development outcomes as well as provide global insight and analysis.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "22120000",
                        "description": "Publications"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "72320000",
                        "description": "Database services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 4200000,
            "amount": 3500000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2027-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2030-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2032-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2027-01-01T23:59:59+00:00"
        },
        "status": "planned"
    },
    "language": "en"
}