Award

Open Journals Collective

JISC SERVICES LIMITED

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

28 Jan 2026 at 15:24

Award

12 Jan 2026 at 11:11

Award

12 Jan 2026 at 11:00

Summary of the contracting process

This public procurement contracting process, led by JISC Services Limited, primarily involves the initiative "Open Journals Collective" aimed at supporting diamond open-access journals. The industry category is education and training services, with the procurement method being a direct award due to intellectual property and technical reasons. The contract was awarded to Open Journals Collective Community Interest Company and will be active from 23 January 2026 until 31 December 2026, with the possibility of two additional 12-month extensions, making it extendable until the end of 2028. The contract, which is above the financial threshold, was officially signed on 23 January 2026, and covers the entire United Kingdom, targeting higher and further education institutions across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses with expertise in educational and scholarly publishing, especially those rich in experience with digital and open-access content. SMEs and specialised publishing entities focusing on advanced academic publishing infrastructure may find excellent prospects here. The framework agreement is designed to serve universities and educational consortia, providing a platform for expansion and collaboration in this niche market. This presents a favourable scenario for entities capable of managing digital scholarly communications and those who seek partnerships with established educational institutions to foster innovative academic knowledge dissemination.

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

Open Journals Collective

Notice Description

The Open Journals Collective (OJC) is a new initiative co-designed by libraries, scholars, and nonprofit publishers. It establishes the necessary collaborative infrastructure and governance to support diamond open access journals. Building on more than a decade of experience in nonprofit digital journals publishing, the members of the OJC collectively publish c. 300 diamond open access journals published across AHSS and STEM subjects. Launching in January 2026, the OJC Collections bring together existing journals published by OJC members, including the Open Library of Humanities, UCL Press, LSE Press, Edinburgh Diamond at the University of Edinburgh, Aberdeen University Press, University of Westminster Press, MPub at the University of Michigan Press, eScholarship at the University of California, Stockholm University Press, and others.

Procurement Information

Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights Single supplier - technical reasons Jisc Services Limited will enter into a contract with the provider, though this contract is for use by Jisc Members only and not for Jisc's own use. The publishers working with the provider are the rightsholders and sole supplier of these products.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06037d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007689-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£416,666 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£416,666 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Jan 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Jan 20261 months ago
Contract Period
23 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
JISC SERVICES LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
chris.hallahan@jisc.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS1 6NB
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Bristol Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

OPEN JOURNALS COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY INTEREST

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-06037d-2026-01-28T15:24:04Z",
    "date": "2026-01-28T15:24:04Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06037d",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-02881024",
            "name": "JISC SERVICES LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "02881024"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PZZC-9926-PRNM"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "4 Portwall Lane",
                "locality": "Bristol",
                "postalCode": "BS1 6NB",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK11"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "chris.hallahan@jisc.ac.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.jisc.ac.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-16431892",
            "name": "OPEN JOURNALS COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "16431892"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PYWB-3558-MQHY"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "50 Islingword Street",
                "locality": "Brighton",
                "postalCode": "BN2 9US",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ21"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "info@openjournalscollective.org"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.openjournalscollective.org",
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-02881024",
        "name": "JISC SERVICES LIMITED"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "Proc3133",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Open Journals Collective",
        "description": "The Open Journals Collective (OJC) is a new initiative co-designed by libraries, scholars, and nonprofit publishers. It establishes the necessary collaborative infrastructure and governance to support diamond open access journals. Building on more than a decade of experience in nonprofit digital journals publishing, the members of the OJC collectively publish c. 300 diamond open access journals published across AHSS and STEM subjects. Launching in January 2026, the OJC Collections bring together existing journals published by OJC members, including the Open Library of Humanities, UCL Press, LSE Press, Edinburgh Diamond at the University of Edinburgh, Aberdeen University Press, University of Westminster Press, MPub at the University of Michigan Press, eScholarship at the University of California, Stockholm University Press, and others.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights Single supplier - technical reasons Jisc Services Limited will enter into a contract with the provider, though this contract is for use by Jisc Members only and not for Jisc's own use. The publishers working with the provider are the rightsholders and sole supplier of these products.",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights"
            },
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ],
        "techniques": {
            "hasFrameworkAgreement": true,
            "frameworkAgreement": {
                "type": "open",
                "buyerCategories": "The scope of the framework covers purchases by the following: * Higher Education institutions * Further Education institutions * Consortia and any other Organisation or Body whose core purpose is the support or advancement of further or higher education or of research * Any other education institute * Multi Academy Trusts and other organisations established and acting on behalf of Colleges * Specialist Colleges * Research councils and other such organisations This framework is open to organisations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland & Scotland Members of these consortia are eligible to purchase from this framework by virtue of its membership, as will members of any other similar purchasing consortium in higher or further education that might be formed during the lifetime of the framework * www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list * www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members/our-members * www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-members * www.neupc.ac.uk/members * www.hepcw.ac.uk/members * www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/#!/members",
                "method": "withoutReopeningCompetition",
                "description": "Call-off award is by direct award. The publishers working with the provider are the rightsholders and sole supplier of these products.",
                "buyerLocationRestrictions": [
                    {
                        "gazetteer": {
                            "scheme": "GB-ITL",
                            "identifiers": [
                                "UK"
                            ]
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 500000,
                "amount": 416666.67,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-16431892",
                    "name": "OPEN JOURNALS COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "80000000",
                            "description": "Education and training services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-01-22T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2026-12-31T23:59:59Z",
                "maxExtentDate": "2028-12-31T23:59:59Z"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "Two further 12 month extensions are permissible beyond the initial term so I.e. 1+1+1"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "002175-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002175-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-01-12T11:00:17Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "002185-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002185-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-01-12T11:11:29Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-01-22T23:59:59Z",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2026-01-12T00:00:00Z",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2026-01-21T23:59:59+00:00"
            }
        }
    ],
    "language": "en",
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "awardID": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2026-12-31T23:59:59Z",
                "maxExtentDate": "2028-12-31T23:59:59Z"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "Two further 12 month extensions are permissible beyond the initial I.e. 1+1+1"
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 500000,
                "amount": 416666.67,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "dateSigned": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "007689-2026",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007689-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-01-28T15:24:04Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}