Award

Design, Editing, Production and Distribution Services for Discover Magazine,other Library Publications and associated services

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

AwardUpdate

15 Jan 2026 at 13:59

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by the National Library of Scotland involves contracting for Design, Editing, Production and Distribution Services for "Discover Magazine" and other library publications, classified under the publishing services industry. This contract is based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is currently in the award update stage as of January 2026. The process has undergone a modification to its initial terms due to unforeseeable circumstances linked to the Library’s public discourse, which led to an increase in the contract value by up to 50%. The modification has been managed under Regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, acknowledging changes driven by unforeseen conditions that did not fundamentally alter the contract's nature.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in publishing, design, and distribution services to expand their portfolios and customer base by aligning with the esteemed National Library of Scotland. Organisations well-suited to bid include those providing design support, printing services, translation, and artistic literary creation. The successful bidder, Connect Publications (Scotland) Ltd, exemplifies how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can leverage such contracts to gain substantial growth in partnership with prominent national institutions. Being familiar with the cultural and regional nuances within the UK will be advantageous for potential bidders looking to compete in this sector.

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

Design, Editing, Production and Distribution Services for Discover Magazine,other Library Publications and associated services

Notice Description

Lot Information

Lot 1

This notice informs about modifications made to the Design, Editing, Production and Distribution Services for the Library's publications.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0606b7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003513-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services


CPV Codes

22314000 - Designs

79530000 - Translation services

79800000 - Printing and related services

79810000 - Printing services

79820000 - Services related to printing

79822500 - Graphic design services

79824000 - Printing and distribution services

79933000 - Design support services

79970000 - Publishing services

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

92310000 - Artistic and literary creation and interpretation services

92312211 - Writing agency services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£322,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Dec 20205 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND
Contact Name
Barbara Burke
Contact Email
b.burke@nls.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1316233700

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1EW
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CONNECT PUBLICATIONS (SCOTLAND

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-0606b7-2026-01-15T13:59:58Z",
    "date": "2026-01-15T13:59:58Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0606b7",
    "description": "(SC Ref:820680)",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "2020.21.001",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Design, Editing, Production and Distribution Services for Discover Magazine,other Library Publications and associated services",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "79970000",
            "description": "Publishing services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "This notice informs about modifications made to the Design, Editing, Production and Distribution Services for the Library's publications.",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "durationInDays": 1440
                }
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "22314000",
                        "description": "Designs"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "92310000",
                        "description": "Artistic and literary creation and interpretation services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79970000",
                        "description": "Publishing services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "92000000",
                        "description": "Recreational, cultural and sporting services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "92312211",
                        "description": "Writing agency services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79933000",
                        "description": "Design support services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79824000",
                        "description": "Printing and distribution services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79822500",
                        "description": "Graphic design services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79810000",
                        "description": "Printing services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79800000",
                        "description": "Printing and related services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79530000",
                        "description": "Translation services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79820000",
                        "description": "Services related to printing"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKM75"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "003513-2026-2020.21.001-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "title": "Design, Editing, Production and Distribution Services for Discover Magazine,other Library Publications and associated services",
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-104420",
                    "name": "Connect Publications (Scotland) Ltd"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-9417",
            "name": "National Library of Scotland",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "National Library of Scotland"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "George IV Bridge",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "region": "UKM",
                "postalCode": "EH1 1EW",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Barbara Burke",
                "telephone": "+44 1316233700",
                "email": "b.burke@nls.uk",
                "faxNumber": "+44 1316233701"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.nls.uk",
                "buyerProfile": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA11622"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-104420",
            "name": "Connect Publications (Scotland) Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Connect Publications (Scotland) Ltd"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Studio 2001 Mile End , 12 Seedhill Road",
                "locality": "Paisley",
                "region": "UKM83",
                "postalCode": "PA1 1JS",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "telephone": "+44 1415610300",
                "faxNumber": "+44 1415610400"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-171489",
            "name": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Sheriff Court House, 27 Chambers Streert",
                "locality": "Edinburgh",
                "postalCode": "EH1 1LB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "telephone": "+44 1312252525"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/edinburgh-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court"
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-9417",
        "name": "National Library of Scotland"
    },
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "003513-2026-2020.21.001-1",
            "awardID": "003513-2026-2020.21.001-1",
            "title": "Design, Editing, Production and Distribution Services for Discover Magazine,other Library Publications and associated services",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 322000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2020-12-03T00:00:00Z",
            "period": {
                "durationInDays": 720
            },
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "classification": {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79970000",
                        "description": "Publishing services"
                    },
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "22314000",
                            "description": "Designs"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "79530000",
                            "description": "Translation services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "79800000",
                            "description": "Printing and related services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "79810000",
                            "description": "Printing services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "79820000",
                            "description": "Services related to printing"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "79822500",
                            "description": "Graphic design services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "79824000",
                            "description": "Printing and distribution services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "79933000",
                            "description": "Design support services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "92000000",
                            "description": "Recreational, cultural and sporting services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "92310000",
                            "description": "Artistic and literary creation and interpretation services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "92312211",
                            "description": "Writing agency services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKM75"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "amendments": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "description": "The Library has applied Regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 which states that a contract may be modified without a new procurement procedure where all of the following conditions are fulfilled: (i) the need for modification has been brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen; (ii) the modification does not alter the overall nature of the contract or framework; (iii) any increase in price does not exceed 50 % of the initial contract value or framework agreement; The Library sees conditions (i) and (ii) satisfied and has modified the contract value by no more than 50% of the initial contract value, which was 215,225 GBP. The maximum value of the contract modification is therefore 107,612.50 GBP.",
                    "rationale": "Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee: The unforeseeable circumstances relate to our 'Dear Library' exhibition's public discourse. An important element of this intense phase of negative media attention was its unforeseeable rolling nature over seven months - from May 2025. The Library could not have foreseen the length of this intense public discourse. It started off as an FOI request, became a national news item, and resulted in an independent enquiry and ongoing press interest. This was not one event but a series of stories over at least seven months. The Delegated Purchasing Officer (DPO) was at the heart of the Library's response. The sole staff member who dealt with this intense negative experience from a media management perspective was also the sole person who could have procured this contract. Moving other staff over to contract procurement was something which the Library was not able to resource."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "links": [
        {
            "rel": "prev",
            "href": "https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:634350-2020:TEXT:EN:HTML"
        },
        {
            "rel": "canonical",
            "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000639065"
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}