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Library Subscription Services

SUPC Ltd

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

27 Jul 2026 at 14:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

28 May 2026 at 16:42

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS) intends to retender its library subscription services framework for delivery across the UK. The procurement covers two areas. Lot 1 is for subscription agents to supply serials, journals, periodicals, magazines and other subscription products through a comprehensive online subscriptions management platform. Lot 2 is for single-source subscription e-resources that form part of a library collection or similar service. These resources must be available from only one supplier and must not be obtainable through a subscription agent or a Procurement Act-compliant Jisc deal. The requirement is classified as goods and is intended to replace the existing framework for serials, periodicals and associated services, while adding the new single-source e-resources lot.

This procurement is at the planning stage: SUMS has stated an intention to procure and has not yet issued an invitation to tender. It is expected to use a framework agreement, with suppliers able to seek selection for both lots. The buyer’s indicative date for the next notice is 25 January 2027. The planned contract period is 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2029, with renewal or extension possible up to 31 July 2031. The estimated total value is £350,000,000 including gross value, and the procurement is above the relevant threshold. Preliminary market engagement is scheduled for completion by 31 August 2026, including supplier surveys and comments on draft lot specifications.

The requirement is likely to suit subscription agents with established capabilities in supplying and managing serials, journals, periodicals and other library subscriptions, supported by a comprehensive online management platform. It will also suit specialist publishers, information providers or other rights holders able to supply genuinely single-source subscription e-resources that cannot be obtained through an agent or an eligible Jisc arrangement. Suppliers should prepare evidence of catalogue breadth, reliable fulfilment, subscription administration, online platform functionality and the ability to support library collection services. SUMS has indicated that both small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises are suitable for the procurement. Businesses can contribute to the draft specifications and supplier surveys during the engagement stage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Library Subscription Services

Notice Description

The scope of this procurement includes the retendering of the existing framework agreement (Serials, periodicals and associated services, LIB4054 SU) with the addition of a second Lot for single source subscription e-resources. It will be possible for suppliers to bid for both Lots if they wish: Lot 1: Subscriptions Agents - Subscriptions Agents enabling supply of serials, journals and other subscriptions products via a comprehensive online subscriptions management platform. Lot 2: Lot 2: Single Source Subscription E-Resources - Subscribed information e-resources that may form part of a library collection or similar service. Resources must be those where only one supplier exists, and they must be unavailable via a subscriptions agent or via a Procurement Act compliant Jisc deal.

Planning Information

Suppliers are invited to visit https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=107745&TID=100112823&B= where they will find the following: 1. PME briefing document (which includes links to the supplier surveys) 2. Draft specifications for each Lot, which suppliers are invited to annotate and return via the Mercell messaging function. All clarification queries should also be submitted via the Mercell messaging function

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a823
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070848-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

CPV Codes

22200000 - Newspapers, journals, periodicals and magazines

22210000 - Newspapers

22211000 - Journals

22211100 - Official journals

22212000 - Periodicals

22212100 - Serials

22213000 - Magazines

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£350,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
25 Jan 20274 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Aug 2027 - 31 Jul 2029 2-3 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
SUPC Ltd
Additional Buyers

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
READING
Postcode
RG6 6BU
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Wokingham
Electoral Ward
Hillside
Westminster Constituency
Earley and Woodley

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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