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Library Publications

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

12 Aug 2026 at 17:30

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Open University bought ebook publications for its library service. The requirement is a library content supply service, delivered for the university in Milton Keynes, where the buyer is based. The procurement was for services rather than physical works or general goods, with the published classification referring to education and training services. The requirement covered one lot and was linked to the university’s academic library purchasing activity. A supplier specialising in supplying ebook publications to higher-education libraries would be the closest fit, particularly where it can provide access to relevant academic content and support institutional purchasing arrangements. The named buyer is The Open University, a public authority based at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes.

This procurement has been awarded and completed as a tender process. It was a below-threshold procurement using a method recorded as unknown. The requirement was divided into one lot. Springer Nature Limited was awarded the contract for that lot, and the award is active. The contract was signed on 1 August 2026 and runs from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027. Its gross value is £77,259. The contract is below the applicable threshold. The procurement data records the award and contract outcome, but does not state an award criterion or weighting. The contracting process is therefore an awarded, single-lot purchase of ebook publications rather than an opportunity for further bids on this contract.

This procurement is commercially relevant to publishers, academic content providers and library-supply businesses able to supply ebook publications to a higher-education institution. A credible competitor would need access to suitable academic titles, the rights and licensing arrangements required for institutional ebook use, and reliable processes for supplying or enabling library access to digital content. Experience serving university libraries would help demonstrate that it can handle academic purchasing requirements and support an institutional customer. The award also shows that The Open University uses a straightforward below-threshold route for a focused, single-lot ebook requirement, rather than a large multi-lot programme. Suppliers tracking this buyer should therefore be able to respond efficiently to a defined library publications requirement and evidence dependable digital-content fulfilment.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Library Publications

Notice Description

Library purchase of ebook publications

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e310
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076977-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - unknown
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
£77,259 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK7 6AA
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SPRINGER NATURE LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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