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CLA - Copyright Licensing Agency

Keele University

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

28 Sep 2026 at 17:40

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

14 Aug 2026 at 17:15

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

13 Aug 2026 at 17:08

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Keele purchased a Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) Higher Education Licence, a copyright licensing service for the university’s teaching, learning, administration and research. It enables lawful copying, digitisation, storage and distribution of extracts from books, journals, magazines and certain digital publications. The licence covers copyright permissions granted by participating publishers and authors for higher education use. The service is for the University of Keele in Keele, Staffordshire.

The procurement is complete: the University awarded the contract directly to the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited, and it was signed on 2 September 2026. The award was justified on exclusive intellectual property rights: CLA is the sole UK collective licensing organisation authorised to grant the required permissions and the university identified no reasonable alternative supplier. The contract is valued at £388,000 excluding VAT (£465,600 including VAT), with a stated 48-month estimate including potential renewals. The contract period is 2 September 2026 to 31 July 2027, with a maximum extent date of 31 July 2030. The procurement was treated as one lot; the lot was identified as suitable for SMEs.

This award demonstrates recurring higher-education demand for a licence that enables lawful use of copyrighted publications across teaching, learning, administration and research. The buyer’s requirement depends on access to the relevant copyright repertoire and authority to grant permissions for copying, digitisation, storage and distribution. The University of Keele considered CLA the only supplier able to provide equivalent coverage, because participating publishers and authors have authorised it to license these rights in the higher-education sector. For a future requirement of this kind, a credible competitor would need to demonstrate that it controls or is authorised to license the same repertoire and permissions; general subscription or document-management capability would not meet the stated requirement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CLA - Copyright Licensing Agency

Notice Description

Following the publication of a Transparency Notice on 13 August 2026, and a Contract Award Notice on 14 August 2026, University of Keele is publishing this Contract Details Notice to announce, in accordance with its statutory obligations under Section 53 of the Procurement Act 2023, that it has awarded a contract to the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) for a CLA Higher Education Licence. 1. Direct Award Justification This contract has been awarded by direct award in accordance with Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 (Direct Award in Special Cases). The justification for direct award is set out under Schedule 5, Paragraph 5 (Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights) of the Act. 2. Justification Narrative The University requires a Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) Higher Education Licence to lawfully support the copying, digitisation, storage and distribution of copyrighted extracts from books, journals, magazines and certain digital publications for teaching, learning, administration and research purposes. The CLA Licence is not a discretionary subscription but the legal mechanism enabling the University to comply with copyright law. CLA is the sole collective licensing organisation in the UK authorised by participating publishers and authors to grant these permissions in the higher education sector. No alternative supplier can provide an equivalent licence covering the same copyright repertoire and permissions. The procurement therefore falls within the direct award provisions relating to exclusive copyright and intellectual property rights under Schedule 5, Paragraph 5 of the Act. 3. Reasons for Direct Award The University has determined that: CLA holds exclusive rights to grant the copyright permissions required. No reasonable alternative supplier exists for this requirement. Failure to secure the licence would place the University in breach of copyright law. 4. Estimated Contract Value The estimated value of the contract over the 48-month period (including potential renewals) is PS388,000 (excluding VAT). 5. Known Risks None identified. The University reserves the right to terminate or renew the subscription at its sole discretion.

Procurement Information

Following the publication of a Transparency Notice on 13 August 2026, and a Contract Award Notice on 14 August 2026, University of Keele is publishing this Contract Details Notice to announce, in accordance with its statutory obligations under Section 53 of the Procurement Act 2023, that it has awarded a contract to the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) for a CLA Higher Education Licence. 1. Direct Award Justification This contract has been awarded by direct award in accordance with Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 (Direct Award in Special Cases). The justification for direct award is set out under Schedule 5, Paragraph 5 (Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights) of the Act. 2. Justification Narrative The University requires a Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) Higher Education Licence to lawfully support the copying, digitisation, storage and distribution of copyrighted extracts from books, journals, magazines and certain digital publications for teaching, learning, administration and research purposes. The CLA Licence is not a discretionary subscription but the legal mechanism enabling the University to comply with copyright law. CLA is the sole collective licensing organisation in the UK authorised by participating publishers and authors to grant these permissions in the higher education sector. No alternative supplier can provide an equivalent licence covering the same copyright repertoire and permissions. The procurement therefore falls within the direct award provisions relating to exclusive copyright and intellectual property rights under Schedule 5, Paragraph 5 of the Act. 3. Reasons for Direct Award The University has determined that: CLA holds exclusive rights to grant the copyright permissions required. No reasonable alternative supplier exists for this requirement. Failure to secure the licence would place the University in breach of copyright law.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e401
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091606-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79980000 - Subscription services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£388,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£388,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
2 Sep 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
Keele 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
KEELE, STAFFORDSHIRE,
Postcode
ST5 5NB
Postcode Area
Stoke-on-Trent
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG24 Staffordshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Electoral Ward
Keele
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle-under-Lyme

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Copyright Licensing Agency

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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