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CLA - Copyright Licensing Agency

University of Keele

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

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 is procuring a higher education copyright licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. The service allows the university to lawfully copy, digitise, store and distribute copyrighted extracts from books, journals, magazines and certain digital publications for teaching, learning, administration and research. It is a subscription and copyright licensing service, rather than a general publishing or document-management contract. The work supports activities at Keele University in Keele, Staffordshire. The requirement covers one lot and is classified as subscription services. It is intended to provide the permissions needed for the university to comply with copyright law across its higher education activities.

The procurement has been awarded through a direct award, using the Procurement Act 2023 provisions for a single supplier holding intellectual property or exclusive rights. The selected supplier is Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. The award date is 6 August 2026. Its value is £388,000 excluding VAT, or £465,600 including VAT. The award period runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 July 2027, with a maximum extent to 31 July 2030 and potential renewals within an estimated 48-month value period. The university states that CLA is the sole collective licensing organisation authorised to grant the required permissions, and that no equivalent alternative supplier exists. A signature milestone is scheduled for 1 September 2026.

This award demonstrates a substantial, recurring higher education demand for copyright permissions covering copying, digitisation, storage and distribution of published and digital content. Suppliers seeking comparable work would need the legal authority and rights repertoire required to license copyrighted material for university teaching, learning, administration and research. Credibility would depend on demonstrating access to permissions from participating publishers and authors, and the ability to provide a licence that supports lawful use across a higher education institution. Organisations offering general subscriptions, document handling or content services without the relevant collective licensing rights would not meet this particular requirement. The buyer's route also shows that exclusive intellectual-property rights can determine supplier eligibility.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CLA - Copyright Licensing Agency

Notice Description

1. Direct Award Justification This contract is being 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

1. Direct Award Justification This contract is being 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/077862-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University of Keele
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 LIMITED(THE)

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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