Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Oxford Law Trove

Keele University

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

28 Sep 2026 at 17:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

14 Aug 2026 at 17:16

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

13 Aug 2026 at 17:16

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Keele procured Oxford Law Trove, a subscription service giving access to legal textbooks, journals and other digital content for teaching, learning and research in its Law School. The materials support teaching delivery, curriculum design and student study. The service is delivered to the University in Keele, Staffordshire. The requirement concerns access to a defined collection of Oxford University Press publications and digital content, rather than general legal publishing or library services.

The procurement is complete: the University awarded the contract to Oxford University Press, which also signed it. The direct award was made under the Procurement Act 2023 because Oxford University Press controls the exclusive intellectual property and licence rights to the specific content, and no other supplier can lawfully provide the same materials. The award date was 6 August 2026; the contract was signed on 2 September 2026. The contract runs from 2 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, with potential extension to 31 August 2030. Its value is £228,000 excluding VAT (£273,600 including VAT) over a possible 48-month term. The requirement was grouped as one lot. The stated basis was exclusive rights; no separate scored evaluation criteria are described.

For a supplier other than Oxford University Press, this award demonstrates a recurring institutional need for reliable access to specialist law textbooks, journals and digital resources that underpin teaching, curriculum design, learning and research. The decisive competitive factor here was ownership or exclusive control of the relevant publication, copyright and licensing rights: the University concluded that equivalent lawful access could not be supplied by another provider. A credible supplier for this same requirement would therefore need to control the specific content or hold rights to license it, as well as support continuity of access for a university Law School. General library platforms or legal information services would not meet the stated requirement unless they could provide the same works under appropriate rights.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Oxford Law Trove

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 Oxford University Press for Oxford Law Trove. 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 Oxford Law Trove provides access to specific legal textbooks, journals and digital content essential for teaching, learning and research within the University's Law School. The publisher, Oxford University Press, owns or exclusively controls the copyright, intellectual property rights, publishing rights and licence rights to the specific works contained within this database. No competitor can legally supply that exact content without permission from the Publisher. Competition is therefore absent by law, not by market preference. Failure to renew this subscription would: Disrupt access to materials needed for teaching and curriculum design Impact student learning outcomes Create significant reputational risk for the University's Law School. 3. Reasons for Direct Award The University has determined that: Oxford University Press holds exclusive rights to the content within Oxford Law Trove. No reasonable alternative supplier can lawfully provide equivalent access to the same content. Continuity of access is critical for teaching delivery. 4. Estimated Contract Value The estimated value of the contract over the 48-month period (including potential renewals) is PS228,000 (excluding VAT). 5. Known Risks None identified. The University reserves the right to terminate or renew the subscription at its sole discretion. Any future modifications will be managed in accordance with the Act.

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 Oxford University Press for Oxford Law Trove. 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 Oxford Law Trove provides access to specific legal textbooks, journals and digital content essential for teaching, learning and research within the University's Law School. The publisher, Oxford University Press, owns or exclusively controls the copyright, intellectual property rights, publishing rights and licence rights to the specific works contained within this database. No competitor can legally supply that exact content without permission from the Publisher. Competition is therefore absent by law, not by market preference. Failure to renew this subscription would: Disrupt access to materials needed for teaching and curriculum design Impact student learning outcomes Create significant reputational risk for the University's Law School. 3. Reasons for Direct Award The University has determined that: Oxford University Press holds exclusive rights to the content within Oxford Law Trove. No reasonable alternative supplier can lawfully provide equivalent access to the same content. Continuity of access is critical for teaching delivery.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e403
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091610-2026
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
£228,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£228,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
2 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 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

Oxford University Press

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...