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Oxford Law Trove

University of Keele

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

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 is procuring subscription access to Oxford Law Trove, a digital legal-information service for its Law School. The service provides specific legal textbooks, journals and other digital content needed for teaching, learning, curriculum design and research. Oxford University Press owns or exclusively controls the copyright, publishing, intellectual-property and licence rights to the works in the database. Delivery is to the University of Keele in Keele, Staffordshire. This is a subscription service rather than a supply of physical books or a general legal research platform: the requirement is access to the particular Oxford Law Trove collection and its associated content.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to Oxford University Press on 6 August 2026 through a direct award. The University relied on section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 and Schedule 5, paragraph 5, for a single supplier holding intellectual-property or exclusive rights. The award value is £228,000 excluding VAT (£273,600 including VAT). The contract period is 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, with renewals potentially extending it to 31 August 2030; the stated estimate covers 48 months including potential renewals. A standstill period ends on 27 August 2026, and the planned signature date is 1 September 2026. The award is for one completed lot, with renewal at the University's discretion.

This opportunity demonstrates established demand for institution-wide access to specialist digital legal content supporting teaching, student learning and academic research. A credible future competitor would need to own or lawfully control the relevant publishing, copyright and licence rights, or hold an authorised distribution arrangement that permits access to the exact required works. The requirement favours a specialist academic publisher or information provider with a stable digital platform, reliable subscription administration and the capacity to maintain continuous access for a university Law School. Experience supplying legal textbooks, journals and databases to higher-education institutions would help demonstrate fit. Because the original award was justified by exclusive rights, suppliers offering broadly similar legal databases would not provide an equivalent proposition unless they can lawfully provide the specified Oxford content.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Oxford Law Trove

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 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

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 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/077864-2026
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
£228,000 £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 Aug 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

Oxford University Press

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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