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Elsevier ScienceDirect Evidence Based Selection (EBS) renewal

Coventry University

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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18 Aug 2026 at 17:24

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Coventry University procured renewal of access to Elsevier ScienceDirect, a software and information platform providing a large body of published content for teaching, learning and research. The platform is used across all subject areas, campuses and levels of study, making this a university-wide information service rather than a specialist departmental purchase. The requirement is categorised as software packages and information systems. Delivery is for Coventry University’s operations in the United Kingdom. The procurement reflects the university’s established reliance on ScienceDirect as one of its most extensively used platforms and its assessment that the platform’s breadth and volume of content could not be matched by another publisher. This is therefore relevant to academic-content publishers, digital library providers and information-platform suppliers serving higher education institutions.

The procurement is complete and the contract is active. Coventry University used a direct award below the UK Government threshold, without competition, because it considered the cost of changing platform would outweigh the commercial benefits of a competitive process. One lot was awarded to ELSEVIER B.V. for £68,005 gross, including VAT, in GBP. The contract was signed on 31 July 2026 and runs from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027. The award covers the ScienceDirect software and information-system service. The recorded procurement value was below the applicable threshold of £207,720 including VAT. Evaluation was therefore not conducted through a competitive tender; the recorded basis was the buyer’s reliance on the existing platform, its breadth of content and the cost of changing supplier.

This outcome indicates demand from Coventry University for a mature, institution-wide academic information platform that can support every subject area, campus and level of study. Suppliers likely to be credible when this requirement next returns will need strong breadth and volume of scholarly content, reliable software delivery and information-system capability, and the capacity to support usage across a university rather than a single faculty or campus. Established adoption is commercially important: the buyer regarded ScienceDirect as one of its most extensively used platforms, so a competing proposition would need to address migration, continuity and the practical cost of changing systems, as well as demonstrate comparable content depth. Relevant competitors include academic publishers, digital library platforms and specialist higher-education information providers.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Elsevier ScienceDirect Evidence Based Selection (EBS) renewal

Notice Description

ScienceDirect is one of CU's most extensively used platforms, used across all subjects and all campuses at every level of study. It provides a huge depth and quantity of content that cannot be matched by any other publisher. The cost of change would outweigh any commercial benefits from a competitive procurement process. The value of the contract is below the UK Government threshold of PS207,720.00 including VAT for tendering for goods and services.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e6f2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078720-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£68,005 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
31 Jul 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
Coventry 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
COVENTRY
Postcode
CV1 5FB
Postcode Area
Coventry
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG33 Coventry
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Coventry
Electoral Ward
St Michael's
Westminster Constituency
Coventry South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ELSEVIER B.V

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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