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002922 RFI Transforming the British Library Technology Operations Environment

British Library

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

27 Oct 2026 at 15:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The British Library intends to procure services to transform its technology operations environment. It is developing a new operating model for its technology function and wants future services to align with the Library’s needs. The work is classified as information technology services. The services are for the British Library, based in London, and are associated with delivery in the United Kingdom.

This procurement is at the planning stage. The British Library is conducting a request for information and market consultation to shape its requirements; it has not yet decided the precise procurement route, and this is not an invitation to tender. The estimated value is £15 million excluding VAT (£18 million including VAT). The planned contract period is three years from April 2027 to March 2030, with a possible extension to March 2032. The buyer expects to publish a further notice in December 2026. A vendor briefing workshop is planned for November 2026, with further details to accompany the request for information. The procurement is arranged as a single lot.

The consultation is relevant to technology services suppliers able to help shape and potentially deliver a technology function operating model for a national library. Suppliers with experience assessing technology operations, designing target operating models and aligning outsourced or contracted services with an organisation’s needs are well placed to contribute useful market insight. The planned scale and multi-year term indicate a substantial, sustained service requirement, potentially suited to providers with the capacity to support a central government organisation. Suppliers can use the market engagement to explain viable service models and procurement approaches before the buyer finalises its requirements. The buyer has not yet settled the procurement route, so this stage is for informing the future specification rather than bidding for the contract.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

002922 RFI Transforming the British Library Technology Operations Environment

Notice Description

The British Library is seeking information from suppliers to help develop the Libraries tender requirements for a new Target Operating Model for our Technology function to ensure that the Library contract for a service that aligns with our needs properly. The British Library views this RFI process as one potential route to inform the future procurement of the goods and/or services described. At this stage, no final decision has been taken on the precise procurement route to be followed. When submitting information, all organisations should note that this is not currently a tender opportunity but is part of a market consultation exercise aiming to ensure that the procurement route selected and the options ultimately developed for any procurement are properly informed. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Information-technology-services./6Y97NUQ89T To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/6Y97NUQ89T

Planning Information

A vendor briefing workshop will be held on 3 November 2026. Further details will be published with the RFI

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07918e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101688-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72222300 - Information technology services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
7 Dec 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
British Library
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
NW1 2DB
Postcode Area
North West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI36 Camden
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Camden
Electoral Ward
St Pancras & Somers Town
Westminster Constituency
Holborn and St Pancras

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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