This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

16 Mar 2026 at 00:00

Tender

24 Jul 2024 at 01:00

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process, initiated by APUC Limited, involves a framework agreement for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services targeting universities and colleges across Scotland and the UK. The procurement falls under the education category, with services such as system implementation, migration support, and hosting, capable of supporting multi-campus environments. The tender follows an open procedure focusing on service delivery quality and price as award criteria. The contract value amounts to £27 million, divided into two lots: Library Services Platform(s) and Resource and Reading List Systems. The recently completed award stage saw active contracts signed on 3 March 2026 and 25 February 2025, respectively, with anticipated completion over four years and possible renewal periods of 24 months each.

This tender presents a rich opportunity for businesses providing education-focused software and services, offering a platform to collaborate with UK higher education purchasing consortia. Companies well-suited to compete are those with established solutions capable of delivering a comprehensive software suite across various campuses, ensuring seamless implementation and support services. With a focus on service quality, businesses can leverage their existing infrastructure and past experiences in similar environments to secure a proposition in the market, potentially achieving significant growth. Prospective bidders should demonstrate robust supply chain management systems and exhibit a commitment to community benefits through efforts like staff training, apprenticeships, and local investments. Businesses meeting these criteria and showcasing their capabilities can become valuable partners in this substantial framework agreement, fostering sustainable business expansion.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services

Notice Description

Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland including provision of all software and any associated licensing. Potential Services include, but are not limited to: System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. The framework agreement includes: Lot1 - Library Services Platform(s) and Lot2 - Resource and Reading List Management Systems. The agreement will be open to the members of Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC Limited) and other UK procurement consortia as listed further below.

Lot Information

Library Services Platform(s)

Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland and the UK. Lot 1, Library Services Platform(s)including provision of all software and any associated licensing and subscription. Potential Services include, but are not limited to: System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. This framework agreement is available to participation from Full and Associate Members, and future members, within the UK higher education purchasing consortia as follows: Advanced Procurement Universities and Colleges (APUC Ltd) and associated members listed in Appendix E1. http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/#!/members Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC); https://www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members/our-members London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC); https://www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC); https://www.neupc.ac.uk/our-members North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC); https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-members Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales (HEPCW) https://www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) https://www.thecpc.ac.uk/members Scottish Confederation of University Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/about-members

Renewal: Two further extension periods of up to twelve months each.

Resource and Reading List Systems

Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland and the UK. Lot 2, Resource and Reading List Systems including: provision of all software and any associated licensing and subscription. Potential Services include, but are not limited to: System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. This framework agreement is available to participation from Full and Associate Members, and future members, within the UK higher education purchasing consortia as follows: Advanced Procurement Universities and Colleges (APUC Ltd) and associated members listed in Appendix E1. http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/#!/members Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC); https://www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members/our-members London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC); https://www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC); https://www.neupc.ac.uk/our-members North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC); https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-members Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales (HEPCW) https://www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) https://www.thecpc.ac.uk/members Scottish Confederation of University Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/about-members

Renewal: Two periods of up to twelve months each.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000770166
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR551796
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

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


CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48190000 - Educational software package

48611000 - Database software package

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72260000 - Software-related services

72261000 - Software support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£27,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£27,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£27,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Mar 20265 months ago
Submission Deadline
3 Sep 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Four years

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
APUC Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
STIRLING
Postcode
FK8 2DZ
Postcode Area
Falkirk and Stirling
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM0 Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM02 Perth and Kinross, and Stirling
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Stirling
Electoral Ward
Stirling East
Westminster Constituency
Stirling and Strathallan

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
8
Supplier Names

EBSCO INTERNATIONAL INC

Education Software Solutions Limited

Ex Libris UK Ltd.

Kortext Limited

OCLC (UK) Ltd

PTFS Europe

Sirsi Limited (trading as "SirsiDynix")

Talis Education Ltd (trading as Technology from SAGE)

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL510518
    Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services - Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland including provision of all software and any associated licensing. Potential Services include, but are not limited to: System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. The framework agreement includes: Lot1 - Library Services Platform(s) and Lot2 - Resource and Reading List Management Systems. The agreement will be open to the members of Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC Limited) and other UK procurement consortia as listed further below.
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR551796
    Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services - Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland including provision of all software and any associated licensing. Potential Services include, but are not limited to: System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting. Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. The framework agreement includes: Lot1 - Library Services Platform(s) and Lot2 - Resource and Reading List Management Systems. The agreement will be open to the members of Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC Limited) and other UK procurement consortia as listed further below.

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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