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Database Licences

Robert Gordon University

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

30 Jul 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Robert Gordon University bought access to Business Source Complete, a full-text research database supporting teaching and learning in business, management, marketing, accounting and finance, as well as related subjects including human resources, leadership, politics, economics and social studies. The requirement is a database licence rather than consultancy, software development or physical library equipment. The buyer is Robert Gordon University, an education organisation based in Aberdeen, and the service is delivered for users in Aberdeen. The procurement classification describes library management and related information services (CPV 48160000). The arrangement covered one requirement: access to the Business Source Complete database. This opportunity is relevant to database publishers, academic information providers and specialist suppliers of licensed electronic research resources.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. Robert Gordon University used a limited procedure without publishing a prior call for competition, on the stated basis that Business Source Complete is supplied by only one company and that exclusive intellectual property rights apply. EBSCO International Inc was selected for the single requirement. The contract is active, was signed on 27 April 2026, and is valued at £114,295. One bid was received, submitted electronically by a non-EU supplier; no bids came from SMEs. The purchase was treated as goods and covered by the Government Procurement Agreement. The recorded procurement route therefore reflects a single-source award rather than a competitive tender with scored bids or multiple lots.

This award demonstrates established demand from Robert Gordon University for licensed academic database access supporting a broad business and social-science curriculum. Suppliers considering future requirements for this buyer would need rights to distribute authoritative full-text research content, a database covering business-related disciplines and connected subject areas, and the legal basis to provide that content exclusively or under the relevant licence. Credibility would depend on being the authorised publisher or distributor, maintaining reliable institutional access, and supporting teaching and learning use across the university. The procurement also shows that this requirement was fulfilled through a single-source route, so a competing supplier would need a materially relevant database licence and clear evidence of exclusive rights or equivalent ownership of the required content.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Database Licences

Notice Description

Business Source Complete is a full text database that supports teaching and learning in areas such as business, management, marketing, accounting, finance, and a wide range of connected areas such as HRM, leadership, politics, economics, social studies and more.

Procurement Information

This database is only supplied by one company

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000838826
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL561219
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48160000 - Library software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£114,295 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Robert Gordon 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
ABERDEEN
Postcode
AB10 7FY
Postcode Area
Aberdeen
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM5 North Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Delivery Location
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Electoral Ward
Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee
Westminster Constituency
Aberdeen South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

EBSCO INTERNATIONAL INC.

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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