---
title: "Journal Subscriptions Service"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-16833df1-7699-423c-bbae-84f981159f79"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-16833df1-7699-423c-bbae-84f981159f79"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-16833df1-7699-423c-bbae-84f981159f79.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-16833df1-7699-423c-bbae-84f981159f79.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE"
published: "2021-01-06"
---

# Journal Subscriptions Service

Buyer: FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-16833df1-7699-423c-bbae-84f981159f79

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-16833df1-7699-423c-bbae-84f981159f79)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-16833df1-7699-423c-bbae-84f981159f79.json)

## Summary

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is seeking a journals subscription agent to provide services for both online and print journal subscriptions, as part of a tender process now in the award stage. This requirement arises as a replacement for an existing contract set to expire on 30 November 2020. The tender was published on 18 August 2020 and the initial tender period ended on 17 September 2020. The total contract value is £680,000 and covers the delivery of services primarily in London, England. The procurement method is open and follows an open procedure due to its value exceeding the established threshold.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in journal subscription services, particularly those that can offer efficient management of online platforms for subscription account management. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to apply, as the FCDO places a premium on added value, such as access to a dedicated account management team to ensure responsive service delivery. Suppliers should also be adaptable, as the FCDO has highlighted the need for flexibility in meeting varying subscription requirements and managing corporate access across multiple locations, both in the UK and overseas.

## Notice

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office requires a journals subscription agent to service multiple subscriptions to online and print journals. This is required to replace an existing contract set to expire on 30 November 2020. Journal licenses are required both for corporate access by staff across the whole office department, but also for use by departments, teams or individuals. Access licenses should be primarily online, but using print where appropriate. Billing mechanisms will be both to a central point and also by separate departmental customers where appropriate. The service is expected to deliver efficiencies by dealing with a single point of delivery as opposed to multiple publishers. FCDO requires access to an online platform for subscription account management and management information as an integral part of the service. The Supplier is required to accurately process subscription orders quickly and where necessary in response to deadlines agreed with FCDO. The Supplier will also need to have a flexible approach, managing a variety of license terms and subscription periods and dates, especially whilst FCDO continues its transition to a unified department over the term of the contract. Access should be to the full text of journals. FCDO is currently considering its position on open access and therefore subscription requirements may change over time. FCDO places a premium on added value to the service through access to a dedicated account management team, who will be capable of advising FCDO on the best license models for a given title, securing value for money and offering current awareness of new publications, including setting up trial subscriptions. The Supplier is expected to work collaboratively with FCDO in building an effective relationship built on a strong understanding of the FCDO's business. The account management team will be responsive to our service requests, capable of quickly resolving problems and act proactively as our agent to deliver the most appropriate and cost-effective subscription models in accordance with our stated needs. FCDO currently uses IP Authentication for corporate access to journals, although this may be subject to change over the life of the contract. FCDO will look to engage with the Supplier to identify other methods of online access to corporate subscriptions, and the Supplier will be expected to engage in a flexible and collaborative way to ensure successful outcomes. FCDO staff work in mobile and flexible ways, frequently on the move and in remote locations using mobile technology. The FCDO works as "One HMG Abroad" and works in close cooperation with other UK government departments including through joint operational units. The service will need to be supplied to staff with an FCDO email address both in the UK and overseas.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/62afdf06-59f8-4ff7-96cc-66b3c0381892 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Jan 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 16 Sep 2020 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 10 Nov 2020 |
| Contract period | 30 Nov 2020 - 29 Nov 2022 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £680,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £680,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE |
| Additional buyers | FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1A 2AH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLI London |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | EBSCO INTERNATIONAL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services

### Codes

- 64111000 - Postal services related to newspapers and periodicals

## Release History

- 6 Jan 2021 at 13:10 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/62afdf06-59f8-4ff7-96cc-66b3c0381892
- 18 Aug 2020 at 11:14 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a3f69085-16b5-4a7b-a2ed-6a96714adfa1

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/62afdf06-59f8-4ff7-96cc-66b3c0381892
  6th January 2021 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a3f69085-16b5-4a7b-a2ed-6a96714adfa1
  18th August 2020 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- http://www.gov.uk/fco

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-16833df1-7699-423c-bbae-84f981159f79. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-16833df1-7699-423c-bbae-84f981159f79.json.