---
title: "26-28 Library Books - Third-Party Platform Perpetual Access"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-6849d330-40c5-4980-b408-97f1d2c84dea"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6849d330-40c5-4980-b408-97f1d2c84dea"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6849d330-40c5-4980-b408-97f1d2c84dea.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6849d330-40c5-4980-b408-97f1d2c84dea.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON ENTERPRISE LIMITED"
published: "2026-10-23"
---

# 26-28 Library Books - Third-Party Platform Perpetual Access

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON ENTERPRISE LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-6849d330-40c5-4980-b408-97f1d2c84dea

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## Summary

The University of Wolverhampton Enterprise Limited procured digital academic books and publications for its teaching, learning and research collections. The requirement is for title-by-title perpetual access rights under licence agreements with approved publishers and content providers. Content is hosted on third-party platforms rather than the aggregator’s own platform, giving students and academic staff continuing access to selected materials without recurring subscription payments. This supports curriculum delivery, independent study, research and long-term collection development. The procurement is for library books, with associated library services, and delivery is in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. The books and digital content are intended to provide reputable published sources and maintain access to core teaching and research materials.

The procurement has been awarded to EBSCO International Inc. through a direct call-off from the SUPC framework for Books, e-Books and Associated Services, using a selective procedure. The award was made on 12 August 2026, retrospectively from the contract start date of 1 August 2026. The awarded value is £120,000. The contract runs for two years, with an optional extension of up to 24 months, and is scheduled to end on 31 July 2030. The tender deadline was 31 July 2026. The procurement covers title-by-title perpetual access rights to digital publications; no separate lots are identified. Small and medium-sized businesses were considered suitable to participate. The award criteria and their weighting are not set out in the published details.

For suppliers competing when this requirement returns to market, the work demonstrates demand from the University of Wolverhampton for ongoing access to digital academic books, rather than short-term subscriptions. A credible competitor would need established relationships with approved publishers and content providers, and the ability to secure title-by-title perpetual access licences for publications hosted on third-party platforms. The service must support academic teaching, independent study and research, with access to reputable published content for enrolled students and academic staff. Suppliers should be able to operate within the relevant higher-education books and e-books framework route and manage a collection that supports long-term access to core resources. The award went to a large supplier, but SMEs were identified as suitable for this type of procurement.

## Notice

Library Books contracts form a core component of the University's provision of teaching, learning and research resources. They enable the University to supply enrolled students and academic staff with access to published content that supports curriculum delivery, independent study and academic research, ensuring sources are obtained from reputable authors and publishers. Third-Party Platform Perpetual Access, covers the acquisition of title-by-title perpetual access rights to digital publications under licence agreements with approved publishers and content providers. However, instead of being hosted on the contracted aggregator's platform, the licence purchased through the aggregator permits access to titles hosted elsewhere. These purchases provide the University with ongoing access to academic and research materials without the need for recurring subscription payments, supporting long-term collection development and ensuring continued availability of core teaching and research resources. Direct Award through the SUPC framework for Books, e-Book and Associated Services (LIB4061 SU). Term: 2 Years, plus optional 24 month extension (2+1+1). Contract Award is retrospective to the Contract start date

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9a676ed0-6fb5-4fac-8337-4ce3c2206b4e |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £120,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £120,000 |
| 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 | UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON ENTERPRISE LIMITED |
| Locality | WOLVERHAMPTON |
| Postcode area | Wolverhampton |
| Postcode | WV1 1LY |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG39 Wolverhampton |
| Local authority | Wolverhampton |
| Electoral ward | St Peters |
| Westminster constituency | Wolverhampton West |
| Delivery location | TLG West Midlands (England) |

## Supplier

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

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 22 - Printed matter and related products
- 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

### Codes

- 22113000 - Library books
- 92511000 - Library services

## Release History

- 23 Oct 2026 at 15:43 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9a676ed0-6fb5-4fac-8337-4ce3c2206b4e

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9a676ed0-6fb5-4fac-8337-4ce3c2206b4e
  23rd October 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## 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-b5fd17-6849d330-40c5-4980-b408-97f1d2c84dea. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6849d330-40c5-4980-b408-97f1d2c84dea.json.
