---
title: "Award for E-textbooks using Lot 7: E-book aggregator: e-textbooks of Framework Agreement: Books, e-books and associated services Agreement Number: LIB4061 SU"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-d615bf12-bc3a-48b9-9372-caccbc9a052d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-d615bf12-bc3a-48b9-9372-caccbc9a052d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d615bf12-bc3a-48b9-9372-caccbc9a052d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d615bf12-bc3a-48b9-9372-caccbc9a052d.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER"
published: "2026-08-17"
---

# Award for E-textbooks using Lot 7: E-book aggregator: e-textbooks of Framework Agreement: Books, e-books and associated services Agreement Number: LIB4061 SU

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-d615bf12-bc3a-48b9-9372-caccbc9a052d

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## Summary

The University of Chester procured e-textbooks and associated electronic information services through an e-book aggregator. The requirement covers textbook content in digital form for the University’s current teaching and learning needs, assessed against a sample basket of e-textbooks. Delivery is for the University in Chester and the wider North West region. The procurement is classified as textbook services, with electronic information services as an additional category. The University is the buyer and accessed the arrangement as a member of NWUPC. The work sits within the Books, e-books and associated services framework, specifically its e-book aggregator lot, and is a service requirement rather than a supply of printed books or construction work.

This procurement is complete and has been awarded following a selective call-off from a framework agreement. The University made a direct award under the framework terms after evaluating supplier quotations for a sample basket of e-textbooks. Quotations were compared by the LIS-Libraries team using the framework Desktop Calculator. The quotation deadline was 28 July 2026 at 10:00. Kortext Limited was awarded the contract on 29 July 2026 for approximately £420,000 including the stated requirements and optional extension period. The contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029. The published procurement value and award value are approximate because actual requirements may vary.

This requirement is relevant to digital textbook platforms, e-book aggregators, academic content distributors and suppliers able to provide electronic textbook access at university scale. A credible competitor would need a broad and current e-textbook catalogue, reliable digital delivery and the ability to support library procurement and student access. Experience supplying higher-education libraries would help, particularly where requirements are built around changing reading lists and sample baskets of titles. Suppliers should also be comfortable responding through a framework call-off, presenting comparable quotations and using structured pricing tools to support evaluation. The procurement records demand for a scalable e-textbook service that can serve a university’s ongoing teaching and learning needs.

## Notice

This Award Notice follows University of Chester's evaluation of the quotations submitted by suppliers for a sample basket of e-textbooks, reflecting the University's current e-textbook requirements. The evaluation was undertaken by the LIS-Libraries team, using the framework Desktop Calculator to assess and compare the quotations received from all suppliers on Lot 7. The University can access this agreement as a member of NWUPC. In line with the guidance provided by SUPC this direct award is made under the framework Terms and Conditions. All values in this award notice are approximate as actual requirements may vary and the contract end date includes the optional extension period.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c6b51499-8ac9-4578-894f-1c5702e76f2c |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 28 Jul 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £420,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £420,000 |
| 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 CHESTER |
| Locality | CHESTER |
| Postcode area | Chester |
| Postcode | CH1 4BJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire |
| ITL 3 | TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester |
| Local authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Electoral ward | Chester City & the Garden Quarter |
| Westminster constituency | Chester North and Neston |
| Delivery location | TLD North West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Kortext Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 22 - Printed matter and related products
- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services

### Codes

- 22112000 - Textbooks
- 64216200 - Electronic information services

## Release History

- 17 Aug 2026 at 16:59 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c6b51499-8ac9-4578-894f-1c5702e76f2c

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c6b51499-8ac9-4578-894f-1c5702e76f2c
  17th August 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- http://www.chester.ac.uk

## 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-d615bf12-bc3a-48b9-9372-caccbc9a052d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d615bf12-bc3a-48b9-9372-caccbc9a052d.json.