---
title: "Upgrade to the University of Birmingham's Library Management system - Alma and Primo applications"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM"
published: "2018-03-28"
---

# Upgrade to the University of Birmingham's Library Management system - Alma and Primo applications

Buyer: THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b.json)

## Summary

The University of Birmingham is in the process of transitioning its library management system to Ex Libris' Alma and Primo applications, with a contract valued at £1.5 million. This upgrade is crucial as the University prepares to open an international branch campus in September 2018, necessitating a cloud-based system capable of meeting its operational demands. Currently, the procurement process is at the Award stage, with the contract period set to commence on 15 December 2017 and concluding on 14 December 2020. The procurement was conducted using a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency notice (VEAT) method and falls under the IT services industry category.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for software and IT service providers, particularly those specialising in library management systems or cloud-based applications. Businesses that have experience in delivering integrated library solutions or have a background in transitioning systems could be well-suited to participate in similar future contracts. Given the University’s substantial investment in Ex Libris products and the complexities involved in changing suppliers, organisations capable of enhancing or maintaining existing systems may find advantageous prospects in this sector.

## Notice

The University intends to award a contract for up to five years for the upgrade and maintenance of its current library management system (LMS) to Ex Libris, a specialist in software for the library sector. This system is owned, supplied and supported exclusively by Ex Libris. Since first procuring the Ex Libris LMS in 2013, the University has made a substantial investment in Ex Libris' systems in terms of working processes and staff training. The University has decided to upgrade from Ex Libris' Aleph, SFX, MetaLib, Verde and Primo products to their Alma and Primo products and extend the contract period. The University is due to open an international branch campus in September 2018, for which an LMS capable of being run via cloud-based SaaS will be required. Given the requirement for comprehensive testing in advance of a September opening date, the timescale does not support a full procurement process. In order to achieve the necessary timescales, the University has identified that it needs to work with its existing supplier. The University has additionally identified that the high costs associated with changing LMS supplier are incompatible with the budget and staff capacity available, and therefore when considering the relative benefit, the cost of changing supplier at this time would outweigh the advantage which might accrue. The University has identified that for reasons of timescale and to achieve its aims within available staff capacity and alongside its core business activities, the products supplied by Ex Libris are the only ones capable of meeting the University's requirements and this is the only viable option for the University at this time.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2093bb81-6bc5-4c51-928e-4af9c3f698b5 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Other - Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency notice (VEAT) |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Mar 2018 |
| Submission deadline | 22 Nov 2017 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 22 Nov 2017 |
| Contract period | 15 Dec 2017 - 14 Dec 2020 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,500,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,500,000 |
| 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 | THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Post town | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B15 2TT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Edgbaston |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Edgbaston |
| Delivery location | TLG West Midlands (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | EX LIBRIS (UK |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 28 Mar 2018 at 10:44 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2093bb81-6bc5-4c51-928e-4af9c3f698b5

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2093bb81-6bc5-4c51-928e-4af9c3f698b5
  28th March 2018 - 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-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b.json.