---
title: "Journal Subscription Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-028830"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-028830"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-028830.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-028830.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE"
published: "2021-01-06"
---

# Journal Subscription Services

Buyer: FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-028830

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## Summary

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is conducting a tender for "Journal Subscription Services," classified under postal services related to newspapers and periodicals. This procurement initiative aims to appoint a journals subscription agent to manage both online and print journal subscriptions, replacing an existing contract that expired in November 2020. The contract is expected to run for two years, with the possibility of extending for an additional 24 months. This open procedure procurement is currently in the awarded stage, with an active contract valued at £680,000, signed on November 30, 2020, and the delivery of services required primarily within the UK.

This procurement opportunity offers significant potential for businesses specialising in subscription services, particularly those with experience in managing academic and professional journal access. Companies that can provide comprehensive online platforms for subscription management, along with dedicated account management services, would be particularly well-positioned to compete. Additionally, businesses that are adept at adapting to changing client needs and establishing flexible service agreements will find this contract appealing, as it requires collaboration with FCDO to evolve subscription models as needed.

## 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 in 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 envisages the contract will run for two years, with an option to extend the contract for two further periods of 12 months.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

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 | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000234-2021 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

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

## Values

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

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT 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 | Not specified |

## 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 23:08 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000234-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.gov.uk/fcdo
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:395355-2020:TEXT:EN:HTML

## 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-h6vhtk-028830. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-028830.json.