---
title: "Academic Search Complete"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07819f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07819f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07819f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07819f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "University Of Bedfordshire"
published: "2026-10-06"
---

# Academic Search Complete

Buyer: University Of Bedfordshire  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07819f

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07819f)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07819f.json)

## Summary

The University of Bedfordshire procured a subscription service titled Academic Search Complete for its academic needs. The contract is for access to the named service, rather than goods or physical works. The stated delivery location is the United Kingdom; the procurement does not identify a more specific service location. The buyer is the University of Bedfordshire, based in Luton. The requirement is grouped as one lot and classified as a service. This is a buyer-specific subscription requirement, so suppliers should assess whether they can provide the same or a closely matching academic search subscription to a university. The procurement description is brief and does not set out technical features, user numbers or the content included in the subscription.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to EBSCO International Inc. The University used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition. The award date was 6 October 2026. The awarded value is £40,139 excluding VAT (£48,166.80 including VAT). The contract period runs from 1 November 2026 to 30 October 2027. The process comprised one lot, marked as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The award records one supplier and a pending award status; no evaluation criteria or competitive assessment are stated. A scheduled contract-signature milestone was set for 6 October 2026.

For suppliers of academic search and subscription services, this award demonstrates that the University of Bedfordshire buys access to Academic Search Complete through a direct, non-competitive route. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to offer a relevant academic search subscription and be able to serve a university customer in the UK. The lot was marked suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, indicating that organisations of those types could be appropriate suppliers. The published scope does not define a specific technical specification, user capacity, accreditation or experience threshold, so the evidence points to capability in delivering the named subscription rather than a broader technology or consultancy service.

## Notice

Academic Search Complete-UoB

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094239-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Nov 2026 - 30 Oct 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £40,139 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | University Of Bedfordshire |
| Locality | LUTON |
| Postcode area | Luton |
| Postcode | LU1 3JU |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLH21 Luton |
| Local authority | Luton |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Luton South and South Bedfordshire |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

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

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79980000 - Subscription services

## Release History

- 6 Oct 2026 at 12:52 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094239-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094239-2026
  6th October 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.beds.ac.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-07819f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07819f.json.