---
title: "Libraries Scotland eNewspaper and eMagazine"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078663"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078663"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078663.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078663.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Scottish Library and Information Council"
published: "2026-10-13"
---

# Libraries Scotland eNewspaper and eMagazine

Buyer: Scottish Library and Information Council  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078663

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078663)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078663.json)

## Summary

The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is procuring one national service providing electronic newspapers and magazines to members of Scotland’s 32 public library services. The service is intended to give library users across Scotland equitable access to digital reading and information through the Libraries Scotland initiative and its national eResources collection. The requirement is for library services, rather than print supply: the procurement concerns digital newspaper and magazine content and the means to make it available to library members. Scotland Excel is conducting the tender on SLIC’s behalf, but SLIC will hold and manage the resulting contract. Delivery is across Scotland, with participation by all 32 local authority library services available during the contract.

SLIC invited offers through an open procedure. The process reached the tender stage, with electronic submissions requested. The submission deadline was 13 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC; the award period was due to begin at that time. The contract was planned to run from 1 February 2027 to 31 March 2029, with an option for two further 12-month extensions, up to 31 March 2031. The estimated value is £1.6 million. There is one lot. Bids are assessed on technical quality (70%) and price (30%). Suppliers must submit in English; variants are not permitted and electronic catalogues are required. The contract is subject to community-benefit expectations supporting reading, literacy, digital inclusion and public library development, where reasonably practicable across participating affiliates.

This suits providers able to supply a broad, usable digital newspaper and magazine service for public libraries, with the reach and operational capacity to support a national Scottish user base and participating library services. Suppliers need to demonstrate accessibility: their service must meet WCAG 2.1 AA or an equivalent standard, and their website must carry an Accessibility Statement. Cyber Essentials accreditation, or an equivalent, is also required. The technical element carries most of the evaluation weight, so providers should be ready to show how their content and service meet the library requirement, alongside a competitive price. The buyer also seeks community benefits linked to reading, literacy, digital inclusion and the development of public library services; proposals should, where practicable, benefit more than one participating affiliate. The contract calls for digital rather than physical newspaper and magazine provision.

## Notice

The aim of this tender is to provide a single national eMagazines and eNewpapers service to all thirty-two public library services for access by their members. Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is seeking a vendor that can supply eMagazines and eNewspapers to all thirty-two public library services.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

SLIC has been tasked by the Scottish Government to develop a single digital interface for Scottish Public Libraries along with a national eResources collection to ensure equitable access to information and reading material across the whole of Scotland. The Scottish Government has provided SLIC with an ongoing annual grant to deliver the website, to be known as 'Libraries Scotland', and to develop the national eResources collection. This will bring Scottish Public Libraries in line with counterparts in Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales. SLIC has developed the project with guidance from the Association of Public Libraries in Scotland (APLS) and a steering group made up of representatives from across local authorities and the wider library sector in Scotland. The project is also a strategic aim in Forward: Scotland's Public Library Strategy 2021-2025 and carried over to Fast Forward: Public Library Strategy Refresh 2026. Additional information: Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of SLIC in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.

Renewal: The Contract will be from 1 Feb 2027 until 31 March 2029, and SLIC will have an option to extend it for up to a further two 12-month periods until 31 March 2031.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096471-2026 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 13 Nov 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,600,000 |
| Lots value | £1,600,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Scottish Library and Information Council |
| Locality | GLASGOW |
| Postcode area | Glasgow |
| Postcode | G2 2LB |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM3 West Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM32 Glasgow City |
| Local authority | Glasgow City |
| Electoral ward | Anderston/City/Yorkhill |
| Westminster constituency | Glasgow North |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

### Codes

- 48160000 - Library software package
- 92511000 - Library services

## Release History

- 13 Oct 2026 at 11:42 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096471-2026

## Notice URLs

- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- http://www.scottishlibraries.org
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845512
- https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=845512
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=845512
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA14522
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx

## 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-078663. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078663.json.