---
title: "Libraries Scotland eNewspaper and eMagazine"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000845512"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845512"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845512.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845512.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
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-r6ebe6-0000845512

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845512.json)

## Summary

Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is buying a national service that gives members of Scotland’s 32 public library services access to electronic newspapers and magazines. The service is part of the Libraries Scotland digital interface and national eResources collection, intended to provide equitable access to information and reading material across Scotland. Scotland Excel is managing the tender for SLIC but will not hold or manage the resulting contract. Delivery is intended to serve participating local authority library services throughout Scotland. The requirement is for a supplier able to provide the digital content and service across a national public-library network, rather than a purchase of printed publications.

SLIC invited offers through an open procedure. The procurement has reached the tender stage. Bids were due by 12 noon on 13 November 2026; the enquiry deadline is also set for that time. The contract is scheduled to run from 1 February 2027 to 31 March 2029, with an option for up to two further 12-month extensions, ending no later than 31 March 2031. The stated contract value is £1.6 million. There is one lot. Evaluation allocates 70% to technical quality and 30% to price. Bidders must meet WCAG 2.1 AA or an equivalent accessibility standard, provide an accessibility statement on their website, and hold Cyber Essentials or equivalent accreditation. Electronic submissions are required, and variants are not permitted.

This opportunity suits digital content providers, newspaper and magazine aggregators, and library technology suppliers able to deliver a single e-resources service at national scale. Strong candidates will have a broad, relevant e-newspaper and e-magazine catalogue and the systems and operational capacity to provide access for members across multiple local authority library services. Accessibility is a gateway requirement: the service must meet WCAG 2.1 AA or an equivalent standard, and the supplier’s website must publish an accessibility statement. Cyber Essentials or equivalent accreditation is also required. The technical proposal carries substantially more evaluation weight than price, so suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate service quality, content coverage and capability against the specification. SLIC also seeks community benefits supporting reading, literacy, digital inclusion and public library development across participating areas.

## 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.. 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 | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566581 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F2 - Contract 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 01:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566581

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT566581
  Libraries Scotland eNewspaper and eMagazine - 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.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=845512
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx
- 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

## 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-r6ebe6-0000845512. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845512.json.