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Published 24 Jul 2024, 09:46 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services

Official notice

Authority: APUC Ltd (Public body)

Framework agreement2 lotsServicesOpen procedureSME suitable
Sectors: Software Packages & ERP (48)IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: UK
Framework ceiling (notional)£27,000,000total for 2 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 3 Sept 2024awarded 3 Mar 2026
Lots 2see the lot list below

What is being bought2 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges

in Scotland including provision of all software and any associated licensing. Potential Services include, but are not limited to: System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting.

Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments. The framework agreement includes:

Lot1 - Library Services Platform(s) and Lot2 - Resource and Reading List Management Systems.

The agreement will be open to the members of Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC Limited) and other UK procurement consortia as listed further below.

  • Recurrence: Four years

CPV: Database software package · Educational software package · IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support · Software package and information systems · Software support services · Software-related services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Places
up to 12 suppliers · 6 bids on the busiest of 2 lots (0.5 per place) · 8 appointed

Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure

2 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lot
Lot #1Library Services Platform(s)AwardedRenewalPublished value£21,000,000

Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland and the UK.

Lot 1, Library Services Platform(s)including provision of all software and any associated licensing and subscription. Potential Services include, but are not limited to:

System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting.

Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments.

This framework agreement is available to participation from Full and Associate Members, and future members, within the UK higher education purchasing consortia as follows:

Advanced Procurement Universities and Colleges (APUC Ltd) and associated members listed in Appendix E1.

www.apuc-scot.ac.uk ↗

Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC);

www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members… ↗

London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC);

www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list ↗

North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC);

www.neupc.ac.uk/our-members ↗

North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC);

www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-members ↗

Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales (HEPCW)

www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ ↗

Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC)

www.thecpc.ac.uk/members ↗

Scottish Confederation of University Research Libraries (SCURL)

www.scurl.ac.uk/about-members ↗

Delivery: Scotland · United Kingdom including: Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Extensions: Two further extension periods of up to twelve months each.Variant bids: not allowed
48000000 Software package and information systems48190000 Educational software package48611000 Database software package72260000 Software-related services72261000 Software support services
Lot #2Resource and Reading List SystemsAwardedRenewalPublished value£6,000,000

Framework for Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services for Universities and Colleges in Scotland and the UK.

Lot 2, Resource and Reading List Systems including: provision of all software and any associated licensing and subscription. Potential Services include, but are not limited to:

System Implementation; Migration Support; Support and Maintenance; Hosting.

Required solutions should have the capability to operate effectively across multi-campus environments.

This framework agreement is available to participation from Full and Associate Members, and future members, within the UK higher education purchasing consortia as follows:

Advanced Procurement Universities and Colleges (APUC Ltd) and associated members listed in Appendix E1.

www.apuc-scot.ac.uk ↗

Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC);

www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members… ↗

London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC);

www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list ↗

North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC);

www.neupc.ac.uk/our-members ↗

North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC);

www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-members ↗

Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales (HEPCW)

www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/ ↗

Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC)

www.thecpc.ac.uk/members ↗

Scottish Confederation of University Research Libraries (SCURL)

www.scurl.ac.uk/about-members ↗

Delivery: Scotland · United Kingdom: Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Extensions: Two periods of up to twelve months each.Variant bids: not allowed
48000000 Software package and information systems48190000 Educational software package48611000 Database software package72260000 Software-related services72261000 Software support services

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored · same split on all 2 lots
Quality: 70%Price: 30%
Published sub-criteria (2)
  • Service Delivery: 70%
  • price: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Service Delivery: 70
  • Price: 30
Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing

    The Single Procurement Document (SPD) Section 4B refers.

    Minimum: Section 4B.5 specifies the minimum levels of insurance which are as follows: Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance, GBP 5Million Public and Product Liability Insurance, GBP 5Million Professional Indemnity GBP 2Million Section 4B.6 of the SPD requests further information fro…
  • Technical & professional ability

    Section 4C.1.2 of the SPD requests at least one relevant example of previous experience from suppliers tendering for this framework contract and/or services carried out within the last three years.

    Section 4C.4, Supply Chain Management and Prompt Payment question, must also be completed.

    Minimum: For a Pass at 4C.1.2 of the SPD, Tenderers must have a solution in place within an equivalent environment to the tender Specification for each specific Lot that the Tenderer has submitted a response to. For each Lot responded to, the minimum required equivalent environment to th…
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
  • “Library Services Platform(s) and Associated Services” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 12 suppliers, not a single contract.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Yes · Four years
First published
24 Jul 2024, 09:46 BST
Last source update
16 Mar 2026, 14:30 GMT
Award evaluation window
3 Sept 2024 – …
Authority reference
ITS1062 AP
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-023559
Classification (CPV)
Database software packageEducational software packageIT services: consulting, software development, Internet and supportSoftware package and information systemsSoftware support servicesSoftware-related services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0483fc Find a Tender
Contract terms
Performance terms

SUBMISSION OF MANAGEMENT

INFORMATION

Prior to the commencement of the Framework Agreement, the Contractor will provide the Authority with contact details of the Management Information contact who will be provided with a template spreadsheet/reporting schedule along with a username and password for the management information website www.ucsp.ac.uk ↗

The Contractors must provide the information on a quarterly basis, within 10 working days.

Publisher note: (SC Ref:817265)

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Public Contracts Scotland · Who buys & how to bid on PCS
Supplier login requiredLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free single registration for Scotland; PCS-Tender (Jaggaer) for full bidding
Appointment period ends
3 Sept 2024, 17:00 BST
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bids opened
3 Sept 2024, 17:00 BST
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk ↗

Timeline

3 Sept 2024 → 16 Mar 2026 · 3 dates
  1. Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown
    3 Sept 2024, 17:00 BST
  2. Bids opened
    3 Sept 2024, 17:00 BST
  3. Notice published219 days ago
    16 Mar 2026, 14:30 GMT

Notice history

1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender
  1. Status changed to complete
    16 Mar 2026, 14:30 GMT

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Suppliers appointed 8admitted to the panel · see the list ↓
Bids received 61 from SMEs · busiest of 2 lots
Contracts signed 2latest 3 Mar 2026

2 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.

Contracts

  • Resource and Reading List Systems

    Signed
    3 Mar 2026
    Value
    £6,000,000
    Status
    active

  • Library Services Platform(s)

    Signed
    25 Feb 2025
    Value
    £21,000,000
    Status
    active

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Library Services Platform(s)6bids · 6 electronic · 6 from abroad1——
2 · Resource and Reading List Systems4bids · 4 electronic · 4 from abroad0——

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

APUC Limited

Contracting authorityPublic bodyBody governed by public lawEducation Unit 27, Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen, Stirling, Scotland, FK8 2DZContact email, phone Published organisation website ↗

Other public bodies

  • European UnionFunder

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Stirling Sherriff CourtReview body Srirling

Framework contractors & participating bidders

8 commercial parties on the notice

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.