Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice

Published 1 Jul 2025, 12:01 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Library Books and Digital Content

Authority: The Association of North East Councils Limited (Local council)

Framework agreement13 lotsGoodsOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable

Sectors: Printed matter and related products (22)Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages (30) Delivery listed: Guernsey (GG)Isle of Man (IM)Jersey (JE)

+1 more

Framework ceiling (notional)£68,000,000envelope for 13 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue · 1 value update

Submissions closed 6 May 2026awarded 1 Sept 2026

Awarded to Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd +4 more13 awards

Framework period 4 yrsends 30 Sept 2030 · starts 1 Oct 2026

What is being bought13 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The Association of North East Councils, trading as the North East Procurement Organisation ("NEPO"), is establishing a multi-supplier, multi-lot Framework Agreement for the provision of Library Books & Digital Content. The Framework will be accessible to Contracting Authorities throughout the United Kingdom.

The Framework is intended to support a wide range of requirements and encompasses, but is not limited to, the following categories of goods and services:

Adults Fiction & Non-Fiction Books including Reference Materials

Children's Fiction & Non-Fiction Books

School Library Services for Educational and Curriculum Books

Adults Multimedia Materials

Childrens Multimedia Materials

School Library Multimedia Materials

Wrap Service: Fiction, Non-Fiction Books & Multimedia Materials

eAudiobooks

eBooks

eComics

eNewspapers

eMagazines

Full Digital Service

The Framework incorporates Social Value commitments and provides robust governance, compliance and contract management arrangements. It offers a multi-supplier solution that enables Contracting Authorities to employ flexible call-off and award procedures, supported by suitably experienced suppliers.

Core and Core Plus Servicing costs, and headline discounts have been established for the following lots

Lot 1: Adults Fiction & Non-Fiction Books including Reference Materials

Lot 2: Children's Fiction & Non-Fiction Books

Lot 3: School Library Services for Educational and Curriculum Books

Lot 4: Adults Multimedia Materials

Lot 5: Childrens Multimedia Materials

Lot 6: School Library Multimedia Materials

Lot 7: Wrap Service: Fiction, Non-Fiction Books & Multimedia Materials

A future proofing mechanism has been built into the Core and Core-Plus servicing through annual reviews. With a fixed headline discount establish for the whole life of the contract.

The Framework has established individual commercial and licensing models which can provide Contracting Authorities with transparency over any additional services or charges at call-off, supporting informed supplier selection, comparability and value-for-money decision making throughout the life of the solution for the following lots:

Lot 8: eAudiobooks

Lot 9: eBooks

Lot 10: eComics

Lot 11: eNewspapers

Lot 12: eMagazines

Lot 13: Full Digital Service

The successful suppliers have been appointed following completion of a single-stage Open Procedure in accordance with PA23 Regulations.

CPV: Compact disk (CD) and digital versatile disk (DVD) reader and/or burner · Compact disk (CD) reader and/or burner · Dictionaries, maps, music books and other books · Digital versatile disc (DVD) reader and/or burner · Library books

How this framework works

From the published notice

Type: Open framework
Call-offs: call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
Bids received: 4 bids on the busiest of 13 lots · 5 suppliers appointed
Framework period: 4 yrs from 1 Oct 2026
Buyer regions: GG, IM, JE, UK
Supplier levy on call-offs (max %): 1% of call-off value · The successful Supplier(s) shall pay a rebate equivalent to 1% of the total invoiced value (excluding VAT) of all goods and services supplied through the Framework to Contracting Authorities.

Who may buy through it

NEPO is a Centralised Procurement Authority as defined in the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23). NEPO therefore may provide central purchasing activity on behalf of Contracting Authorities.

The agreement will be available for use by NEPO Member Authorities found here www.nepo.org/about ↗ and all current and future Associate Members. Current Associate Members are listed here: www.nepo.org/associate-membership ↗

NEPO intends to make the resulting agreement available for use by all Contracting Authorities throughout all administrative regions of the UK (as defined by the Procurement Act 2023) including but not limited to Government Departments & their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, Central Government, NHS Bodies, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Coastguard Emergency Services, Educational Establishments, Registered Social Landlords and Registered Charities.

A permissible users list available at: www.nepo.org/associate-membership… ↗

Published description of the framework

The successful Tenderers have entered into a Framework Agreement (NEPO418: Library Books & Digital Content) with NEPO. This Framework is made accessible to the Member Authorities and the Associate Members of NEPO via Call-Off Contracts. NEPO has establish overarching terms and conditions that define the core principles of the Framework.

Pricing has been determined through the tender process and evaluated against predefined award criteria and associated weightings. All tenders have been assessed accordingly.

Pricing submitted as part of this Framework will apply to requirements Nationally.

Pricing for the Core Services and Headline % Discount under lots 1 - 7 has been fixed from the point of the Framework commencement for a minimum period of 12 months. Any price changes agreed will then remain fixed for a minimum of 12 months thereafter for the duration of the Framework. Framework commencement is considered from the commencement date of 1st October 2026. Suppliers will be able to request a Price Review Proposal from the 1st October 2027 which will then remain fixed for 12 months.

Contracting Authorities may establish Call-Off Contracts through an award without or with further competition. Under s45(4) of the Procurement Act 2023, Contracting Authorities may award directly to a Supplier without further competition under this Solution. The objective mechanism for supplier selection without competition under this Solution has been established to allow Contracting Authorities to award to any awarded supplier on the Framework. This is subject to the Contracting Authority's internal procurement and legal guidelines permitting a Direct Award.

When an award without competition is made, the price will be based on the Solution contracted tendered rates. The Supplier rates can be improved (i.e. reduced) but must not exceed the capped tendered rates.

Further Competition

Contracting Authorities may opt to run a further competition at their discretion throughout the life of the Solution.

All Suppliers awarded to the Solution may be invited to participate in a further competition. The criteria for evaluations at the further competition stage will be detailed by the Contracting Authority and included within the documentation issued at that stage. Contracting Authorities will utilise their own further competition documents.

At further competition stage, Suppliers should be asked to provide a price based upon the actual requirements of the Contracting Authority. All rates provided within the Solution must not be exceeded but can be lowered to ensure a competitive bid.

Lots and requirements (13)Procurement structure

13 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lot

Every one of these 13 lots carries the same published figure, £68,000,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.

Lot #1Adults Fiction & Non-Fiction Books including Reference MaterialsAwarded 4 yrsSMEVCSEceiling above

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Oct 2026 – 30 Sept 2030 (4 yrs)