Official UK procurement notice
NICE Knowledge Resources Framework
Authority: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Central government)·Consortium: 3 public authorities
What is being bought8 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe purpose of this procurement is to put in place a Framework Agreement to support the purchase of healthcare related print and digital knowledge resources by NHS, health and social care organisations in the UK. Clinicians and staff within these organisations need these knowledge resources to support their practice, research and education. Such knowledge resources will include (but may not be limited to) print and electronic journals and books, databases of bibliographic and full text published content, evidence summaries, continuing medical education resources, digital anatomy resources.<br/><br/>This procurement will replace the current NICE Electronic and Print Content Framework Agreement when it expires on 31 May 2025. More details about the current Framework specification and agreement can be found at: www.nice.org.uk/about/nice-communiti… ↗.
CPV: Library services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Bids received
- 11 bids on the busiest of 8 lots · 18 suppliers appointed
Lots and requirements (8)Procurement structure
8 lots · no lot values published · win at most 5 of themLot #1Sole supplier - direct awardAwarded
This Lot will be used to purchase Knowledge Resources that can only be provided by one (i.e. a "sole") Provider; purchasing from this Lot will be by direct award only; any Knowledge Resource from the categories set out in the procurement documents may be supplied in Lot 1 provided that the Bidder is the sole supplier of the title(s). However, only journal and eBook collections and not individual titles may be supplied under Lot 1.
Lot #2Print BooksAwarded
Medical and healthcare related print books<br/><br/>Note these are for pre-printed and published books This is not for a printing service.
Lot #3eBooksAwarded
Medical and healthcare related eBooks.
Lot #4Print & eJournalsAwarded
Medical and Healthcare related Print and eJournals.
Lot #5DatabasesAwarded
Databases: searchable online collections of structured information to support healthcare practice, learning, teaching and research to include: abstracting & indexing/bibliographic databases; full-text databases; citation databases.
Lot #6Evidence SummariesAwarded
Evidence Summaries: referential, digital, clinical decision support resources that provide knowledge summaries as Topics. Designed to provide health professionals with comprehensive evidence, clinical decision support and “actionable knowledge” to: support decision-making at the point of care e.g. at the bedside, in the ward, in the clinic, and in community settings, including the patient’s or carer’s home; and to support education and learning before, during and after the patient consultation. Such resources may include a full text component(s) e.g. ejournals, journal articles, eBooks, alongside the Topics.
Lot #7Continuing Medical Education (CME) ResourcesAwarded
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Resources: evidence-based online learning platforms specifically designed to help healthcare professionals enhance their knowledge and support their ongoing professional development. They offer interactive, peer-reviewed medical and healthcare related course modules or reflective practice opportunities that enable healthcare staff to earn CME points and/or track CME/Continuous Professional Development (CPD) activity.
Lot #8Digital Anatomy Reference (DAR) ResourcesAwarded
Digital Anatomy Reference (DAR) Resources: encompass online platforms, which can be interactive, designed to aid healthcare staff in their clinical practice, research, continuous learning, and professional development. Additionally, they can be used for patient education purposes. The resources provided include both content and multimedia materials e.g. 2D, 3D and interactive images and models, CT and MRI scans, animations, videos, augmented and virtual reality options. Primary focus is anatomy and physiology.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
- “NICE Knowledge Resources Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
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
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 19 Apr 2024, 12:54 BST
- Last source update
- 13 Jun 2025, 10:56 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 13 Jan 2025 – …
- Authority reference
NICENHSFA/2528- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-032183- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04539fFind a Tender
Publisher note: Suppliers of healthcare related knowledge resources, including publishers, subscription agents, aggregators and booksellers, are encouraged to attend a Supplier Event 19th June 2024, 10:30am - 1pm in London. Feedback on the current Framework specification and purchasing processes will be discussed with potential Bidders at this session in order to inform the procurement, alongside details of the procurement process for this tender. If you would like to attend this session please register you interest with [email protected] by 10:00 (UK) 5.06.2024.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 3 Dec 2024, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission","written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 90 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 13 Jan 2025, 14:00 GMT
Timeline
15 Aug 2024 → 13 Jun 2025 · 4 dates- Next notice expected15 Aug 2024, 00:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown3 Dec 2024, 17:00 GMT
- Bids opened13 Jan 2025, 14:00 GMT
- Notice published13 Jun 2025, 10:56 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 Nov 2024- Status changed to active12 Nov 2024, 12:49 GMT
- Procurement method changed12 Nov 2024, 12:49 GMT
- Deadline published: 3 Dec 2024, 17:00 GMT12 Nov 2024, 12:49 GMT
- Buyer details updated12 Nov 2024, 12:49 GMT
- Status changed to complete13 Jun 2025, 10:56 BST
- Buyer details updated13 Jun 2025, 10:56 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast52 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
LOT 1 Sole supplier - direct award
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 1 Sole supplier - direct award
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 1 Sole supplier - direct award
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 2 Print Books
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 2 Print Books
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 2 Print Books
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 2 Print Books
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 2 Print Books
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 2 Print Books
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 1 Sole supplier - direct award
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
LOT 3 eBooks
- Signed
- 15 Apr 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Sole supplier - direct award | 11bids | — | — | £0 – £1 |
| 2 · Print Books | 6bids | — | — | £0 – £1 |
| 3 · eBooks | 11bids | — | — | £0 – £1 |
| 4 · Print & eJournals | 11bids | — | — | £0 – £1 |
| 5 · Databases | 4bids | — | — | £0 – £1 |
| 6 · Evidence Summaries | 4bids | — | — | £0 – £1 |
| 7 · Continuing Medical Education (CME) Resources | 3bids | — | — | £0 – £1 |
| 8 · Digital Anatomy Reference (DAR) Resources | 2bids | — | — | £0 – £1 |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeDispute resolution & review bodies
- Department for Health & Social ServicesReview body
- Department of Health & Social CareReview body
Framework contractors & participating bidders
22 commercial parties on the notice- BMJ Publishing Group LimitedFramework contractor
- BROWNS BOOKSFramework contractor
- Blackwell's (Waterstones Booksellers Ltd t/a)Framework contractor
- Boon Brown LimitedFramework contractor
- Ebsco International Inc.Framework contractor
- Elsevier B.V.Framework contractor
- John Wiley and Sons, Inc.Framework contractor
- John Wiley and Sons, Inc.Framework contractor
- KortextFramework contractor
- MA Healthcare Ltd`Framework contractor
Show 12 more suppliers
- Oxford University PressFramework contractor
- Oxford University PressFramework contractor
- ProQuest LLCFramework contractor
- ProQuest LLCFramework contractor
- Publisher Promotion Services LimitedFramework contractor
- S. Karger AGFramework contractor
- Sage Publications LimitedFramework contractor
- Sage Publications LtdFramework contractor
- Springer Nature Customer Service Center GmbHFramework contractor
- TAYLOR and FRANCIS GROUP LIMITEDFramework contractor
- Tomlinsons Book ServiceFramework contractor
- WOLTERS KLUWER HEALTH (MEDICAL RESEARCH) LIMITEDFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.