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Published 10 Feb 2025, 08:40 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Provision of Print Books to the named Academic Partners of the University of the Highlands and Islands

Official notice

Authority: University of the Highlands and Islands (Education)·Consortium: 6 public authorities

Framework agreement2 lotsGoodsOpen procedureSME suitableMax 2 lots to bid
Sectors: Printed matter and related products (22) Delivery: Scotland (UKM)
Framework ceiling (notional)£4,500,000total for 2 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue · 1 value update
Submissions closed 14 Aug 2025awarded 16 Jul 2026
Lots 2max 2 to bid
Framework period 2 yrsends 19 Oct 2027 · extension options published · starts 20 Oct 2025

What is being bought2 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Provision of Print Books (English language and UK non-English language publications).

  • Recurrence: February 2029

CPV: Atlases · Dictionaries · Dictionaries, maps, music books and other books · Library books · Maps · Printed books · Textbooks

How this framework works

From the published notice
Places
up to 9 suppliers · 1 bids received (0.1 per place) · 1 appointed
Framework period
2 yrs from 20 Oct 2025

Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure

2 lots · all with a published value · a supplier may bid for at most 2 of them · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1English language and UK non-English language publicationsCancelledRenewal 2 yrsPublished value£4,300,000

The following Academic Partners of the University of the Highlands and Islands have entered into a joint contract for the Provision of Print Books:

  • UHI Executive Office
  • UHI Inverness
  • UHI Moray
  • UHI North, West and Hebrides
  • UHI Shetland

The scope of Print Books shall be limited to that of English language and UK non-English language publications.

Contract period: 20 Oct 2025 – 19 Oct 2027 (2 yrs)
Delivery: Scotland · Scotland
Extensions: The scope of the framework agreement will also cover alternative formats, including but not limited to CD, DVD/Blu Ray, Maps, Posters, Music Scores and Kits. · The Framework Agreement will commence on the 20.10.2025 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 19.10.2027. The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a further 2 x 12 month periods subject to satisfactory performance and continued requirements of the members of APUC and SCURL.Variant bids: not allowed
22110000 Printed books22113000 Library books
Lot #2International language publicationsRenewal 2 yrsPublished value£200,000

For the appointment of up to 6 contractors for the supply and delivery of International language academic content in print format.

This exercise is being undertaken on behalf of the HE/FE Institutions in Scotland and the members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL), including the National Library of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.

Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E — List of Institutions.

Members of APUC - www.apuc-scot.ac.uk ↗.

Members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) www.scurl.ac.uk/members ↗.

Members of Scotland Excel - www.scotland-excel.org.uk ↗.

Contract period: 20 Oct 2025 – 19 Oct 2027 (2 yrs)
Delivery: Scotland
Extensions: The scope of the framework agreement will also cover alternative formats, including but not limited to CD, DVD/Blu Ray, Maps, Posters, Music Scores and Kits. · The Framework Agreement will commence on the 20.10.2025 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 19.10.2027. The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a further 2 x 12 month periods subject to satisfactory performance and continued requirements of the members of APUC and SCURL.Variant bids: not allowed
22110000 Printed books22112000 Textbooks22113000 Library books22114000 Dictionaries, maps, music books and other books22114100 Dictionaries22114200 Atlases

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

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

LotQualityPriceSplit
1 · English language and UK non-English language publications50%50%
2 · International language publications50%50%
Conditions of participation1
  • Economic & financial standing

    List and brief description of selection criteria:

    Please refer to the “Qualification Envelope” of the ITT within PCS-T to answer the selection criteria.

    Tenderers must confirm they can provide the following supporting evidence prior to award:

    Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance* = GBP 5 Million (Lot 1)

    Product and Public Liability Insurance = GBP 5 Million (Lot 1)

    Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance* = GBP 5 Million (Lot 2)

    Product and Public Liability Insurance = GBP 2 Million (Lot 2)

    Please refer to Part IV Selection Criteria: Questions within 4B.5 of the SPD

    The successful tenderer will be required to provide 2 years audited accounts, or equivalent if awarded to the Framework Agreement.

    Please refer to Part IV Selection Criteria: Questions within 4B.6 of the SPD.

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 50 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 5 points.
  • “Provision of Print Books to the named Academic Partners of the…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 9 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
Goods
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 · February 2029
First published
10 Feb 2025, 08:40 GMT
Last source update
5 Aug 2026, 13:38 BST
Award evaluation window
14 Aug 2025 – …
Authority reference
CS-UHI-42478
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-074214
Classification (CPV)
AtlasesDictionariesDictionaries, maps, music books and other booksLibrary booksMapsPrinted booksTextbooks
Delivery area
Scotland (UKM)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04dd10 Find a Tender
Contract terms
Electronic trading
e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
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 ↗.

Contractors must provide the information on a quarterly basis, within 10 working days following the start of each quarter by logging into the website and uploading the template document. If there has been no spend for the quarter then this will still require you to log in and record a nil spend return.

Following the beginning of each new academic year the Authority will provide the Contractor with a new template along with the reporting schedule.

Publisher note: This call-off contract has been awarded, in adherence to the Direct Award call-off procedure, as outlined in Lot 1 of the APUC Framework Agreement 'Print Books & Standing Orders' (LIB1023 AP). The published value refers to estimated spend over the maximum contract term (inclusive of extension periods). (SC Ref:839305)

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
14 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Bids opened
14 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk ↗

Timeline

26 May 2025 → 5 Aug 2026 · 5 dates
  1. Next notice expected
    26 May 2025, 00:00 BST
  2. Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown
    14 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
  3. Bids opened
    14 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
  4. Contract starts366 days ago
    20 Oct 2025, 00:00 BST
  5. Notice published76 days ago
    5 Aug 2026, 13:38 BST

Notice history

6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 11 Jul 2025
  1. Published value published: £4,500,000
    11 Jul 2025, 09:42 BST
  2. Status changed to active
    11 Jul 2025, 09:42 BST
  3. Procurement method changed
    11 Jul 2025, 09:42 BST
  4. Deadline published: 14 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
    11 Jul 2025, 09:42 BST
  5. Status changed to complete
    5 Aug 2026, 13:38 BST
  6. Buyer details updated
    5 Aug 2026, 13:38 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Suppliers appointed 1admitted to the panel · see the list ↓
Bids received 11 from SMEs
Contracts signed 1latest 16 Jul 2026

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

Contracts

  • Contract 074214-2026-CS-UHI-42478-1

    Signed
    16 Jul 2026
    Value
    £160,000
    Period
    … – 19 Oct 2027
    Status
    active

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · English language and UK non-English language publications1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad1——

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

6 public bodies on the notice

University of the Highlands and Islands

Contracting authorityEducationBody governed by public lawEducation UHI House, Old Perth Road, Inverness, UK, IV2 3JHContact email, phone

Consortium members and other public bodies

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Inverness Sheriff and Justice of the Peace CourtReview body Inverness
  • Stirling Sheriff CourtReview body StirlingContact email

Framework contractors & participating bidders

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Browns BooksFramework contractor 5 Redcliff Road, Melton, UK, HU14 3RS

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.