Award

ICT-20-022 E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI

  • the Education Authority

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-009862

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04ee61

Published 18 March 2025, 11:27am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

the Education Authority

40 Academy Street

Belfast

BT1 2NQ

Email

educationresource.procure@eani.org.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

Buyer's address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

ICT-20-022 E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 92511000 - Library services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Supply and delivery of E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £10,000,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 92511000 - Library services
  • 22113000 - Library books
  • 72500000 - Computer-related services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland
  • UKN0 - Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

ICT-20-022 — E-Books and Downloadable Audio Books for Libraries NI for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2022 with the option to extend for up to a further 36 months.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Range of stock / Weighting: 50

Quality criterion - Name: Statistics / Weighting: 2

Quality criterion - Name: Marketing / Weighting: 2

Quality criterion - Name: Usbaility of product / Weighting: 4

Quality criterion - Name: Training / Weighting: 1

Quality criterion - Name: Supplier selection / Weighting: 1

Quality criterion - Name: Social clause / Weighting: 2

Price - Weighting: 38

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

With the option to extend for up to a further 36 months.

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

The purpose of this VEAT notice is to inform the market of the Contracting Authorities intention to extend the contract period for an additional four months. The modification is covered under Reg 72 (1) (e) and (f) therefore the EA is not obliged to publish a modification notice.

The modification meets the following conditions in relation to paragraph 5:

(5) (a) the relevant threshold mentioned in regulation 5; and

(b) 10 % of the initial contract value for service and supply contracts and 15% of the initial contract value for works contracts

The modification to the period is for 4 months which represents less than 10% of the overall period of 48 months and is therefore deemed to be non-substantial as it does not meet any of the conditions of paragraph 8 detailed below.

(8) A modification of a contract or a framework agreement during its term shall be considered substantial for the purposes of paragraph 1(e) where one or more of the following conditions is met:

(a) the modification renders the contract or the framework agreement materially different in character from the one initially concluded;

(b) the modification introduces conditions which, had they been part of the initial procurement procedure, would have—

(i) allowed for the admission of other candidates than those initially selected;

(ii) allowed for the acceptance of a tender other than that originally accepted; or

(iii) attracted additional participants in the procurement procedure;

(c) the modification changes the economic balance of the contract or the framework agreement in favour of the contractor in a manner which was not provided for in the initial contract or framework agreement;

(d) the modification extends the scope of the contract or framework agreement considerably;

(e) a new contractor replaces the one to which the contracting authority had initially awarded the contract in cases other than those provided for in paragraph (1)(d).

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2021/S 109-288073


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

28 May 2021

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Overdrive INC.

Cleveland

Email

mkertesz@overdrive.com

Country

United States

NUTS code
  • US - United States
Internet address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Bolinda UK Ltd

Newbury

Email

libraryuk@bolinda.com

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
Internet address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £10,000,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The UK does not currently have any such bodies with responsibilities for appeal/mediation proceduresTown:

Belfast

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

The UK does not currently have any such bodies with responsibilities for appeal/mediation procedures