Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
APUC Limited
Unit 27, Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen
Stirling
FK8 2DZ
Contact
Lorona Watts
Telephone
+44 1314428950
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM77 - Perth & Kinross and Stirling
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10402
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
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
SHEDL eBook Collections - Oxford University Press (OUP)
Reference number
LIB1028 AP
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
APUC has entered into an agreement with Oxford University Press to offer Scottish Higher Education Digital Library (SHEDL) member institutions access to Oxford Scholarship Online eBook collection and partner presses, free of Digital Rights Management (DRM), for up to 4 years.
APUC will not use the content but will facilitate the purchase on behalf of the HE institutions in Scotland and the National Library of Scotland. The Contract value is estimated based on potential participation by its members
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: £900,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 22113000 - Library books
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
APUC has entered an agreement with Oxford University Press on behalf of the members of SHEDL for access to Oxford Scholarship Online eBooks collections free of digital rights management.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Service Delivery & Framework Management / Weighting: 30
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 70
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The contract value is an estimate based on the potential aggregated value over the possible term of 48 months. APUC will not
use or make payments under this contract but will facilitate the agreement on behalf of the Scottish HE Institutions and the National Library of Scotland.
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 services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- procurement aiming at the creation or acquisition of a unique work of art or artistic performance
Explanation:
The publishing service is unique to the supplier and sector. The agreement falls within the derogation contained within Regulation 33(b)(i)of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, permitting APUC to enter into the direct award.
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
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: 2025/S 000-004609
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
LIB1028 AP
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 March 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Oxford University Press
Great Clarendon Street
Oxford
OX2 6DP
Telephone
+44 0000
Fax
+44 00000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Internet address
https://global.oup.com/academic/
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £900,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:796376)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Stirling Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court House, Viewfield Place Stirling Country
Stirling
FK8 1NH
Telephone
+44 1786462191
Country
United Kingdom