Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
HIGHFIELD CAMPUS,UNIVERSITY ROAD
SOUTHAMPTON
SO171BJ
Contact
Emma Raddon
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/
Buyer's address
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
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
The Provision of NIHR Journals Library : Production Services
Reference number
2021UoS-0341
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 22121000 - Technical publications
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The University of Southampton is currently exploring a range of options to meet its need for the Provision of Production Services of the NIHR Journals Library.
The University is keen to explore all service model options that may be available in the marketplace and interested parties are invited to attend a Soft Market Testing event.
Further details, including the University's high-level requirements, can be found at Section II.2.4.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £7,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79822000 - Composition services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Main site or place of performance
Southampton, Hampshire, UK
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Southampton is currently exploring a range of options to meet its need for provision of production services for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Journals Library (NJL).
The NJL currently comprises a suite of five, Open Access, monograph-format journals providing an important and permanent archive of research funded by the NIHR. The ability to ensure a robust editorial and production process in which the NIHR's research programmes and the Department of Health and Social Care have full confidence is an essential requirement of this contract.
A contractor is required by the NJL to provide production services on delivered manuscripts which will include copyediting, typesetting (XML-first), proofreading, artwork - illustration re draw, infographic design, publishing technology support, indexing, PID and metadata management of each issue. The contractor will have access to and maintain relationships with authors, editors and the NETSCC Editorial Office.
During 2022, NJL plans to launch a new publishing model - a "threaded-publication" format. Instead of publishing a monograph the NJL will publish a series of shorter research articles that will report on the different elements of the commissioned work - then threading the articles and a synopsis document together online to provide complete publication of the commissioned research.
An indicative value of this project is in the region of £7,000,000
The University is keen to explore all options that may be available in the marketplace and interested parties are invited to attend a Soft Market Testing event. The deadline for the receipt of completed request to attend a Soft Market Testing event is 12:00 (Noon) 1st October 2021.
Information received as part of this soft market testing exercise shall be used to help shape the University's final specification of requirements and scope any resulting procurement process.
Please Note: The University is conducting this soft market testing exercise to allow interested parties, with appropriate experience, to outline their views and provide impartial information to the University with no commitment to themselves or the University. This is not a call for competition at this stage.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
13 December 2021
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool (In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/ universityofsouthampton) to manage this soft market testing exercise and to communicate with participating organisations.
All documentation in relation to this soft market testing exercise can be downloaded from In-Tend.
Participating organisations are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued to organisations and all communications with the University including the submission of Soft Market Testing event request form will be conducted via In-Tend. Regular monitoring of In-Tend is the responsibility of the participating organisation.
If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the soft market testing documentation.
Once you have logged in: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your company against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'.
Further instructions for the submission of soft market event forms are below.
To submit your return, please follow the instructions below:
1. Log In
2. Click 'Tenders'
3. Locate the relevant project
4. View Details
5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. 'Soft Market Testing')
6. Click on the 'Attach Documents' button and upload your return.
7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the "My Tender Return" panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return.
8. Click the red "Submit Return" button.
Please note that, to preserve the integrity of the soft market testing exercise, all queries must be made via the correspondence function within In-Tend.
The deadline for the return of completed Soft Market Testing request form is 12:00 (Noon) 1st October 2021.
This Prior Information Notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future.
Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the PIN event and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement.
This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this PIN and the University will not accept any proposals offered in response to this PIN.
The University of Southampton is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to the PIN or attending any briefing day (if applicable).
Any procurement of any services, supplies or works by the University of Southampton will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.