- Scope of the procurement
- Lot 1.1 - eBook Solutions
- Lot 1.2 - eAudiobook Solutions
- Lot 1.3 - ePress and Associated Solutions
- Lot 1.4 - Combined eBook and eAudiobook Solutions
- Lot 1.5 - Combined eBook, eAudiobook and ePress Solutions
- Lot 2.1 - Fiction and Curriculum Books
- Lot 2.2 - Reference Materials, Handbooks and Manuals
Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
ESPO
Barnsdale Way, Grove Park, Enderby
LEICESTER
LE19 1ES
Contact
Food, Communities and Technology Procurement Team
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKF22 - Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Local Authority Services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
376E_24 Digital Library Content and Print Books
Reference number
376E_24
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79980000 - Subscription services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
ESPO is seeking to renew its eBooks, eAudiobooks and Print Books framework, with the addition of an ePress Sub-Lot. It is anticipated that the new framework will be awarded during Autumn 2024.
To tender:
(a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '376E_24' (via "View Opportunities" from the 'EastMidsTenders' Portal); (d) Express an interest (if not already completed via the previously Published PIN); (e) Download the tender documents (from the ProContract Activity summary screen, once an Expression of interest has been completed).
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £24,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1.1 - eBook Solutions
Lot No
1.1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48160000 - Library software package
- 79980000 - Subscription services
- 92511000 - Library services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This lot is for digital lending platforms to provide eBook accessibility to education and public library service users. Solutions will offer a range of eBook titles via a portal, where service users will be able to reserve and check-out content virtually on a range of devices including smart phones, e-readers, tablets and desktop computers. This lot is expected to be used by schools and public libraries.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £3,600,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 November 2024
End date
31 October 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated in Section II.1.5 includes the option period.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1.2 - eAudiobook Solutions
Lot No
1.2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48160000 - Library software package
- 79980000 - Subscription services
- 92511000 - Library services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This lot is for digital lending platforms to provide eAudiobook accessibility to education and public library service users. Solutions will offer a range of eAudiobook titles via a portal, where service users will be able to reserve and check-out content virtually on a range of devices including smart phones, e-readers, tablets and desktop computers. This lot is expected to be used by schools and public libraries.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,400,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 November 2024
End date
31 October 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated in Section II.1.5 includes the option period.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1.3 - ePress and Associated Solutions
Lot No
1.3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48160000 - Library software package
- 79980000 - Subscription services
- 92511000 - Library services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This lot is for digital lending platforms to provide ePress accessibility to education and public library service users. Solutions will offer a range of ePress titles via a portal, where service users will be able to access content virtually on a range of devices including smart phones, e-readers, tablets and desktop computers. This lot is expected to be used by schools and public libraries.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,200,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 November 2024
End date
31 October 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated in Section II.1.5 includes the option period.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1.4 - Combined eBook and eAudiobook Solutions
Lot No
1.4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48160000 - Library software package
- 79980000 - Subscription services
- 92511000 - Library services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This lot will be used by customers who require a comprehensive system that combines the functionalities offered by both lots 1.1 and 1.2.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £7,200,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 November 2024
End date
31 October 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated in Section II.1.5 includes the option period.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1.5 - Combined eBook, eAudiobook and ePress Solutions
Lot No
1.5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48160000 - Library software package
- 79980000 - Subscription services
- 92511000 - Library services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This lot will be used by customers who require a comprehensive system that combines the functionalities offered by both lots 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £7,200,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 November 2024
End date
31 October 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated in Section II.1.5 includes the option period.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 2.1 - Fiction and Curriculum Books
Lot No
2.1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 22110000 - Printed books
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This lot will cover both children's and adult fiction titles, textbooks, revision guides and reading scheme sets used in schools and colleges by students. This lot will largely be used by education customers.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,680,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 November 2024
End date
31 October 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated in Section II.1.5 includes the option period.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 2.2 - Reference Materials, Handbooks and Manuals
Lot No
2.2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 22112000 - Textbooks
- 22114000 - Dictionaries, maps, music books and other books
- 22200000 - Newspapers, journals, periodicals and magazines
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This lot will cover the requirements of education customers for materials such as dictionaries, and encyclopaedias as well as non-education customers such as local authority departments and central governments bodies for reference books related to their area of work (e.g. social care).
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £720,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 November 2024
End date
31 October 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated in Section II.1.5 includes the option period.
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As part of the on-going contract management process, during the period of the Framework Agreement, ESPO shall monitor the financial stability of the awarded Suppliers during the period of the Framework Agreement by reference to credit rating agency reports. ESPO shall obtain a credit score for the Supplier on or before the Framework start date as a base score and where a significant change in the credit score is identified over the life of the Framework Agreement, ESPO reserves the right to investigate the reasons for this significant change. Depending on the severity of the changes, it will be at the sole discretion of ESPO to suspend or even permanently remove the Supplier from the Framework Agreement.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
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: 2024/S 000-000719
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
28 August 2024
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
28 August 2024
Local time
12:01pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
As a Central Purchasing Body as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the Framework Agreement is open for use by Public Bodies (defined at https://www.espo.org/amfile/file/download/file/9608/) that also fall into one of the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: Local Authorities; Educational Establishments (including Academies); Central Government Departments and Agencies; Police, Fire & Rescue and Coastguard Emergency Services; NHS and HSC Bodies, including Ambulance Services; Registered Charities; Registered Social Landlords; The Corporate Office of the House of Lords, The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons; or any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament. Details of the classification of end user establishments and geographical areas are available at: https://www.espo.org/legal.
ESPO has established a commercial trading company, ESPO Trading Limited, whose target clients are third sector organisations such as national and local charities, public sector mutual organisations and other organisations involved in the delivery of services to or for the public sector. The successful Supplier may be asked to enter into an additional separate framework agreement (the Second Framework) with ESPO Trading Limited on materially similar terms to that found in the tender pack to be entered into by ESPO itself.
Any Second Framework agreement will be a purely commercial agreement and will, for the avoidance of doubt, not be governed by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. ESPO Trading Limited may enter into the second framework agreement with the successful supplier and make it available to third sector clients who themselves are not required to follow the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. Accordingly, this is provided for bidders information only.
An eAuction process may be used to award subsequent call off contracts following the reopening of competition among the parties to the Framework Agreement.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Royal Court of Justice
The Strand
LONDON
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
ESPO will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by ESPO as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the applicant was unsuccessful. If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2105 No. 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take legal action. Any such action must be brought within the applicable limitation period. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order for any document to be amended and may award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order for a fine to be paid, and/or order the duration of the contract be shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.