- Scope of the procurement
- Lot 1. Title by Title purchase (including non-English languages) via an Aggregator
- Lot 2. Publisher Direct (including Title by Title and E-Book Collections) via an Aggregator
- Lot 3. Aggregated Subscription Packages via an Aggregator
- Lot 4. Aggregated Perpetual/EBA Packages via an Aggregator
- Lot 5. E-Textbooks via an Aggregator
- Lot 6. Title by Title or E-Book Collections via a Publisher
- Lot 7. E-Textbooks via a Publisher
Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
APUC LIMITED
Unit 27,Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen
STIRLING
FK82DZ
Contact
Lorona Watts
Telephone
+44 1314428950
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA1040
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.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to 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
E-Books, E-Book Collections and E-Textbooks - APUC
Reference number
LIB1016 AP
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 22113000 - Library books
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The Authority is seeking Contractors to supply a wide range of academic content in digital format.
The scope will include:
E-Books
E-Book Collections (Publishers packages)
E-Textbooks
The Authority is acting on behalf of the HE and FE institutions in Scotland, Members of the Scottish Confederation of University and
Research Libraries (SCURL) which includes amongst its members, the National Library of Scotland, the National Museum of Scotland, the
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Scotland Excel and its members.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £31,000,000
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
Title by Title purchase (including non-English languages) via an Aggregator
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 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
For the appointment of up to 5 Contractors for the supply and delivery individual titles via an Aggregator.
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 and Scotland Excel and its members.
Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E - List of Institutions. Members of APUC -
Members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/members
Members of Scotland Excel - http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 50
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 50
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £8,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework Agreement will commence on the 14.12.2021 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 13.12.2023 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 Authority's members and the members of SCURL
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union
funds: Yes
Individual call-off contracts under this Framework Agreement may be financed by European
Union funds.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Publisher Direct (including Title by Title and E-Book Collections) via an Aggregator
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 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
For the appointment of up to 3 Contractors for the supply and delivery of Title by Title/Collections purchases via the Aggregator's
interface with the content provided on the publisher's platform
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 and Scotland Excel and its members.
Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E - List of Institutions. Members of APUC -
Members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/members
Members of Scotland Excel - http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 50
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 50
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £8,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework Agreement will commence on the 14.12.2021 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 13.12.2023 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 Authority's members and the members of SCURL
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union
funds: Yes
Individual call-off contracts under this Framework Agreement may be financed by European
Union funds.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Aggregated Subscription Packages via an Aggregator
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 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
For the appointment of up to 3 Contractors for the supply and delivery of multi-publisher subscriptions with constrained DRM via an
Aggregator's platform.
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 and Scotland Excel and its members.
Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E - List of Institutions. Members of APUC -
Members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/members
Members of Scotland Excel - http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 50
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 50
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework Agreement will commence on the 14.12.2021 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 13.12.2023 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 Authority's members and the members of SCURL
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union
funds: Yes
Individual call-off contracts under this Framework Agreement may be financed by European
Union funds.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Aggregated Perpetual/EBA Packages via an Aggregator
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 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
For the appointment of up to 5 Contractors for the supply and delivery of multi-publisher packages on a perpetual access/EBA model via an
Aggregator's platform.
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 and Scotland Excel and its members.
Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E - List of Institutions. Members of APUC -
Members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/members
Members of Scotland Excel - http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 50
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 50
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework Agreement will commence on the 14.12.2021 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 13.12.2023 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 Authority's members and the members of SCURL
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union
funds: Yes
Individual call-off contracts under this Framework Agreement may be financed by European
Union funds.
Estimated value for this lot as no historical spend data available
1,000,000 to 2,000,000 GBP
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
E-Textbooks via an Aggregator
Lot No
5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 22112000 - Textbooks
- 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
For the appointment of up to 5 Contractors for the supply and delivery of eTextbook content via an aggregator and hosted on the
aggregator's platform.
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 and Scotland Excel and its members.
Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E - List of Institutions. Members of APUC -
Members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/members
Members of Scotland Excel - http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 50
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 50
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £4,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework Agreement will commence on the 14.12.2021 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 13.12.2023 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 Authority's members and the members of SCURL
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union
funds: Yes
Individual call-off contracts under this Framework Agreement may be financed by European
Union funds.
Estimated value for lot as no historical spend data available
4,000,000 to 6,000,000 GBP
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Title by Title or E-Book Collections via a Publisher
Lot No
6
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 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
For the appointment of up to 20 Contractors for the supply and delivery of Title by Title or Collections via a Publisher with unconstrained DRM.
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 and Scotland Excel and its members.
Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E - List of Institutions. Members of APUC -
Members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/members
Members of Scotland Excel - http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 50
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 50
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £5,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework Agreement will commence on the 14.12.2021 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 13.12.2023 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 Authority's members and the members of SCURL
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union
funds: Yes
Individual call-off contracts under this Framework Agreement may be financed by European
Union funds.
Estimated value for the lots as no historical spend data available
5,000,000 to 8,000,000 GBP
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
E-Textbooks via a Publisher
Lot No
7
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 22112000 - Textbooks
- 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
For the appointment of up to 20 contractors for the supply and delivery of eTextbook content via a Publisher and hosted on the Publisher's
or Aggregator's platform.
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 and Scotland Excel and its members.
Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E - List of Institutions. Members of APUC -
Members of Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) https://www.scurl.ac.uk/members
Members of Scotland Excel - http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 50
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 50
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £4,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework Agreement will commence on the 14.12.2021 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 13.12.2023 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 Authority's members and the members of SCURL.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union
funds: Yes
Individual call-off contracts under this Framework Agreement may be financed by European
Union funds.
Estimated value for the lot as no historical spend data available
4,000,000 to 6,000,000 GBP
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.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
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 http://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
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
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 30
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
19 October 2021
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
19 October 2021
Local time
12:05pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: February 2025
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
The following should be submitted prior to award. It is for information only and will not be scored.
Form of Tender
Please confirm that you will be in a position to submit prior to award "Appendix A - Form of Tender" in the Technical Questionnaire in
PCS-Tender.
Freedom of Information
Please confirm that you will be in a position to submit prior to award "Appendix B - Freedom of Information" if applicable in the
Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct
Please confirm that you will be in a position to submit prior to award "Appendix D - Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct" in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
General Data Protection Regulation
Please confirm that you will be in a position to submit prior to award "Appendix G - GDPR Contractor Assessment Form" in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
Serious Organised Crime
Please confirm that you will be in a position to submit prior to award "Appendix H - Declaration of Non-Involvement in Serious Organised Crime" in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
Library Management Systems (LMS)- Appendix K
Library Management Systems integration. Please complete and return at time of tender submission, refer to Appendix K in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
Sustain Supply Chain Evaluation Tool: Section 1 - Appendix J Sustain Supply Chain Evaluation Tool: Section 1 Appendix J in the
Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
For Information only
List of Institutions - Appendix E
For list of parties eligible to use the resulting Framework Agreement, please refer to Appendix E-List of Institutions.
Functionality and Platform Test Plan - Appendix I
Functionality and Platform Test Plan to be used for evaluating the Tenderers online platform.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 19411. For more information see:
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason:
t is a requirement that the range of the goods and services to be delivered under this framework agreement will be delivered by each of the main contractors.
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see:
https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Community benefits and civic engagement delivered as a result of the framework agreement, such as internships, summer work placements or apprenticeships for students or targeted recruitment and training for priority groups.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Stirling Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Sheriff Court House, Viewfield Place
Stirling
FK8 1NH
Telephone
+44 1786462191
Fax
+44 1786470456
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session