Open competition
Open procedure: the contract was advertised and any supplier could submit a bid.
Key facts
- Buyer
- Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) · Body governed by public law
- Suppliers
- A.T.Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns Books SME, Ebsco International Inc, Amalivre SME, Casalini Libri SpA SME, Erasmus Antiquariaat en Boekhandel BV SME, Mary Martin Booksellers Pte Ltd SME, Otto Harrassowitz GmbH & Co. KG, Happier Every Chapter SME, Waterstones Booksellers Limited, Bibliu Limited, Kortext Limited SME, VitalSource Technologies Limited SME +6 more
- Value
- £450,000,000 across 9 lots
- Procedure
- Open procedure
- Sector
- Printed matter · Printed books, brochures and leaflets (CPV 22100000)
- Region
- South East
- Official notice
- 046368-2025 on Find a Tender
- Timeline
-
- Contract date9 Jul 2025
- Published6 Aug 2025Published 28 days after the contract date
Description
Large-scale and library-focussed suppliers of printed publications and other hard copy materials including but not limited to maps, music scores, DVDs, CDs, Standing Orders and out-of-print materials. Suppliers will be capable of meeting operational requirements such as metadata provision, shelf-ready servicing, and interoperability with Library Management Systems. Suppliers may bid for either Lot 1 or Lot 2 but not both. Additional information: It is intended that Lot 1 will be awarded to a maximum of 5 suppliers.
Lots in this award
| Lot | Supplier | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Books, e-books and associated services: Print publications: standard suppliers for library stock | A.T.Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns Books SME, Ebsco International Inc | £70m |
| Books, e-books and associated services: Print publications: specialist suppliers for library stock | Amalivre SME, Casalini Libri SpA SME, Erasmus Antiquariaat en Boekhandel BV SME, Mary Martin Booksellers Pte Ltd SME, Otto Harrassowitz GmbH & Co. KG | £10m |
| Books, e-books and associated services: Print publications: supply to schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, academic departments (generally non-library) | A.T.Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns Books SME, Amalivre SME, Ebsco International Inc, Happier Every Chapter SME, Mary Martin Booksellers Pte Ltd SME +1 more | £40m |
| Books, e-books and associated services: E-book aggregator: title-by-title perpetual access purchase | A.T.Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns Books SME, Bibliu Limited, Ebsco International Inc, Kortext Limited SME, VitalSource Technologies Limited SME | £120m |
| Books, e-books and associated services: E-book aggregator: title-by-title perpetual access purchase for third-party platform | Ebsco International Inc, Mallory International Limited SME | £40m |
| Books, e-books and associated services: E-book aggregator: subscription packages | Bibliu Limited, Ebsco International Inc, Kortext Limited SME, ProQuest LLC, VitalSource Technologies Limited SME | £20m |
| Books, e-books and associated services: E-book aggregator: e-textbooks | A.T.Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns Books SME, Bibliu Limited, Kortext Limited SME, Mallory International Limited SME, VitalSource Technologies Limited SME | £120m |
| Books, e-books and associated services: E-books: specialist and innovative solutions | Amalivre SME, Cambridge University Press and Assessment, Casalini Libri SpA SME, Digital Content Associates Ltd SME, Erasmus Antiquariaat en Boekhandel BV SME +2 more | £20m |
| Books, e-books and associated services: Sales to individual staff/students and bursary provision | A.T.Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns Books SME, Happier Every Chapter SME, Kortext Limited SME, Mary Martin Booksellers Pte Ltd SME, VitalSource Technologies Limited SME | £10m |
About the suppliers
A.T.Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns Books: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 01607961).
Ebsco International Inc: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company FC016134).
Amalivre: every public contract they have won.
Casalini Libri SpA: every public contract they have won.
Erasmus Antiquariaat en Boekhandel BV: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 33044879).
Mary Martin Booksellers Pte Ltd: every public contract they have won.
Otto Harrassowitz GmbH & Co. KG: every public contract they have won.
Happier Every Chapter: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 12905585).
Waterstones Booksellers Limited: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 00610095).
Bibliu Limited: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 09334024).
Kortext Limited: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 08617088).
VitalSource Technologies Limited: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 07901489).
Mallory International Limited: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 02991148).
ProQuest LLC: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 08520686).
Cambridge University Press and Assessment: every public contract they have won.
Digital Content Associates Ltd: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 07260949).
Macmillan Learning: every public contract they have won.
Perlego Limited: every public contract they have won, plus their Companies House record (company 10155026).