✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 13 Oct 2026, 13:01.
Opportunity overview
The aim of this tender is to provide a single national eMagazines and eNewpapers service to all thirty-two public library services for access by their members. Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is seeking a vendor that can supply eMagazines and eNewspapers to all thirty-two public library services.
Classification
CPV92511000 — Library services
CPV48160000 — Library software package
Lots
SLIC has been tasked by the Scottish Government to develop a single digital interface for Scottish Public Libraries along with a national eResources collection to ensure equitable access to information and reading material across the whole of Scotland. The Scottish Government has provided SLIC with an ongoing annual grant to deliver the website, to be known as ‘Libraries Scotland’, and to develop the national eResources collection. This will bring Scottish Public Libraries in line with counterparts in Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales. SLIC has developed the project with guidance from the Association of Public Libraries in Scotland (APLS) and a steering group made up of representatives from across local authorities and the wider library sector in Scotland. The project is also a strategic aim in Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025 and carried over to Fast Forward: Public Library Strategy Refresh 2026. Additional information: Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of SLIC in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.£1.6m
Published notice details
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
Bidders must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) international standard or equivalent, with a minimum of level WCAG 2.1 AA. An Accessibility Statement must also be available on the supplier website.
In addition, they must hold Cyber Essentials or equivalent accreditation.
Applies To
supplier
Contract terms
Performance Terms
As stated in the tender document, SLIC Contract Agreement Final
Has Electronic Ordering
Yes
Electronic Invoicing Policy
allowed
Has Electronic Payment
Yes
Covered By
GPA
Tender Period
Ends
13 Nov 2026, 12:00
Submission terms
Languages
en
Bid Validity Period
Ends
22 Apr 2027, 23:59
Expected award period
Starts
13 Nov 2026, 12:00
Bid Opening
Date
13 Nov 2026, 12:00
Lots and requirements
Entry 1
Id
1
Description
SLIC has been tasked by the Scottish Government to develop a single digital interface for Scottish Public Libraries along with a national eResources collection to ensure equitable access to information and reading material across the whole of Scotland. The Scottish Government has provided SLIC with an ongoing annual grant to deliver the website, to be known as ‘Libraries Scotland’, and to develop the national eResources collection. This will bring Scottish Public Libraries in line with counterparts in Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales. SLIC has developed the project with guidance from the Association of Public Libraries in Scotland (APLS) and a steering group made up of representatives from across local authorities and the wider library sector in Scotland. The project is also a strategic aim in Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025 and carried over to Fast Forward: Public Library Strategy Refresh 2026. Additional information: Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of SLIC in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.
Has Renewal
Yes
Has Options
No
Status
active
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Name
Technical
Type
quality
Description
70
Criterion 2
Type
price
Description
30%
Value
Amount
1,600,000
Currency
GBP
Contract period
Duration In Days
780
Renewal
Description
The Contract will be from 1 Feb 2027 until 31 March 2029, and SLIC will have an option to extend it for up to a further two 12-month periods until 31 March 2031.
Submission terms
Variant Policy
notAllowed
Electronic Catalogue Policy
required
Items and delivery
Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
48160000
Description
Library software package
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKM
Delivery Location
Description
Participation by all thirty-two (32) Scottish local authority library services throughout the Contract period may be optioned.
Published documents
Entry 1
Document Type
economicSelectionCriteria
Id
economic
Entry 2
Document Type
technicalSelectionCriteria
Id
technical
Buyer, suppliers and contacts
Organisation 1
Name
Scottish Library and Information Council
Id
GB-FTS-187522
Identifier
Legal Name
Scottish Library and Information Council
Address
Street Address
Suite 0.5, Turnberry House, 175 West George Street
1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
1 VERSION
1
096471-2026tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is seeking one supplier to provide a national eMagazine and eNewspaper service for members of all 32 Scottish public library services. Scotland Excel is running the tender on SLIC’s behalf but will not be a contract party or manage the contract.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for suppliers of digital newspaper and magazine platforms, licensed e-content, library e-resource services and library software integrations capable of national delivery across Scotland.
Key points identified
Core serviceSupply eMagazines and eNewspapers through a single national service.Evidence: “provide a single national eMagazines and eNewpapers service”
User coverageService must be available to members of all 32 public library services.Evidence: “to all thirty-two public library services for access by their members”
Supplier capabilityVendor capable of supplying eMagazines and eNewspapers to all 32 public library services.Evidence: “seeking a vendor that can supply eMagazines and eNewspapers to all thirty-two public library services”
96% approved-analysis confidence7 supplier criteria identified3 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is seeking one supplier to provide a national eMagazine and eNewspaper service for members of all 32 Scottish public library services. Scotland Excel is running the tender on SLIC’s behalf but will not be a contract party or manage the contract.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for suppliers of digital newspaper and magazine platforms, licensed e-content, library e-resource services and library software integrations capable of national delivery across Scotland.
Key deliverables
Single national eMagazine service
Single national eNewspaper service
Access for members of all 32 Scottish public library services
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
7 criteria identified
Core service
99% confidence
Supply eMagazines and eNewspapers through a single national service.
View supporting evidence
“provide a single national eMagazines and eNewpapers service”
User coverage
99% confidence
Service must be available to members of all 32 public library services.
View supporting evidence
“to all thirty-two public library services for access by their members”
Supplier capability
99% confidence
Vendor capable of supplying eMagazines and eNewspapers to all 32 public library services.
View supporting evidence
“seeking a vendor that can supply eMagazines and eNewspapers to all thirty-two public library services”
Technical and economic selection criteria
98% confidence
Unknown; selection-criteria document records are present but contain no supplied content or URL.
View supporting evidence
Documents listed as economicSelectionCriteria and technicalSelectionCriteria, with no title or URL.
Supplier eligibility conditions
99% confidence
Unknown from supplied evidence.
View supporting evidence
No eligibility conditions are stated in the supplied opportunity data.
SME suitability
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
suitable_for_sme is null.
VCSE suitability
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
suitable_for_vcse is null.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Estimated value
98% confidence
Up to GBP 1,600,000.
View supporting evidence
Process value_max: 1600000 GBP; lot 1 value_amount: 1600000 GBP.
Contract term
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
contract_start_at and contract_end_at are null.
Pricing and payment terms
99% confidence
Unknown from supplied evidence.
View supporting evidence
No pricing, payment or commercial terms are provided.
Delivery
Delivery coverage
98% confidence
Scotland (UKM); intended for all 32 Scottish public library services.
View supporting evidence
Delivery location region: UKM; requirement refers to all thirty-two public library services.
Buyer location
99% confidence
Glasgow, United Kingdom (G2 2LB).
View supporting evidence
Buyer location record: Glasgow, UKM, G2 2LB, United Kingdom.
procurement_method: open; procurement_method_details: Open procedure.
Submission deadline
99% confidence
13 November 2026, 12:00 UTC.
View supporting evidence
submission_deadline: 2026-11-13T12:00:00Z.
Published date
99% confidence
13 October 2026, 11:42:17 +01:00.
View supporting evidence
published_at: 2026-10-13T11:42:17+01:00.
Tender administrator
99% confidence
Scotland Excel acts on behalf of SLIC in executing the tender; it will not be party to or manage the contract.
View supporting evidence
“Scotland Excel is acting on behalf of SLIC in the execution of this tender but will not be party to the contract or the management of the contract throughout its lifetime.”
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Selection criteria unavailable
99% confidence
The supplied data identifies economic and technical selection-criteria document types but provides no document content or URLs; detailed mandatory requirements cannot be verified.
View supporting evidence
economicSelectionCriteria and technicalSelectionCriteria documents have null title and URL.
Contract duration unknown
99% confidence
No contract start or end date is supplied, limiting assessment of term and implementation timing.
View supporting evidence
contract_start_at and contract_end_at are null.
Detailed commercial terms unknown
98% confidence
Pricing structure, payment terms, licensing model, content coverage and service levels are not stated in the supplied evidence.
View supporting evidence
No such terms appear in the supplied process, lot or document data.
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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