Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
APUC Limited
Unit 27, Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen
Stirling
FK8 2DZ
UK
Contact person: Lorona Watts
Telephone: +44 1314428950
E-mail: lwatts@apuc-scot.ac.uk
NUTS: UKM77
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10402
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Periodicals and Associated Services
Reference number: LIB1022 AP
II.1.2) Main CPV code
22200000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
The Authority undertook a procurement exercise to appoint a Subscription Agent to supply to manage the supply and delivery of periodicals and the associated services.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
36 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
22211000
22210000
22212000
22212100
22213000
22211100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
Scotland and Northern Ireland
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Authority undertook a procurement exercise to appoint a Subscription Agent to supply to manage the supply and delivery of periodicals and the associated services.
Periodical are defined as any domestic or foreign publication supplied in a print or electronic format.
The publication may take various formats, such as a magazine, newspaper, or journal to name a few examples, and may be issued in successive parts, at regular intervals and may continue indefinitely.
The appointed agent will be required to provide the service to:
* HE/FE institutions in Scotland
* HE institutions of Northern Ireland
* The members of the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries(SCURL)
* The Scottish Government
* NHS Education Scotland (SHEDL deals only) acting on behalf of The Knowledge Network.
Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E — List of Institutions. Members of APUC - http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 60
Cost criterion: Commercial
/ Weighting: 40
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-017350
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: LIB1022 AP
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
28/02/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 2
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
EBSCO INTERNATIONAL INC
6th Floor, Civic Centre, Silver Street
Enfield, London
EN1 3XA
UK
Telephone: +44 2084474188
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 36 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Form of Tender - Tenderers were required to sign Appendix A – Form of Tender prior to award to confirm that their Tender Response is a complete, true and accurate submission.
Freedom of Information - Where applicable Tenderers were required to complete Appendix B – Freedom of Information
Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct - The Authority has developed Appendix D which sets out its expected standards for its supply chain in social, ethical and environmental compliance. Tenderers were required to sign Appendix D – Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct prior to award to confirm their commitment to assisting the Authority in achieving its objectives.
General Data Protection Regulation - Tenderers were required to sign Appendix G – GDPR Contractor Assessment Form
SCM RP Section 1 - Tenderers were required to confirm that they will commit to completing Appendix J - SCM RP Section 1 on award and review on an annual basis. It is for information only and will not be scored but is a requirement of this tender and will be included in the contractual terms.
Prompt Payment - Tenderers were required to confirm that payment of subcontractors at all stages of the supply chain will be made within a maximum of 30 days and that this will be managed.
Living Wage Status - Tenderers were required to provide details on their position on the payment of the Real Living Wage.
(SC Ref:803065)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Stirling Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court House, Viewfield Place Stirling Country
Stirling
FK8 1NH
UK
Telephone: +44 1786462191
E-mail: stirling@scotcourts.gov.uk
Fax: +44 1786470456
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/stirling-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
13/10/2025