Delivered by SUPC, the re-tendered Books, e-books and associated services framework provides a compliant and responsible route for any public sector organisation to procure books, e-books and other printed or hard-copy publications for either library or general purposes.
Offering a cost-effective procurement option with access to eighteen reputable suppliers, SUPC expects in excess of £250m in university and public sector spend throughout the four-year framework. The agreement will run from 1 August 2025 until 31 July 2027, with extension options until 31 July 2029. The agreement is open to all SUPC members, as well as those from HEPCW, LUPC, NEUPC and NWUPC.
Meet your category manager
About the Books, e-books and associated services framework
What are the benefits of using the framework?
- Inclusion of leading UK suppliers and specialist providers to strengthen and elevate library collections
- A straightforward, compliant route to market for all participating organisations
- Alignment of e-book licensing and AI requirements with evolving sector initiatives led by Jisc
- Comprehensive user guides, support, and ready-to-use call-off templates for ease and efficiency.
What can you purchase through this Framework?
Lot 1: Print publications: standard suppliers for library stock |
| Large-scale and library-focused 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. |
| Lot 2: Print publications: specialist suppliers for library stock |
| Specialist suppliers of printed publications and other hard copy materials such as maps, music scores, DVDs, CDs, Standing Orders. Suppliers will specialise according to factors such as language, region of publication, material type, subject, etc. NB: The suppliers awarded specialise primarily according to geographic region |
| Lot 3: Print publications: supply to schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, academic departments (generally non-library) |
| Supply of printed publications and other hard copy materials, generally for non-library purposes of academic departments, schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, and other public sector organisations. Associated goods relating to reading provision may be supplied under this Lot where a dedicated framework is not required. |
Lot 4: E-book aggregator: title-by-title perpetual access purchase |
| Title-by-title purchasing of e-books via an aggregator platform for delivery via the aggregator’s own platform. Packages may be offered, as may DDA and EBA programmes. Suppliers will offer perpetual access licences but may also offer alternatives (eg. 365 day licences) where perpetual licensing is not available. |
| Lot 5: E-book aggregator: title-by-title perpetual access purchase for third-party platform |
| Title-by-title purchasing of e-books via an aggregator platform for delivery via a third party or publisher platform. Packages may be offered, as may DDA and EBA programmes. Suppliers will offer perpetual access licences but may also offer alternatives (eg. 365 day licences) where perpetual licensing is not available. |
| Lot 6: E-book aggregator: subscription packages |
| Subscription e-book packages via aggregator’s own platform. Packages may include wider digital content in addition to e-books. Package content will be pre-defined in nature and not bespoke selections of titles. |
| Lot 7: E-book aggregator: e-textbooks |
| E-textbook access via an aggregator e-textbook platform. Title selections may be bespoke or pre-defined packages |
| Lot 8: E-books: specialist and innovative solutions |
| Specialised e-book solutions for delivery via Supplier’s own platform. This Lot offers a route to market for solutions that do not fit the specification of other e-book Lots (Lots 4, 5, 6, or 7). Solutions might include those that are not specifically designed for the HE market, that deliver specialist content, or that offer alternative business models that don’t fit in another Lot. |
| Lot 9: Sales to individual staff/students and bursary provision |
| Where a member wishes to set up an approved supplier for individual staff or students to purchase hard copy or digital materials. Bursary provision may also be facilitated where operated on a credit basis and the supplier meets individual member requirements. In these cases, bursaries may include a wider scope of goods that support learning. Regarding bursary provision, the suppliers awarded to this Lot are likely to be limited in scope to books and/or e-books. Wider bursary provision, which some members facilitated via the previous iteration of this framework, is no longer possible due to the nature of the successful bidders. |
Meet the suppliers
How have sustainability, equality and diversity been considered as part of the tender?
- All suppliers must have a carbon reduction plan no later than six months after the framework launches and annually thereafter. This plan must cover at least Scopes 1 and 2. Scope 3 is strongly encouraged but will be a work-in-progress for some suppliers.
- Progress will be tracked via our Supplier Relationship Management programme, which will have a member-facing output.
- Our goal is to ensure a minimum requirement for the framework while inspiring a race to improve. By taking a collaborative approach with suppliers and sector we will be able to develop the requirement appropriately over time.