Awarded contract

Libraries Digital Content

Details

Supplier(s)
Bolinda UK Ltd
Value
£2,000,000
Topic
Library services
Published
17 June 2026

Tender description

Somerset Council is the lead authority for the Libraries West Consortium which also comprises Bath & North East Somerset Council, BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole) Council, Bristol City Council, Dorset Council, North Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council. Somerset Council is also working in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council (to procure E Books & E Audio Books) and Plymouth City Council (to procure E Magazines and E Newspapers). An options paper which was circulated across the consortium, the decision was taken to go out to tender under ESPO Framework Agreement 376E_24 Digital Library Content and Print Books. Lot 1: Somerset Council, on behalf of itself and other named local authorities, following a compliant procurement exercise is looking to award a contract to a single supplier for the following content:   E books (Bath & North East Somerset, BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole), Bristol, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire)   E audio books (Bath & North East Somerset, BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole), Bristol, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire)  E magazines (Bath & North East Somerset, BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole), Bristol, Dorset, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, South Gloucestershire)  E newspapers (Bath & North East Somerset, BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole), Bristol, Dorset, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, South Gloucestershire)

Timeline

  1. Completed: Award date15 August 2025
  2. Completed: Award published17 June 2026
    Current notice

About the buyer

Somerset Council is a unitary local authority that buys through its own central procurement team. Suppliers register free on the Proactis Supplier Network, a shared e-procurement portal used across the South West. Above certain value thresholds set by the Procurement Act 2023, tenders also appear on Contracts Finder and Find a Tender. Larger contracts go to formal tender through the council's e-tendering system. Quotes are invited from multiple suppliers for lower-value goods, works and services. Commissioning favours suppliers who can show social value, environmental impact and local supply chain benefits.

UK local government drives £140bn in annual procurement, led by social protection (£66.6bn) and education (£57.1bn).

Over the past 5 years, most of Somerset Council's contract awards have been in construction work, education and training and health and social work.

Relevant CPV codes

  • 92511000 · Library services

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