AwardedAwarded 1 September 2026

Library Books and Digital Content

The Association of North East Councils Limited · Local or regional public body

In brief

The Association of North East Councils Limited awarded printing and computer hardware work to Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd., Peters Limited and OverDrive Global Ltd. and 2 others on 1 September 2026.

It is a framework worth up to £68,000,000 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 4 years, starting 1 October 2026.

It is split into 13 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

The Association of North East Councils, trading as the North East Procurement Organisation ("NEPO"), is establishing a multi-supplier, multi-lot Framework Agreement for the provision of Library Books & Digital Content. The Framework will be accessible to Contracting Authorities throughout the United Kingdom. The Framework is intended to support a wide range of requirements and encompasses, but is not limited to, the following categories of goods and services: Adults Fiction & Non-Fiction Books including Reference Materials Children's Fiction & Non-Fiction Books School Library Services for Educational and Curriculum Books Adults Multimedia Materials Childrens Multimedia Materials School…Read the full description
The Association of North East Councils, trading as the North East Procurement Organisation ("NEPO"), is establishing a multi-supplier, multi-lot Framework Agreement for the provision of Library Books & Digital Content. The Framework will be accessible to Contracting Authorities throughout the United Kingdom. The Framework is intended to support a wide range of requirements and encompasses, but is not limited to, the following categories of goods and services: Adults Fiction & Non-Fiction Books including Reference Materials Children's Fiction & Non-Fiction Books School Library Services for Educational and Curriculum Books Adults Multimedia Materials Childrens Multimedia Materials School Library Multimedia Materials Wrap Service: Fiction, Non-Fiction Books & Multimedia Materials eAudiobooks eBooks eComics eNewspapers eMagazines Full Digital Service The Framework incorporates Social Value commitments and provides robust governance, compliance and contract management arrangements. It offers a multi-supplier solution that enables Contracting Authorities to employ flexible call-off and award procedures, supported by suitably experienced suppliers. Core and Core Plus Servicing costs, and headline discounts have been established for the following lots Lot 1: Adults Fiction & Non-Fiction Books including Reference Materials Lot 2: Children's Fiction & Non-Fiction Books Lot 3: School Library Services for Educational and Curriculum Books Lot 4: Adults Multimedia Materials Lot 5: Childrens Multimedia Materials Lot 6: School Library Multimedia Materials Lot 7: Wrap Service: Fiction, Non-Fiction Books & Multimedia Materials A future proofing mechanism has been built into the Core and Core-Plus servicing through annual reviews. With a fixed headline discount establish for the whole life of the contract. The Framework has established individual commercial and licensing models which can provide Contracting Authorities with transparency over any additional services or charges at call-off, supporting informed supplier selection, comparability and value-for-money decision making throughout the life of the solution for the following lots: Lot 8: eAudiobooks Lot 9: eBooks Lot 10: eComics Lot 11: eNewspapers Lot 12: eMagazines Lot 13: Full Digital Service The successful suppliers have been appointed following completion of a single-stage Open Procedure in accordance with PA23 Regulations.

Lots

LotTradeValue
Adults Fiction & Non-Fiction Books including Reference Materials
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot will provide users with access to the Physical Supply of Adults Fiction and Non-Fiction books including reference materials. This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 3 awarded suppliers.

Printing£68,000,000
Children's Fiction & Non-Fiction Books
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot will provide users with access to the Physical Supply of Children's Fiction and Non-Fiction books. This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 3 awarded suppliers.

Printing£68,000,000
School Library Services for Educational and Curriculum Books
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot will provide users with access to the Supply of Educational and Curriculum Books for School Library Services This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 3 awarded suppliers.

Printing£68,000,000
Adults Multimedia Materials
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot will provide users with access to Adults Physical Multimedia Materials DVDs, CDs and Blu Rays This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 3 awarded suppliers.

Computer hardware£68,000,000
Childrens Multimedia Materials
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot will provide users with access to Childrens Multimedia Materials including CDs, DVDs and Blu Rays This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 3 awarded suppliers.

Computer hardware£68,000,000
School Library Multimedia Materials
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot will provide users with access to School Library Multimedia Materials including DVDs, CDs and Blu Rays This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 3 awarded suppliers.

Computer hardware£68,000,000
Wrap Service: Fiction, Non-Fiction Books & Multimedia Materials
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This Lot will provide users with access to all requirements identified within lots 1 - 6, including but not limited to Physical Supply of Adults, Childrens and School Library Fiction, Non-Fiction books, Reference Materials and Multi-Media Materials. This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 3 awarded suppliers.

Computer hardware, Printing£68,000,000
eAudiobooks
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot provides users with access to eAudiobooks available in digital form via Electronic devices and/or Applications This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 6 awarded suppliers.

Printing£68,000,000
eBooks
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot provides users with access to eBooks made available in digital form consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat panel display of Computers or Electronic devices and Applications This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 6 awarded suppliers.

Printing£68,000,000
eComics
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot provides users with access to eComics available in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat panel display of Computers or other Electronic devices and Applications This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 6 awarded suppliers.

Printing£68,000,000
eNewspapers
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot provides users with access to eNewspapers made available in digital format, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat panel display of Computers or other Electronic devices and Applications This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 6 awarded suppliers.

Printing£68,000,000
eMagazines
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot provides users with access to eMagazines available in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat panel display of Computers or other Electronic devices and Applications This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 6 awarded suppliers.

Printing£68,000,000
Full Digital Service
1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
What this lot covers

This lot provides users with access to a full Digital Service including all requirements under lots 8-12, including but not limited to eAudiobooks, eBooks, eComics, eNewspapers and eMagazines This lot will be awarded to a maximum of 6 awarded suppliers.

Printing£68,000,000

Who won

WinnerLotValueDates
Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd. (SME)
Peters Limited (SME)
3 bids received
Adults Fiction & Non-Fiction Books including Reference Materials£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
OverDrive Global Ltd. (SME)
Bolinda UK Ltd (SME)
Oclc (UK) Limited (SME)
3 bids received
eComics£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
OverDrive Global Ltd. (SME)
Bolinda UK Ltd (SME)
2 bids received
eNewspapers£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
OverDrive Global Ltd. (SME)
Bolinda UK Ltd (SME)
2 bids received
eMagazines£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
OverDrive Global Ltd. (SME)
Bolinda UK Ltd (SME)
2 bids received
Full Digital Service£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd. (SME)
Peters Limited (SME)
3 bids received
Children's Fiction & Non-Fiction Books£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd. (SME)
Peters Limited (SME)
3 bids received
School Library Services for Educational and Curriculum Books£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd. (SME)
1 bid received
Adults Multimedia Materials£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd. (SME)
1 bid received
Childrens Multimedia Materials£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd. (SME)
1 bid received
School Library Multimedia Materials£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
Askews and Holts Library Services Ltd. (SME)
1 bid received
Wrap Service: Fiction, Non-Fiction Books & Multimedia Materials£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
OverDrive Global Ltd. (SME)
Bolinda UK Ltd (SME)
Oclc (UK) Limited (SME)
4 bids received
eAudiobooks£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026
OverDrive Global Ltd. (SME)
Bolinda UK Ltd (SME)
Oclc (UK) Limited (SME)
3 bids received
eBooks£68,000,000
Awarded 1 September 2026

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Tender notice · UK4, notice 030345-2026
  2. Contract award notice · UK6, notice 082638-2026

About the buyer

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From notice 030345-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 1 April 2026, last updated 1 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.