Books, e-books and associated services
Framework Description
SUPC's Books, e-books and associated services framework is the route member universities use to buy academic print books and electronic book content for their libraries. It is one lot covering printed supply, e-book platforms and licensing, reading list fulfilment and related library content services. It ends on 31 July 2027 with no extension, which puts its re-tender within the coming academic year.
Context & Use Case
Library acquisitions teams buy through it to stock new titles, meet reading list demand at the start of each term and license e-books that students can read off campus. Reading list fulfilment links purchasing to teaching, so a supplier's speed in getting core texts on the shelf or online before modules start matters as much as the discount. Libraries may place orders directly or hold a mini-competition between the appointed suppliers.
Scope of Services
Printed book supply E-book platforms and licensing Reading list fulfilment Associated library content services
Lots
Single lot
Who Can Apply
Suits academic booksellers, library suppliers and e-book aggregators that can serve university libraries in both print and digital formats. No new suppliers can join. It ends on 31 July 2027, so firms outside it should prepare for SUPC's re-tender over the coming months.
Buyer Benefits
Libraries get pre-agreed discounts and service terms on a category they order from every week, without tendering. Having print and e-book supply under one agreement lets them choose the format that suits each title and budget, and reading list fulfilment helps them make sure students can get core texts in time for teaching.
Next Steps
Appointed suppliers should stay close to acquisitions librarians, track how quickly reading list titles are supplied and keep that data for the re-tender. Others should prepare for the successor before 31 July 2027: build references from university or college libraries, document e-book platform access and licensing models, and watch SUPC and Find a Tender for the notice.
How Athena Can Help
Library supply bids are often close on discount, so service answers decide them. Athena's bid content writers set out your reading list turnaround, print supply and e-book access in answers that match the evaluation criteria, and a competitor analysis shows where rival booksellers are likely to outscore you.
Our framework readiness service prepares the selection responses, policies and case studies ahead of the 2027 re-tender, and Athena's library tender support can also take on direct tenders from individual universities and colleges.
