NEPO418 Library Books & Digital Content

Tender description

The Association of North East Councils Trading as the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) is seeking to establish a multi-lot, multi-supplier Framework Agreement for the provision and servicing of adult fiction and non-fiction books, children's fiction and non-fiction books, multi media material and digital content including eBooks, eAudio, eMagazines and eNewspapers; delivered to central delivery points, individual branch libraries and other contracting authority establishments. The future Framework Agreement will replace the existing NEPO418 Library Books & eBooks Framework which expires 31 March 2022. Lot 1: Adult Fiction & Non-Fiction Books The purpose of the prior information notice (PIN) is to provide advance notice to the marketplace of the tendering opportunity and intentions of NEPO to hold market consultation activities with suppliers to help shape the future Framework Agreement. NEPO are not advertising this PIN as a mechanism to reduce future procurement timescales. NEPO intends to publish a soft market testing questionnaire via the NEPO eTendering portal. The questionnaire will be used to assess interest in the tendering opportunity and to gain information and insight from the market to help shape the future NEPO418 Framework Agreement design. The soft market testing questionnaire will be made accessible via the NEPO eTendering portal on Monday 23 August 2021 with a submission deadline of 12 p.m. Friday 27 August 2021. Suppliers wishing to access and complete the soft market testing questionnaire must first register on the portal using the following link https://procontract.due-north.com/register?openform In addition, NEPO intends to hold individual market consultation meetings. Market consultation meetings advertised openly via this PIN are limited in number and will take place the week commencing Tuesday 31 August 2021. Suppliers wishing to register attendance must do so in writing to Marie Bartup (Marie.Bartup@nepo.org) no later than 12 p.m. on 27 August 2021. Appointments will be no longer than 1 hour and NEPO intend to conduct these sessions virtually through online meeting platform applications. NEPO anticipates these virtual meeting sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams or other secure meeting platforms. The time and location of each appointment will be confirmed following the registration deadline and places will be secured on a first come first serve basis. Suppliers wishing to attend the virtual market consultation meetings should be capable of meeting the requirements under any of the applicable lots as a whole within section II.2. NEPO reserves the right to seek assurances from interested suppliers prior to allocating a place. Attendance at market consultation is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement. Please note the above dates may be subject to change depending on availability and supplier uptake. Lot 2: Children's Fiction & Non-Fiction Books The purpose of the prior information notice (PIN) is to provide advance notice to the marketplace of the tendering opportunity and intentions of NEPO to hold market consultation activities with suppliers to help shape the future Framework Agreement. NEPO are not advertising this PIN as a mechanism to reduce future procurement timescales. NEPO intends to publish a soft market testing questionnaire via the NEPO eTendering portal. The questionnaire will be used to assess interest in the tendering opportunity and to gain information and insight from the market to help shape the future NEPO418 Framework Agreement design. The soft market testing questionnaire will be made accessible via the NEPO eTendering portal on Monday 23 August 2021 with a submission deadline of 12 p.m. Friday 27 August 2021. Suppliers wishing to access and complete the soft market testing questionnaire must first register on the portal using the following link https://procontract.due-north.com/register?openform In addition, NEPO intends to hold individual market consultation meetings. Market consultation meetings advertised openly via this PIN are limited in number and will take place the week commencing Tuesday 31 August 2021. Suppliers wishing to register attendance must do so in writing to Marie Bartup (Marie.Bartup@nepo.org) no later than 12 p.m. on 27 August 2021. Appointments will be no longer than 1 hour and NEPO intend to conduct these sessions virtually through online meeting platform applications. NEPO anticipates these virtual meeting sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams or other secure meeting platforms. The time and location of each appointment will be confirmed following the registration deadline and places will be secured on a first come first serve basis. Suppliers wishing to attend the virtual market consultation meetings should be capable of meeting the requirements under any of the applicable lots as a whole within section II.2. NEPO reserves the right to seek assurances from interested suppliers prior to allocating a place. Attendance at market consultation is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement. Please note the above dates may be subject to change depending on availability and supplier uptake. Lot 3: Digital Content The purpose of the prior information notice (PIN) is to provide advance notice to the marketplace of the tendering opportunity and intentions of NEPO to hold market consultation activities with suppliers to help shape the future Framework Agreement. NEPO are not advertising this PIN as a mechanism to reduce future procurement timescales. NEPO intends to publish a soft market testing questionnaire via the NEPO eTendering portal. The questionnaire will be used to assess interest in the tendering opportunity and to gain information and insight from the market to help shape the future NEPO418 Framework Agreement design. The soft market testing questionnaire will be made accessible via the NEPO eTendering portal on Monday 23 August 2021 with a submission deadline of 12 p.m. Friday 27 August 2021. Suppliers wishing to access and complete the soft market testing questionnaire must first register on the portal using the following link https://procontract.due-north.com/register?openform In addition, NEPO intends to hold individual market consultation meetings. Market consultation meetings advertised openly via this PIN are limited in number and will take place the week commencing Tuesday 31 August 2021. Suppliers wishing to register attendance must do so in writing to Marie Bartup (Marie.Bartup@nepo.org) no later than 12 p.m. on 27 August 2021. Appointments will be no longer than 1 hour and NEPO intend to conduct these sessions virtually through online meeting platform applications. NEPO anticipates these virtual meeting sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams or other secure meeting platforms. The time and location of each appointment will be confirmed following the registration deadline and places will be secured on a first come first serve basis. Suppliers wishing to attend the virtual market consultation meetings should be capable of meeting the requirements under any of the applicable lots as a whole within section II.2. NEPO reserves the right to seek assurances from interested suppliers prior to allocating a place. Attendance at market consultation is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement. Please note the above dates may be subject to change depending on availability and supplier uptake.