Published date: 11 January 2022

Last edited date: 13 January 2022

This notice was replaced on 31 August 2022

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 31 August 2022)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Technical publications - 22121000

Location of contract

SO17 1BJ

Value of contract

£4,000,000 to £6,000,000

Procurement reference

2021UoS-0341

Published date

11 January 2022

Closing date

10 February 2022

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 August 2022

Contract end date

31 July 2027

Contract type

Supply contract

Procedure type

Competitive dialogue (above threshold)

Tenders are invited from pre-qualified suppliers after discussion of requirements and potential solutions.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes


Description

The University is seeking to engage a supplier with a strong track record of successfully delivering publishing production services within scholarly communications field. During 2022, the NIHR Journal Library (NJL) plans to transition to a new publishing model - a "threaded-publication" format. Instead of publishing a monograph the NJL will publish a series of shorter research articles during the course of the research, that will report on the different elements of the commissioned work - then threading the articles and a synopsis document together online to provide complete publication of the commissioned research.

To achieve this, the following activities summarise what is considered within scope of this procurement:
• Editorial and production management of NJL peer-reviewed and accepted manuscripts through to delivery of files that meet NJL publishing model and web platform specification
• To include copy-edit, artwork redraw, Typesetting XML-First, proofing, metadata management, Indexing.
• Journal development - there will be variations to the contract during the contracting period relating to an increase to the numbers of expected manuscripts
• The provision or management of the NJL website is excluded from the scope of this project.

Total and complete publication of research findings is part of the NIHR's commitment to the principles of open access and adding value to all stages of research, ensuring best use of public money to benefit the health and wealth of the nation. 

The NIHR was the world's first health and care research funder to publish comprehensive accounts of its commissioned research within its own publicly and permanently available online journal series. The NIHR Journals Library currently comprises a suite of five open access peer-reviewed journals reporting results from a range of health and care research areas.
They are: 
• Health Technology Assessment  
• Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation 
• Health and Social Care Delivery Research 
• Public Health Research 
• Programme Grants for Applied Research 

A sixth journal, Global Health Research, is in development and will be added to the suite of journals during the proposed contract term.
Contract Period:
The University proposes to enter into a Contract for five years - this will be the maximum contract period, including any potential extensions with the successful tenderer(s).
This will comprise of an initial contract period of three years with an option to extend by a further two years subject to satisfactory performance and at the discretion of the University.
Contract Value:
It is estimated that the total value of this contract including any optional extension periods will be between £4,000,000 and £6,000,000 GBP (excluding VAT).
TUPE: The University envisages that TUPE will apply to this procurement. Further details will be provided to short-listed bidders following the selection stage.


More information

Previous notice about this procurement

The Provision of NIHR Journals Library : Production Services

  • Early engagement
  • Published 25 August 2021

Additional text

E-Tendering Portal: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool, In-Tend (https://intendhost.co.uk/ universityofsouthampton) to manage this procurement and to communicate with potential suppliers and/or tenderers (as appropriate).
All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from In-Tend.
Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued and all communications with the University, including the submission of Selection Stage and/or Invitation to Tender responses will be conducted via In-Tend.
Regular monitoring of the portal is the responsibility of the potential supplier/tenderer.
If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the procurement documentation.
Once you have logged in as a supplier: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your organisation against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'.
Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that formal expressions of interest in the project must be by way of completion and return of the relevant documents via In-Tend.
Please note, to preserve the integrity of the procurement, all communications with the University must be made via the correspondence function within In-Tend.
Publication of Award Details: In accordance with Regulation 50, paragraph (2) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and subject to Article 5 and Annex 5, Part D (13) of Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (if applicable), the University intends to publish the value of any resulting contract at the award stage, and reserves the right to do so. By submitting a response, potential suppliers/tenderers are consenting to publication of this information unless otherwise agreed in advance with the University.
Costs and Expenses: Potential suppliers/tenderers are solely responsible for their costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and submission of responses and participation in this and all future stages of this procurement. Under no circumstances will the University be liable for any costs or expenses borne by potential suppliers/tenderers or any of their supply chain, partners or advisers in this procurement process.
The University is not liable for any costs in the event of the cancellation of this procurement process.


About the buyer

Contact name

Emma Raddon

Address

BUILDING 37, HIGHFIELD CAMPUS,UNIVERSITY ROAD
SOUTHAMPTON
SO171BJ
England

Telephone

02380 598000

Email

procurement@soton.ac.uk

Website

http://www.southampton.ac.uk