# Upgrade to the University of Birmingham's Library Management system - Alma and Primo applications

> A sourced UK public sector contract award published by THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM.

## Key facts

- Buyer: [THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM](/buyers/university-of-birmingham/contract-awards)
- Supplier: [EX LIBRIS \(UK\) LIMITED](/suppliers/ex-libris-uk/public-sector-contract-awards)
- Award value: £1,500,000
- Tender value: £1,500,000
- Award date: 22 November 2017
- Published: 28 March 2018
- Contract start: 15 December 2017
- Contract end: 14 December 2020
- Stage: awarded
- Procurement category: services
- Notice ID: 2093bb81-6bc5-4c51-928e-4af9c3f698b5-199251
- OCID: ocds-b5fd17-ec611139-5994-4ba4-a63f-8dc80d8a729b

## Description

The University intends to award a contract for up to five years for the upgrade and maintenance of its current library management system \(LMS\) to Ex Libris, a specialist in software for the library sector\. This system is owned, supplied and supported exclusively by Ex Libris\. Since first procuring the Ex Libris LMS in 2013, the University has made a substantial investment in Ex Libris' systems in terms of working processes and staff training\. The University has decided to upgrade from Ex Libris' Aleph, SFX, MetaLib, Verde and Primo products to their Alma and Primo products and extend the contract period\. The University is due to open an international branch campus in September 2018, for which an LMS capable of being run via cloud-based SaaS will be required\. Given the requirement for comprehensive testing in advance of a September opening date, the timescale does not support a full procurement process\. In order to achieve the necessary timescales, the University has identified that it needs to work with its existing supplier\. The University has additionally identified that the high costs associated with changing LMS supplier are incompatible with the budget and staff capacity available, and therefore when considering the relative benefit, the cost of changing supplier at this time would outweigh the advantage which might accrue\. The University has identified that for reasons of timescale and to achieve its aims within available staff capacity and alongside its core business activities, the products supplied by Ex Libris are the only ones capable of meeting the University's requirements and this is the only viable option for the University at this time\.

## Related contract awards

- [Framework Agreement for the Provision of Construction Project Management Consultancy Services](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-8387c24c-4125-4c1b-93eb-dd4c1524c16c) — THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
- [Provision of Coach and Chauffeur Hire](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-b68525c7-7d1f-488b-95a8-de1d48f975cc) — THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
- [Aston Webb Student Precinct - West Phase - QS & PD](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-dc1ff931-2066-482f-8e43-84eb7cf00f75) — THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
- [Life \+ Health Sciences Cluster - QS & PD](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-1a4783ed-fbf7-4a36-86f3-18783acd9841) — THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
- [CampusM Solution Renewal](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-e3e25276-0fa4-4897-bce7-f67da84fd3db) — UNIVERSITY OF DERBY
- [Online Reading List System and Digital Content Solution](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-68d67411-78f0-4ead-97ca-7b4aebe71c16) — LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY
- [Library Management Systems](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-305318c6-0871-486a-b3e5-f1ec42f08c77) — THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
- [Contract for the Provision of Library Management Systems and Associated Services](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-4a4c3364-b597-4d47-9415-ceaad86e6403) — THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
- [SEN20231-SEN-TAXI-Brooksby Melton College](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-08326797-d738-447c-9aa6-156a9505a094) — Leicestershire County Council
- [2026-08-07 09:00 - QBE959 Newmarket & Gazeley to Riverwalk School, Bury St Edmunds - AWARD](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-b8f51468-ddfc-4b13-b56e-af10669ad163) — Suffolk County Council Passenger Transport
- [QHL118 09:00 2026-09-01 Glemsford to WS Training, Haverhill - 4-seater vehicle required - AWARD](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-97ec37c1-e8fe-4ab5-a737-0f93dfeabe48) — Suffolk County Council Passenger Transport
- [2025-097 Microsoft Enterprise Agreement & Associated Services](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-799c2c53-9c0f-44b7-a80c-04573ee782e9) — Ofgem

## Source

[View the original notice on Contracts Finder](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2093bb81-6bc5-4c51-928e-4af9c3f698b5-199251)