PTFS Europe announce appointment to the APUC Framework for library services platforms
Last updated on: 7th April 2025| 13th January 2025 | Lauren Purton
Press Release
We are thrilled to announce that PTFS Europe has once again been appointed to the APUC Framework as a supplier for ‘Library Services Platform(s)’. Being on the framework means that we can continue to offer APUC’s Higher Education and Further Education member institutions our open source library management solutions through a transparent and efficient procurement process.
About PTFS Europe
PTFS Europe has a vision to make technology easy for libraries. We focus on enabling library users through high-quality, open-source software solutions. Our way of working is characterised by listening, finding solutions, reliable delivery and above all open communication. Our highly skilled team has a friendly and approachable style in delivering our quality implementation and support services.
We proudly work with customers across all UK library sectors, including public, academic, health, governmental, museum, law and special libraries. The reason so many customers continue to choose us is that we solve problems, we don’t sell software. When libraries join us as a customer, they are gaining the expertise of our developers, trainers, data migration experts, and experienced account managers to support them throughout the journey. As an ISO27001 accredited company, you can also rely on the quality and integrity of the support we’re providing.
Any questions? Please contact Andrew Auld, Commercial Director andrew.auld@openfifth.co.uk.
About APUC
APUC (Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges) Limited is the procurement centre of expertise for Scotland’s Universities and Colleges. As well as increasing value for money with procurement activities, APUC assist with collaborative contracting, best practice and training, and client support services.
APUC’s mission is to maximise the contribution that effective procurement makes to Scotland’s investment in teaching and research, while also sharing learnings and knowledge so other institutions can deliver more impact with the funds that they have available.
Please visit apuc-scot.ac.uk for more information.
APUC Framework appointment
Ranked 4th overall out of the six appointed suppliers in this competitive tender process, it means a lot as a small business to be positioned amongst some of the biggest suppliers in our sector. We were the highest ranked supplier for the commercial evaluation as we continue to demonstrate fantastic value for money for our customers. We also scored well across technical aspects, including the detailed requirements ‘Specification Grid’ and also ‘Functionality and Navigation Testing’, amongst others.
The evaluation criteria used in the APUC tender process have evolved since the 2020 assessment, representing advancement in technical capabilities, management standards and member requirements. We are proud that the open source products we support, service we provide, and our organisational systems are recognised as meeting these developing expectations.
PTFS Europe’s Commercial Director Andrew Auld had this to say about our appointment:
“To have this confirmation that the products we support and the services we deliver measure up to the big players in the industry make us very proud as a small business. This endorsement of our focus on high quality customer service and technical support is very welcome and our commitment to adding functionality to these open source software tools through our development projects is evident in the high functional and technical scores we have achieved. We look forward to working with more and more academic institutions as a result of this valuable framework.”
APUC members are Universities and Colleges in Scotland, however the framework is also open to all UK University consortia institutions to use and also FE Colleges members of the Crescent Purchasing Consortia (CPC). The CPC members include the Colleges of England, Wales and NI. In addition, the following purchasing consortia and their respective members have agreed in principle to participate in the Framework Agreement:
- London Universities Purchasing Consortium and its members (LUPC)
- North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium and its members (NWUPC)
- North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium and its members (NEUPC)
- Higher Education Purchasing Consortium Wales and its members (HEPCW)
- Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium its members (SUPC)
- Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC)
- Scottish Confederation of University Research Libraries (SCURL).
Koha library management system
With over 15,000 systems worldwide, Koha is one of the most widely used library management systems (LMS) in the world. Koha is entirely web-based for both staff and public functions. This helps make the system light, easy to use, easy to deploy and easy to manage.
The Koha LMS offers institutions great flexibility with its many integration capabilities, freeing customers from being tied to a limited software ecosystem. It can be used with virtually any discovery system; we bundled TDNet Discover in our package, however we can also provide Aspen Discovery, EDS and Summon to meet your needs, requirements and preferences.
Koha’s impressive feature set continues to evolve and expand to meet the needs of its user base. It includes modules for circulation, cataloguing, acquisitions, serials, course reserves, user management, inter-library loans, and more. Being open source, our customers also benefit from a global development community advancing its features and innovations, with our in-house developer team taking leading roles across the community.
