New streamlined purchasing system helps organisations buy digital preservation solutions more quickly

Jisc has launched the digital preservation (DP) dynamic purchasing system (DPS) which offers a simple mechanism to encourage the take-up of digital preservation solutions.

Based on sector requirements for data management, this new system will enable Jisc members to procure digital preservation tools through a fast, compliant, and competitive process. The reduced timescale of the process and reduced resource requirements lead to significant savings for members. As a compliant process it also means reduced procurement risk.

Institutions generate, consume, and store large amounts of digital information. To ensure the long-term sustainability and access to such data and information, they make use of DP solutions to keep the data both safe and usable.

However, these solutions can be costly and inefficient to procure, adding to the need for a platform to streamline the process.

Simon Bains, university librarian and head of library services at the University of Aberdeen, said:

“Aberdeen is developing a digital preservation strategy as part of an ambitious programme of improvement to all aspects of our information governance and records management. Defining our needs and a viable solution is complicated and potentially very expensive, so I really welcome the news that Jisc is providing a dynamic purchasing system for digital preservation systems.

“This will bring greater simplicity to the process, reduce our in-house procurement effort, and make it faster, cheaper, and easier to procure a product that suits our needs.”

Neil Grindley, director of content and discovery at Jisc, added:

“Choosing an organisational solution for the long-term management of digital assets can be a daunting prospect, particularly for an individual or a small team. The digital preservation DPS will help institutions to more efficiently procure systems that are compliant and fit-for-purpose.”

Several digital preservation suppliers – Arkivum, Artefactual Systems Inc, Docbyte, Libnova, Preservica Ltd, and Sword Ping Network Solutions – are part of the initial launch, with more joining the digital preservation DPS shortly.

The digital preservation DPS will run for an initial three years to 3 March 2027 with the possibility of extending for a further year to 3 March 2028 and then to 2029.

To learn more about what a DPS is, using the DPS, and participating suppliers, join us for our introductory webinar: ‘Procuring digital preservation CAN be quick & painless—introducing Jisc’s dynamic purchasing system’, on 10 April 15:00 – 15:45.