Digital Preservation Systems DPS

The Dynamic Purchasing System is being established by Jisc to provide Digital Preservation System solutions to institutions.

Institutions generate, consume and keep enormous amounts of Digital Information (“Data”). In order to ensure the long-term sustainability and access to such Data, institutions make use of Digital Preservation (DP) systems to keep the Data both safe (bit preservation) and usable. Digital preservation is a relatively complex process requiring significant storage and processing power. This DPS will enable HEIs and other institutions to be able to efficiently procure Digital Preservation Systems in a way that is compliant with the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Jisc is establishing a DPS that will enable Jisc and its customers to easily purchase value for money and technically sound Digital Preservation systems. The DPS will enable new

Suppliers who meet the requirements to join the DPS throughout the lifetime of the service.

To ensure maximum benefit for its customers, Jisc will enforce a number of technical entry requirements that any Supplier must fulfil before joining DPS. These are detailed fully in the Request to Participate document and include:

Integrity and Authenticity:

The system must precisely record and manage the integrity and authenticity of the digital content and metadata it holds. It must use an appropriate mechanism to verify that digital content has not accidentally or maliciously been changed over time and utilise metadata to record any actions enacted on the content.

Data Model:

The system should have a comprehensive data model that enables the complex structure of digital objects to be captured on ingest and accurately represented over time as they are managed and preserved.

Exit Strategy:

The system must provide a clear exit strategy to other systems, without vendor lock in. This must ensure that the inevitable migration to a future digital preservation system is possible. It should also minimise the effort and risk involved in such a migration.

Authenticity:

The system must enable authentic digital content and metadata to be ingested.

File Characteristics:

The system must enable authentic digital content and metadata to be ingested.

Replication and Storage Management:

The system must support replication and storage management. The system should have the ability to store multiple copies of ingested digital content on different storage systems in different geographical locations.

Preservation Actions:

The system should enable preservation actions that fulfil preservation plans designed to mitigate identified preservation risks.

Management of Digital Content and Metadata:

The system must support the management of digital content and metadata over time.

Discovery:

The system must enable the controlled discovery of, and access to, digital content and metadata.

Training and support:

The system must provide appropriate training, support and help for users.

The scope of the DPS and institutions eligible to use it are shown in the additional information section and fully detailed in the Request to Participate document.