Tender

Educational Supplies

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

11 Aug 2025 at 12:40

PlanningUpdate

05 Aug 2025 at 15:51

Planning

01 Aug 2025 at 14:36

Planning

01 Aug 2025 at 14:14

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education is currently planning a procurement process for "Educational Supplies" aimed at standardising and supplying tail-end goods such as classroom stationery and hygiene supplies for schools across England. This procurement, categorised within the Goods industry, will involve a flexible competitive procedure and is valued between £500 million and £1.5 billion annually. Based in London, the Department will manage the process, which includes several key dates: the pre-market engagement stage, running from August 1 to September 10, 2025, followed by participation, tender, and evaluation phases leading up to a contract award by December 1, 2025. This initiative marks a collaborative effort to ensure state-funded schools receive cost-effective, high-volume consumables.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses, particularly those experienced in servicing the educational sector with low-value, high-volume goods. With an emphasis on standardisation and aggregation, firms that can offer competitive pricing, sustainable solutions, and demonstrate a deep understanding of the educational procurement landscape will find this opportunity particularly well-suited for growth. The Department encourages participation from Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), and consortia, aiming to foster a diversified supplier base and provide ample market engagement. Potential suppliers are advised to prepare for a two-envelope tendering system, with the engagement providing a platform for refining proposals that align with the Department's strategic objectives.

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Notice Title

Educational Supplies

Notice Description

Planned Procurement Notice. Notice Reference (Unique ID): PPN-DFE-SCT - LVHV - 2025-01 Title of the Procurement: Standardisation and Supply of Tail-End Goods for Schools Contracting Authority Name: Department for Education (DfE) Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT Email: tega.egube@education.gov.uk Portal: https://education.app.jaggaer.com/ 1. Subject-Matter of the Contract DfE intends to procure or identify the best supply route for supply of low-value, high-variety-high volume- school consumables (tail-end goods), such as classroom stationery, hygiene supplies, and facilities consumables. The goal is to develop and supply a standardised core item list, rationalised for national use by state-funded schools in England. 1. This annual spend estimate across the school estate is between PS500miliion and PS1.5billion. 2. The budgets currently reside with schools who have decision authority over their procurement. 3. The DfE through this procurement is putting in place or finding a framework that will represent the best deal for schools. 4. As such award of this framework in part or all does not commit the DfE to award a contract but allows it to create or identify what it considers to be the best supply source. 5. Once the DfE finds that solution, it will work to inform and engage schools of the framework with the aim of onboarding them to the deal. DfE will collaborate with other governmental and public sector organisations to do so. 2. Planned Procurement Procedure Competitive Flexible Procedure Dynamic Market Membership: No Two-envelope system (Stage 1 - quality/technical Stage 2 - pricing) 3. Procurement Stages and estimated dates Preliminary market engagement Aug 1 -Sept 10, 2025 (40 days) Participation stage Sept 12 -Oct 7, 2025 (25 days) Evaluation of participation Oct 8 - Oct 14, 2025 (7 days) Tender Stage 1 (Quality/Core Basket) Oct 21st - Nov 1, 2025 (10 days) Tender Stage 2 (Price Competition) Nov 7 - 17 2025 (10 days) Standstill Period Nov 20 - Nov 28 (8 days) Contract Award & Onboarding Dec 1 2025 and onward The above schedule is a planned schedule. Market engagements will inform the need for compliance with this schedule or the use of other compliant and commercially viable route if evidence of best value can be identified during the engagement stage or later in the process. 4. Contract Value and Duration Estimated total value: PS500 million to PS1.5billion annually. Duration: 1 year + optional 1-year extension. Is this subdivided into lots? No - single core list lot (with option to appoint multiple suppliers if advantageous) Market engagements may indicate the need for multiple lots. 6. Access to Procurement Documents This will be determined following market engagements. 7. Expression of Interest Interested suppliers are encouraged to attend a pre-market engagement session. Deadline for registration of interest: 21 August 2025 Registration link or email: suppliers should register their interest by sending a message via Jaggaer. This opportunity is listed as Educational Supplies (Low Value, High Volume) for schools. Project Code: 10082, Reference: DFE-SCT - LVHV - 2025-01. Guidance to register and access opportunities can be found here 8. Other Relevant Information - Contract open to: All suppliers meeting the conditions of participation - Eligibility: SMEs and large suppliers encouraged - Award criteria: Stage 1 - Technical quality - (Top 4 suppliers meeting threshold will be progressed) - Service capability and substitution handling - Sustainability and social value: will be considered in final evaluation - Contract performance conditions: MI reporting, price controls, substitution rules - Geography: England-wide distribution (state-funded schools) Stage 2 - Price Competitiveness - Most competitive bid Market engagement will inform the number of suppliers awarded and the terms of awards such as if offers/awards will be made at the price terms of winning bidder. The DfE is keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Consideration will also be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations.

Planning Information

Interested suppliers are encouraged to attend a pre-market engagement session. Deadline for registration of interest: 21 August 2025 Registration link or email: suppliers should register their interest by sending a message via Jaggaer. This opportunity is listed as Educational Supplies (Low Value, High Volume) for schools. Project Code: 10082, Reference: DFE-SCT – LVHV - 2025-01. Guidance to register and access opportunities can be found here. Register for SSQ _612 and you will be able to see messages posted by the DfE and also send messages to DfE if you have any questions.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-056b87
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047638-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages


CPV Codes

30199000 - Paper stationery and other items

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£500,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£500,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
1 Oct 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
12 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2025 - 1 Dec 2026 1-2 years
Recurrence
2026-01-01

Notice Status

Tender Status
Withdrawn
Lots Status
Withdrawn
Awards Status
Cancelled
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Additional Buyers

MISSING

Contact Name
Tega Solomon Egube
Contact Email
policyassurance.commercialqueries@education.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+447946672526

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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