Tender

Pilot to assess DfE-MIS data exchange for sector insight and policy decisions.

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

19 Jan 2026 at 06:38

Planning

12 Jan 2026 at 15:26

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education in the United Kingdom is conducting a procurement process for a pilot project titled "Pilot to assess DfE-MIS data exchange for sector insight and policy decisions." This initiative falls under the industry category of database services and aims to enhance data exchanges between school Management Information Systems (MIS) and the Department for Education (DfE). The procurement stage currently involves a tender update from 19th January 2026, following an initial planning phase on 12th January 2026. The project involves multiple phases, each running for approximately 6 to 12 weeks, and covers various regions across England, including UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF, UKG, UKH, UKI, UKJ, and UKK. The procurement method involves a collaborative pilot with interested MIS suppliers working with state-funded schools in England.

This tender presents significant opportunities for MIS suppliers aiming to engage with the public education sector in the UK. By participating, businesses can strengthen their relations with the Department for Education, contribute to standardising data across different systems, and develop advanced tools to aid schools and trusts. Suppliers with the capability to securely connect and exchange data with the DfE will find this project particularly suitable. This pilot not only supports the evolution of existing MIS tools but also offers a pathway to contribute to policy decision-making by providing near real-time data and facilitating benchmarking across schools. Engaging in this initiative could position suppliers as key players in shaping education data insights and policies, fostering business growth within the educational sector.

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Notice Title

Pilot to assess DfE-MIS data exchange for sector insight and policy decisions.

Notice Description

The Department for Education is keen to work with multiple MIS suppliers in England and explore how we can harness the potential of data to provide new and valuable insights to share with schools, academy trusts, and local authorities in England to improve outcomes for children and young people, parents and carers. During this pilot phase, we aim to test the value of increasing data flows from school MIS systems to DfE across selected data domains, to improve the breadth and timeliness of information available for system-level analysis. The individual pilots will run in phases, with each pilot designed to test the increase in data flows from school MIS systems to the DfE and is expected to run for approximately 6-12 weeks.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Purpose: The Department for Education is keen to work with multiple MIS suppliers in England and explore how we can harness the potential of data to provide new and valuable insights to share with schools, academy trusts, and local authorities in England to improve outcomes for children and young people, parents and carers. During this pilot phase, we aim to test the value of increasing data flows from school MIS systems to DfE across selected data domains, to improve the breadth and timeliness of information available for system-level analysis. The individual pilots will run in phases, with each pilot designed to test the increase in data flows from school MIS systems to the DfE and is expected to run for approximately 6-12 weeks. Benefits: * MIS suppliers- This pilot will contribute to strengthening relationship between MIS providers and the Department, supporting collaboration on standardising data held across different MIS systems so that insights are consistent. It also helps improve MIS tools to ensure they are useful to the school sector as possible. * Schools/ MATs - Schools and trusts will be able to feed into Department's policies much quicker, which will have a directly support improved outcomes for pupils. They will also gain ability to benchmark themselves against other similar establishments nationally. * The Department - Access to near real-time data from schools enables policy decisions to be informed more regularly and more effectively by data. The Department can explore opportunities to provide actionable benchmarking products back to the sector across multiple data domains. Scope: We would like to invite school MIS suppliers who are currently working in state-funded schools in England to take part in a pilot to explore this in more detail. As part of this pilot, we would like to: * Have an initial discussion around the coverage, data domains and data standards that currently exists within supplier systems. * Establish a secure, public API-based system-to-system connection to DfE enabling continuous and consistent data exchanges during a defined period, for a small number of schools/trusts across data domains. The timeframe for the pilot and data domains will be agreed collaboratively following an initial engagement meeting, allowing for adjustments as the pilot evolves. * Ensure that any sharing of data occurs only where data sharing is already agreed, or where it may warrant further exploration with the appropriate agreements in place. This will allow us to: * assess the structure and quality of data within the system. * inform where data and interoperability standards may be needed to enable consistent and privacy-respecting data exchanges * explore opportunities to generate actionable insights on an agreed data domain, initially to a small group of schools/trusts with a strong focus on providing timely benchmarking to the sector across different data domains and playing this back following the pilot phase. How to participate: We are interested in engaging with MIS suppliers who are currently working in the schools' sector in England, who can, with the data controller's agreement, provide access via a secure connection to data for either a small group of local authority schools and/or a Multi-Academy Trust (20+ schools). If you are interested in participating, please complete this form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=yXfS-grGoU2187O4s0qC-TzOaf_74ghBiwshv1In5UpUQjlZUzFQMFdINldJSkM5WUszMzVZS044My4u The following information will be required: * Name of supplier * Contact details for the initial meeting (name, email, phone if applicable) * Indication of dates available for an introductory discussion * Link to any published public API information * A MAT/trust or group of schools you wish to include as part of the pilot Please note: Each MIS supplier may submit one application. While suggested trusts or schools may be provided, partnership decisions will be confirmed in consultation with the applicant. Selection process: We are happy to work with current school MIS suppliers who meet the criteria outlined above. We will engage with each MIS supplier in a phased approach.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0603e4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004155-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

72320000 - Database services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Mar 20283 years to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
datainsights.engagement@education.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

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

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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