Tender

Star Academies - Multifunctional Devices (MFDs) and Associated Products, Services and Support

STAR ACADEMIES

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

29 Jan 2026 at 17:17

Summary of the contracting process

Star Academies, a prominent multi-academy trust based in Blackburn, UK, has initiated a tender process for the procurement of Multifunctional Devices (MFDs) and associated services. This tender is part of a competitive flexible procedure aimed at appointing a single supplier to provide comprehensive support across the trust's network of 36 schools located in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Greater London. The contract is set to commence on 1st June 2026 and will run for a maximum of five years, contingent upon supplier performance. Key dates in the procurement timeline include a deadline for tender submissions by 2nd March 2026 and a completion of the award process by 14th May 2026. This tender falls under the "goods" category with an industry classification focusing on office machinery and related services, estimated at a gross value of £9,600,000.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in office machinery, particularly those capable of providing integrated MFD solutions and associated maintenance and support services. Businesses with expertise in cloud-based print management software, reprographic machinery maintenance, and software package management are well-suited to participate. The procurement method encourages direct engagement with suppliers to manage the contract comprehensively. As Star Academies is seeking suppliers ready to collaborate and tailor services to the trust's needs, businesses offering flexible, innovative solutions conducive to cost-effective asset management will find this a promising opportunity to expand their market reach and establish a long-term partnership with one of the UK's leading educational trusts.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Star Academies - Multifunctional Devices (MFDs) and Associated Products, Services and Support

Notice Description

Star Academies (Star) is a not-for-profit multi-academy trust. As one of the UK's leading trusts, Star runs a diverse network of primary and secondary schools across the UK. Star currently comprises 36 schools - 11 primary schools, 23 secondary schools and two 'all through' schools. There is also a Head Office and Professional Development institute, both based in Blackburn. Our schools are located in five regional clusters: Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands and Greater London. The trust is expected to grow over the lifetime of the contract. Further details about the trust can be found on our website: www.staracademies.org. Star Academies are looking to run an FTS (above threshold) competitive flexible procedure compliant under PA2023 to appoint a single suitable supplier across the trust. The supplier selected will be able to provide a complete service for the provision of multifunctional devices (MFD) and associated products, services and support in line with this PSQ and the final ITT documents. Whilst the tender will be used as a basis for future works and pricing, the trust are looking to engage suppliers who will work collaboratively with us and tailor their approach, so that they are able to meet the specific needs of the trust. This procurement also seeks to ensure that value for money is achieved for the trust and that the trust's MFD assets are pro-actively managed, maintained and run in an efficient and consistent way across the entire estate. The contract with the successful tenderer is intended to commence on 01 June 2026 and will be awarded for maximum of 5 years and the successful bidder will remain on the contract for this period subject to performance and company stability (i.e. the company not going into administration). Star are looking to shortlist up to six (6) suppliers, identified from in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), to receive the ITT pack which will provide a more detailed set of requirements (The trust reserves the right to take more than six suppliers through to ITT where scores at PSQ are so close as to make it difficult to draw a distinction between bidders).Bidders should assume that the ITT will include, but not be limited to: * General service requirements * MFD standard hardware devices and functionality * MFD Leasing and capital purchase arrangements * Cloud based print management software * MFD Maintenance, consumables, support and service provisions * Device utilisation management * Management information and reporting The trust will provide a draft contract during the PSQ stage. Star's preference is to engage with suppliers directly who will manage all aspects of the contract in house. If sub-contracts are required to meet the scope of this tender, these should be minimised. Any subcontracted arrangements must meet the same terms as the contract and will be the responsibility of the main supplier to manage.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-061271
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008238-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
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

42 - Industrial machinery

48 - Software package and information systems

50 - Repair and maintenance services

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

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

30100000 - Office machinery, equipment and supplies except computers, printers and furniture

30120000 - Photocopying and offset printing equipment

30121200 - Photocopying equipment

30122000 - Office-type offset printing machinery

30192400 - Reprographic supplies

30232110 - Laser printers

42991200 - Printing machinery

42991210 - Offset printing machinery

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48218000 - License management software package

50310000 - Maintenance and repair of office machinery

50313000 - Maintenance and repair of reprographic machinery

50313100 - Photocopier repair services

50313200 - Photocopier maintenance services

72267100 - Maintenance of information technology software

72316000 - Data analysis services

72500000 - Computer-related services

79800000 - Printing and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£8,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£8,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jan 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
2 Mar 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 31 May 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
STAR ACADEMIES
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@staracademies.org
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BLACKBURN
Postcode
BB1 2HT
Post Town
Blackburn
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD41 Blackburn with Darwen
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Blackburn with Darwen
Electoral Ward
Blackburn South East
Westminster Constituency
Blackburn

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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