Scope
Reference
ITT/2026/FURN
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 for each lot (region), suppliers may bid and be appointed for more than one lot (region).
The suppliers selected will be able to provide a supply, installation, and packaging removal service for furniture across all Star Academies estate, this may also include a small-scale design element. 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 furniture and quality requirements are well managed and run in an efficient and consistent way across our entire estate.
The contract will run for an initial period of three years (plus a possible two further 12-month extensions) and successful bidders will remain on the contract for this period subject to performance and company stability (i.e. the company not going into administration). The tender is split into four lots to cover the respective regions where the schools are located, these are:
• Lot 1 - North West
• Lot 2 - West Yorkshire
• Lot 3 - West Midlands
• Lot 4 - London
Star are looking to shortlist up to three (3) companies per lot, identified from this Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), to receive the ITT pack which will provide a more detailed set of requirements. However, for the purposes of this shortlisting stage, bidders should assume that the ITT will include, but not be limited to:
• Supply and delivery of loose furniture items including but not limited to classroom chairs and desks, teacher chairs and desks, pedestals, office/admin chairs and desks, storage units for classrooms and office spaces. This may also include a small scale design element.
• Installation and packaging removal for goods.
The trust has provided a trust standard contract as part of the PSQ pack. 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.
Total value (estimated)
- £1,365,000 excluding VAT
- £1,638,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029
- Possible extension to 1 June 2031
- 5 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
optional two further 12-month extensions
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 39000000 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products
- 39100000 - Furniture
- 39130000 - Office furniture
- 39134000 - Computer furniture
- 39143200 - Dining-room furniture
- 39150000 - Miscellaneous furniture and equipment
- 39151000 - Miscellaneous furniture
- 39151300 - Modular furniture
- 39153000 - Conference-room furniture
- 39155000 - Library furniture
- 39156000 - Lounge and reception-area furniture
- 39157000 - Parts of furniture
- 39160000 - School furniture
- 39161000 - Kindergarten furniture
- 39180000 - Laboratory furniture
Not the same for all lots
Contract locations are shown in Lot sections, because they are not the same for all lots.
Lot 1. Lot 1 - North West
Description
Including but not limited to Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside - 15 schools
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Contract locations
- UKD - North West (England)
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Lot 2 - West Yorkshire
Description
Including but not limited to Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield - 6 schools
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Contract locations
- UKE4 - West Yorkshire
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Lot 3 - West Midlands
Description
Including but not limited to Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton - 12 schools
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Contract locations
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. Lot 4 - London
Description
Including but not limited to Greater London urban area including London, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Essex, and Kent - 3 schools
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Contract locations
- UKI - London
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot 1. Lot 1 - North West
Lot 2. Lot 2 - West Yorkshire
Lot 3. Lot 3 - West Midlands
Lot 4. Lot 4 - London
As per PA23_PSQ_Furniture_2026v2 - All documents are freely available at https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal/aspx/Home
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. Lot 1 - North West
Lot 2. Lot 2 - West Yorkshire
Lot 3. Lot 3 - West Midlands
Lot 4. Lot 4 - London
As per PA23_PSQ_Furniture_2026v2 - All documents are freely available at https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal/aspx/Home
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Lot 1 - North West
Lot 2. Lot 2 - West Yorkshire
Lot 3. Lot 3 - West Midlands
Lot 4. Lot 4 - London
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
26 January 2026, 12:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
2 February 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Electronic Tender Returns (Submission of Tender) via In-Tend Education e-Tendering Portal
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
19 February 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Simple description | Full award criteria details are available on the document PA23_PSQ_Furniture_2026v2 which is freely available at All documents are freely available at https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal/... |
Price |
Weighting description
Full award criteria details are available on the document PA23_PSQ_Furniture_2026v2 which is freely available at All documents are freely available at https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal/aspx/Home
Bidders are required to respond to each of the schedules that follow, by inserting their response to the question on the relevant documents or in separate documents as directed. The Institution may only score the information provided as directed in evaluation criteria. All sections of the PSQ...
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
This will be a two-stage above threshold competitive flexible procedure with the intention of creating a contract with one suitable supplier per lot.
Stage 1 - The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) which will allow the trust to shortlist up to three (3) suppliers per lot who meet the minimum requirements and score highest on the pricing, technical and competency questions in Part 3.
Stage 2 - These shortlisted suppliers will progress to the second stage of the process, the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage where further technical capability will be tested along with more refined pricing.
Every supplier must meet the mandatory minimum PSQ requirements which are detailed in Parts 1 and 2. Any suppliers who do not meet these requirements will be deemed unsuccessful and will not be shortlisted for the ITT stage (stage 2).
Documents
Associated tender documents
FURN - Contract to Supply Goods - PA2023 - Draft.pdf
Documents to be provided after the tender notice
All documents are freely available at https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal/aspx/Home
Contracting authority
STAR ACADEMIES
- Companies House: 07353849
Star Academies
Blackburn
BB1 2HT
United Kingdom
Contact name: Katie McWalters
Email: procurement@staracademies.org
Website: https://staracademies.org/
Region: UKD41 - Blackburn with Darwen
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government