Scope
Reference
ITT/2026/MFD
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.
Total value (estimated)
- £8,000,000 excluding VAT
- £9,600,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2031
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 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
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Submission
Enquiry deadline
20 February 2026, 12:00pm
Submission type
Tenders
Tender submission deadline
2 March 2026, 9:00am
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
14 May 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Simple description | Full award criteria details are available on the document Star - PSQ - MFD 2026 Final which is freely available at https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal/ |
Price |
Weighting description
Full award criteria details are available on the document Star - PSQ - MFD 2026 Final which is freely available at https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal/
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
This will be a three-stage above threshold competitive flexible procedure with the intention of creating a contract with a single supplier.
The objective of this competitive flexible procedure is to identify the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT). Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the assessment criteria and percentage weightings set out within both this PSQ document and the ITT document.
Stage 1 - The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) which will allow the trust to shortlist up to six (6) suppliers who meet the minimum requirements and score highest on the pricing, technical and competency questions in Part 3. 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.
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.
Stage 3 - Following ITT submissions and initial evaluations, the 3 highest scoring suppliers will commence a third stage where suppliers will have the opportunity to prepare a presentation (topic tbc at ITT stage) which will not be directly scored but will be used for further understanding and final moderation and scoring.
Every supplier must meet the mandatory minimum 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
Documents to be provided after the tender notice
Contracting authority
STAR ACADEMIES
- Companies House: 07353849
Star Academies
Blackburn
BB1 2HT
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@staracademies.org
Website: http://www.staracademies.org
Region: UKD41 - Blackburn with Darwen
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government