Scope
Reference
EDR-24-010
Description
The Education Authority (EA) invites tenders for the supply and delivery of Teaching and Learning Resources (including Assessment Materials) to individual schools and EA locations within Northern Ireland for a period of 4 years. This framework agreement is let by the Northern Ireland Education Authority ("EA") and is open to the EA, including NI educational bodies as follows and at some point, during the life of the framework agreement these bodies may wish to utilize the agreement and should have access, at any point, with the permission of EA. This framework agreement is not intended to replace any current contracts/framework agreements that participating or non-participating institutions may already have in place. https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/services/schools-plus Primary and Post Primary schools under the control of the EA, Catholic Maintained Schools, Independent Schools in NI, Irish Medium Schools in NI, both Controlled and Voluntary Grammar Schools, Nursery School for NI (both controlled and Catholic Maintained), school meals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth Centre's. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/further-education-fe-colleges Further Education Colleges in NI, https://www.nicie.org/parents/school-finder/ Grant Controlled Integrated Education Schools in NI, https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/northern-ireland/ Independent School in NI, Libraries NI: https://www.librariesni.org.uk/Libraries/, EA Teachers' and Educational Centre's, Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment NI (CCEA), Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, Middletown Centre for Autism, Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC), Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), Pre-Schools and Nurseries included within the EA's Pre-School Education Programme (PSEP).
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £50,000,000 excluding VAT
- £50,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2029
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 22000000 - Printed matter and related products
- 22100000 - Printed books, brochures and leaflets
- 22110000 - Printed books
- 80100000 - Primary education services
- 80200000 - Secondary education services
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Lot constraints
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:
Tenderers may bid for one, multiple or all Lots.
Lot 1. Textbooks
Description
Textbooks - Suitable for All Key Stage: Early Years, Primary & Secondary. To include but not limited to.
a) Fiction books e.g. Reading books, Picture books
b) Non-Fiction books
c) Curriculum books e.g. textbooks, revision guides, assessment books, workbooks
d) Teaching Resources e.g. Audio-Visual Aids, e-learning / technology CD's, DVD's
e) Reference books e.g. maps, dictionaries, atlases, manuals
f) Textbooks available in other languages e.g. Ulster Scots, Irish, Polish etc.
g) Irish Medium Titles
h) Digital Learning Resources
The value detailed in this lot is estimated. There is no commitment as to the usage, volume or value of products required under this lot. The EA reserves the right to reallocate any values. between all lots under this Framework where required throughout the Framework. Agreement Period, within the limit of the overall awarded Framework Value.
Lot value (estimated)
- £12,000,000 excluding VAT
- £15,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Pupil Workbooks and Resources
Description
Pupil Workbooks and Resources: Suitable for All Key Stage: Early Years, Primary & Secondary. To include but not limited to;
a) Pupils Aged Up To 11 Years including those for use in Early Childhood; Special
Education and General Education.
b) Pupils Aged Above 11 Years including those for use in Special Education and General
Education
The value detailed in this lot is estimated. There is no commitment as to the usage, volume or value of products required under this lot. The EA reserves the right to reallocate any values. between all lots under this Framework where required throughout the Framework. Agreement Period, within the limit of the overall awarded Framework Value.
Lot value (estimated)
- £12,000,000 excluding VAT
- £15,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Assessment Resources
Description
Assessment Resources: Suitable for All Key Stage: Early Years, Primary & Secondary. To include but not limited to;
a) Educational Assessment Resources for Pre-School (early years)
b) Educational Assessment Resources for Primary and Post Primary Pupils
c) Assessment Resources for the Transfer of Pupils from Primary to Post Primary
Education
d) Assessment Resources for Health and Wellbeing
e) Assessment Resources for Mental Health
f) Assessments for Clinical Psychology
g) Assessments for Speech and Language
h) Assessments for Early Childhood
i) Assessments for General Education
The value detailed in this lot is estimated. There is no commitment as to the usage, volume or value of products required under this lot. The EA reserves the right to reallocate any values. between all lots under this Framework where required throughout the Framework. Agreement Period, within the limit of the overall awarded Framework Value.
Lot value (estimated)
- £12,000,000 excluding VAT
- £15,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. Music Materials
Description
Music Materials: Suitable for All Key Stage: early Years, Primary & Secondary. To include but not limited to;
a) Sheet music
b) Scores
c) Vocal Orchestra Parts
d) Music Literature
The value detailed in this lot is estimated. There is no commitment as to the usage, volume or value of products required under this lot. The EA reserves the right to reallocate any values. between all lots under this Framework where required throughout the Framework. Agreement Period, within the limit of the overall awarded Framework Value.
Lot value (estimated)
- £4,000,000 excluding VAT
- £5,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
All Suppliers who pass the Mandatory requirements, Award Criteria and complete their
Pricing Schedule in accordance with the instructions will be awarded a place on the Framework on a Lot-by-Lot basis.
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. Textbooks
Lot 2. Pupil Workbooks and Resources
Lot 3. Assessment Resources
Lot 4. Music Materials
Suppliers must provide 2 detailed example[s] of having provided goods on a similar scale and scope as outlined in the Specification and the Lot(s) which they are bidding for within the last 3 years.
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Textbooks
Lot 2. Pupil Workbooks and Resources
Lot 3. Assessment Resources
Lot 4. Music Materials
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
18 July 2025, 3:00pm
Tender submission deadline
25 July 2025, 3:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
12 September 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AC3 Price | Suppliers must download and complete the document 05. Pricing Schedule Lots 1-4. The document must then be uploaded into the financial envelope on eTendersNI.within each of the Lots they are bidding... |
Cost |
Weighting description
Award criteria Pass/Fail
AC1 - Adherence to Specification of Requirements
AC2 - Technical Response
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
PME was carried out under the previous procurement regulations (PCR 2015) Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-017924
Contracting authority
the Education Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPHJ-6982-JPXY
40 Academy Street
Belfast
BT1 2NQ
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland