Scope
Description
Planned Procurement Notice.
Notice Reference (Unique ID):
PPN-DFE-SCT - LVHV - 2025-01
Title of the Procurement:
Standardisation and Supply of Tail-End Goods for Schools
Contracting Authority Name:
Department for Education (DfE)
Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT
Email: tega.egube@education.gov.uk
Portal: https://education.app.jaggaer.com/
1. Subject-Matter of the Contract
DfE intends to procure or identify the best supply route for supply of low-value, high-variety-high volume- school consumables (tail-end goods), such as classroom stationery, hygiene supplies, and facilities consumables. The goal is to develop and supply a standardised core item list, rationalised for national use by state-funded schools in England.
1. This annual spend estimate across the school estate is between £500miliion and £1.5billion.
2. The budgets currently reside with schools who have decision authority over their procurement.
3. The DfE through this procurement is putting in place or finding a framework that will represent the best deal for schools.
4. As such award of this framework in part or all does not commit the DfE to award a contract but allows it to create or identify what it considers to be the best supply source.
5. Once the DfE finds that solution, it will work to inform and engage schools of the framework with the aim of onboarding them to the deal. DfE will collaborate with other governmental and public sector organisations to do so.
2. Planned Procurement Procedure
Competitive Flexible Procedure
Dynamic Market Membership: No
Two-envelope system (Stage 1 - quality/technical Stage 2 - pricing)
3. Procurement Stages and estimated dates
Preliminary market engagement Aug 1 -Sept 10, 2025 (40 days)
Participation stage Sept 12 -Oct 7, 2025 (25 days)
Evaluation of participation Oct 8 - Oct 14, 2025 (7 days)
Tender Stage 1 (Quality/Core Basket) Oct 21st - Nov 1, 2025 (10 days)
Tender Stage 2 (Price Competition) Nov 7 - 17 2025 (10 days)
Standstill Period Nov 20 - Nov 28 (8 days)
Contract Award & Onboarding Dec 1 2025 and onward
The above schedule is a planned schedule. Market engagements will inform the need for compliance with this schedule or the use of other compliant and commercially viable route if evidence of best value can be identified during the engagement stage or later in the process.
4. Contract Value and Duration
Estimated total value: £500 million to £1.5billion annually.
Duration: 1 year + optional 1-year extension.
Is this subdivided into lots? No - single core list lot (with option to appoint multiple suppliers if advantageous)
Market engagements may indicate the need for multiple lots.
6. Access to Procurement Documents
This will be determined following market engagements.
7. Expression of Interest
Interested suppliers are encouraged to attend a pre-market engagement session.
Deadline for registration of interest: 21 August 2025
Registration link or email: suppliers should register their interest by sending a message via Jaggaer. This opportunity is listed as Educational Supplies (Low Value, High Volume) for schools. Project Code: 10082, Reference: DFE-SCT - LVHV - 2025-01. Guidance to register and access opportunities can be found here
8. Other Relevant Information
- Contract open to: All suppliers meeting the conditions of participation
- Eligibility: SMEs and large suppliers encouraged
- Award criteria:
Stage 1
- Technical quality - (Top 4 suppliers meeting threshold will be progressed)
- Service capability and substitution handling
- Sustainability and social value: will be considered in final evaluation
- Contract performance conditions: MI reporting, price controls, substitution rules
- Geography: England-wide distribution (state-funded schools)
Stage 2
- Price Competitiveness - Most competitive bid
Market engagement will inform the number of suppliers awarded and the terms of awards such as if offers/awards will be made at the price terms of winning bidder.
The DfE is keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Consideration will also be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations.
Total value (estimated)
- £500,000,000 excluding VAT
- £600,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 December 2025 to 1 December 2026
- Possible extension to 1 December 2027
- 2 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
Good performance
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 30199000 - Paper stationery and other items
Participation
Technical ability conditions of participation
1. Relevant Experience:
The supplier must demonstrate experience in delivering both low-value and high-value procurement solutions across the education sector, including experience working with schools or similar institutions.
2. Understanding of School Buyer Needs:
The supplier must provide evidence of knowledge of school procurement behaviours, including common needs, pain points, and patterns in purchasing behaviour across a diverse school landscape.
3. Capability to Standardise and Aggregate:
The supplier must demonstrate their capability to develop a standardised, aggregated portfolio of goods that meets the needs of a wide variety of schools, enabling consistency and economies of scale.
4. Savings Capture:
The supplier must provide examples of where they have delivered measurable savings through aggregation, standardisation, or demand management strategies in similar settings.
5. Tools and Systems for Efficient Procurement:
The supplier must describe the user-friendly digital tools or systems they offer to support efficient, transparent, and accessible procurement for end-users (e.g. school staff).
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
12 September 2025
Enquiry deadline
1 October 2025, 11:59pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
7 October 2025, 11:59pm
Electronic auction will be used
Yes
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
1 December 2025
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 1 January 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ability to develop a standardised basket - agregation, standardisation, experience supplying low value high volume products to schools, ability to deliver user friendly tools to support school... |
This is 100% for this stage |
Quality | 50% |
| Price of basket | 100% for this stage |
Price | 50% |
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Reduced tendering period
Yes
Qualifying planned procurement notice - minimum 10 days
Contracting authority
Department for Education
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDZG-3487-DPVD
Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P3BT
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government