Jisc Services Limited is preparing a new open framework for digital assessment and feedback solutions, with an estimated value of £30 million excluding VAT and £36 million including VAT. The framework is designed for higher and further education assessment technology and includes platforms, academic integrity tools, secure assessment solutions, ePortfolios and automated feedback and grading.
The tender is currently expected to be published on 5 October 2026, giving suppliers a useful preparation window. Jisc has also made draft procurement documents available for supplier feedback before the live competition.
If your organisation supplies assessment, academic integrity or education technology, speak to Thornton & Lowe about your bid readiness before the October tender.
Six routes into the framework
The planned framework contains six lot routes:
- Lot 1: Digital Assessment Platforms
- Lot 2: Originality and Academic Integrity Tools
- Lot 3a: Online Proctoring and Remote Invigilation
- Lot 3b: Lockdown Browsers and Secure Assessment Environments
- Lot 4: Learner-Centred ePortfolio Solutions
- Lot 5: Automatic Feedback and Grading Systems
The scope creates opportunities for both broad assessment-platform providers and specialist technology suppliers. Lot 5 is particularly notable because it explicitly includes rule-based, AI-assisted and machine-assisted approaches to marking and feedback.
The planned Find a Tender notice provides the latest timetable, draft framework structure and anticipated award criteria.
An open framework with unlimited suppliers
Jisc intends to establish an open framework, with awarded suppliers carried over when the framework reopens and new suppliers able to bid at future opening points. The current plan is to reopen at least once within the first three years and at least once more during the following five-year period.
There is no proposed cap on supplier numbers. Call-offs are expected to support direct award by ranking, use of a desktop calculator and further competition.
For technology firms that are new to public procurement, our IT, digital and technology tenders guide explains some of the wider evidence and commercial issues buyers typically assess.
What will Jisc evaluate?
The planned framework establishment weighting is 60% quality and 40% price. Anticipated quality themes include:
- accessibility
- interoperability and portability
- pilots and proofs of concept
- artificial intelligence
- digital environmental sustainability
- implementation, onboarding and change support
- product roadmap, innovation and responsiveness
- collaboration
- social value
- functional requirements
That mix is useful for bidders because it shows that product functionality alone will not carry the submission. Suppliers will need to explain how their technology is implemented, governed, integrated and improved over time.
Accessibility should be treated as a core delivery issue rather than a compliance paragraph. Education buyers need assurance that assessment tools support diverse learners and can operate reliably across different institutional environments.
What should suppliers prepare now?
Use the pre-tender period to assemble evidence around:
- implementation in universities, colleges or other complex organisations
- system availability, resilience and business continuity
- information security and data protection
- accessibility testing and inclusive design
- integration with learning platforms and institutional systems
- onboarding, migration and change management
- product development and roadmap governance
- AI governance, transparency and human oversight where applicable
- user support and service management
- measurable outcomes such as adoption, marking efficiency or reduced administration
Jisc is inviting comments on draft scope, functional requirements, pricing and the proposed SaaS agreement. Suppliers that have meaningful feedback should use the engagement period to identify commercial or technical requirements that could affect deliverability.
Key dates
- Planned procurement notice: 2 September 2026
- Estimated tender publication: 5 October 2026
- Estimated tender deadline: 4 November 2026 at 11:59pm
- Estimated award decision: 1 December 2026
- Planned framework start: 1 December 2026
- Initial term: to 30 November 2029
- Potential open-framework life: to 30 November 2034
Build the bid around outcomes, not product features
The strongest Jisc submission will show how the product improves assessment delivery for institutions, staff and learners. Technical functionality matters, but it should be connected to implementation, accessibility, integrity, security and measurable educational outcomes.
At Thornton & Lowe, we support software and technology suppliers with public sector bid strategy, tender writing and independent review. Contact our team if you want support preparing for the Jisc Digital Assessment & Feedback Framework.
