HEART Academies Trust, supported by Value Match Services, is preparing the first reopening of its Framework to Provide Supply Agency Staff Services. The open framework is estimated at £850 million excluding VAT and £1.02 billion including VAT and gives eligible education-sector contracting authorities access to teaching and non-teaching recruitment services across the UK.
The reopening creates a direct opportunity for new suppliers, organisations that were unsuccessful previously and existing framework suppliers that want to expand or revise their offer.
If your recruitment business wants to join or extend its place on the framework, speak to Thornton & Lowe about preparing for the October tender.
Who can apply at the reopening?
The planned notice states that the following suppliers can apply or reapply:
- new suppliers not currently on the framework
- suppliers that previously applied unsuccessfully
- existing suppliers that want to expand or revise their offering
Successful suppliers will be added to the framework and can become eligible for direct awards or mini competitions. The contracting authority intends to reopen the agreement annually throughout its maximum eight-year life, which makes this a more accessible route than a traditional closed recruitment framework. The official planned procurement notice gives the current reopening timetable and service descriptions.
Three recruitment models
The framework contains three lots.
Lot 1: Direct Provision
This covers recruitment agencies supplying temporary, fixed-term and permanent teaching and education support staff directly to customers.
Lot 2: Master Vendor
The Master Vendor provides a managed recruitment service and takes responsibility for the wider supply chain. It can fill requirements from its own candidate pool and use approved partner agencies where needed.
Lot 3: Neutral Vendor
The Neutral Vendor manages the recruitment supply chain but cannot rely primarily on its own workers. The notice limits sourcing through affiliated businesses to 20%, with the remaining requirements delivered through the approved supply chain.
Our recruitment tenders guide provides wider advice on public sector staffing bids, including fill rates, compliance and managed service models.
Commercial scale by lot
The estimated values are substantial:
- Lot 1 Direct Provision: £425m excluding VAT
- Lot 2 Master Vendor: £297.5m excluding VAT
- Lot 3 Neutral Vendor: £127.5m excluding VAT
Those values reinforce the need for suppliers to select the model that genuinely matches their operational capability. An agency that is strong at direct supply does not automatically have the technology, governance and supply-chain management needed for a Master Vendor or Neutral Vendor role.
How will the reopening be evaluated?
The planned award criteria are:
- Quality: 50%
- Price: 40%
- Social value: 10%
Compliance will also be central. The notice refers to the Agency Workers Regulations, IR35 and National Minimum Wage requirements, along with certification from a recognised accreditation body.
For managed-service lots, bidders should expect to show how compliance extends through the supply chain rather than stopping at their own organisation.
What evidence should recruitment suppliers prepare?
Relevant evidence may include:
- fill rates and time-to-fill
- candidate vetting and safeguarding
- teacher and support-staff attraction
- education-sector compliance
- workforce and talent-pool management
- management information and reporting
- technology and booking systems
- supply-chain governance
- payroll and worker administration
- service-level performance
- escalation and issue resolution
- social value, including local employment and skills
Master and Neutral Vendor bidders should also prepare detailed evidence on agency onboarding, performance management, contractual controls and how shortages are handled without reducing quality or compliance.
Key dates
- Planned reopening notice: 28 August 2026
- Estimated tender publication: 30 October 2026
- Estimated tender deadline: 27 November 2026 at 12:00pm
- Estimated award decision: January 2027
- New framework appointments expected: January 2027
- Maximum framework life: Eight years with intended annual reopening
Use the reopening to choose the right recruitment model
The size of this framework is attractive, but the three lots demand different operating models. Suppliers should assess their technology, supply chain, compliance systems and evidence before deciding whether to pursue direct provision, Master Vendor, Neutral Vendor or more than one route.
Thornton & Lowe has extensive experience supporting recruitment agencies and managed service providers with public sector staffing bids. Contact our recruitment bid team if you want support with the reopening.
