The Your Education Technology Open Framework is creating opportunities for ICT businesses to supply technology products, managed services and specialist consultancy to schools across the UK. Established by Nexus Multi-Academy Trust, the framework has an estimated maximum value of £1 billion excluding VAT over eight years.
The competition covers three areas: ICT support and managed services, professional services, and hardware. Suppliers can apply for one or more lots, with no stated limit on how many businesses can be appointed to each.
With the initial tender deadline set for 30 October 2026 at midday, technology suppliers interested in the education sector should now be reviewing the procurement documents and preparing their submissions.
Your Education Technology Framework at a glance
Nexus Multi-Academy Trust is establishing the framework under the Procurement Act 2023 to provide an accessible route for eligible education establishments to purchase ICT products, services and solutions. The key procurement details are:
- Contracting authority: Nexus Multi-Academy Trust
- Procurement reference: 868543
- Estimated maximum value: £1 billion excluding VAT
- Open framework period: January 2027 to January 2035
- Number of lots: Three
- Enquiry deadline: 16 October 2026, 12pm
- Tender submission deadline: 30 October 2026, 12pm
- Estimated award decision: 7 December 2026
- Procurement procedure: Open procedure
The framework is intended for use by eligible education establishments across the UK, including academy trusts and maintained schools. Suppliers can review the Your Education Technology Find a Tender notice for the published requirements and access the procurement documents through the buyer's eTendering portal.
What are the three Your Education Technology framework lots?
The framework separates ICT requirements into three broad categories, allowing businesses to apply for the areas most relevant to their products and services.
Lot | Category | Main opportunities |
|---|---|---|
1 | ICT Support Services and Managed Services | Managed IT, technical support, cybersecurity, networks, cloud services and infrastructure management |
2 | Professional Services | ICT consultancy, digital transformation, systems integration, project delivery and specialist technical advice |
3 | Hardware | Computers, servers, networking equipment, classroom technology, installation and associated support |
Lot 1: ICT Support Services and Managed Services
This lot covers the ongoing management, maintenance and support of technology used by educational establishments. Services may include remote and on-site IT support, service desks, network management, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, backup and disaster recovery, and management information system support. It also includes safeguarding technologies, connectivity services, training and strategic ICT planning.
For managed service providers (MSPs), the opportunity extends beyond supplying technical support. Schools need technology environments that are reliable, secure and capable of supporting teaching, learning and administration. Businesses applying for this lot should consider how they will demonstrate service availability, technical expertise, support arrangements and experience of managing complex ICT environments.
Lot 2: Professional Services
Lot 2 covers specialist consultancy and technical expertise, including services delivered for individual projects or wider digital transformation programmes. The scope includes ICT strategy, technical design, cloud consultancy, cybersecurity advice, systems integration, data migration, project management and business analysis.
It also covers technology procurement support, change management, training, independent technical advice and post-implementation reviews. This creates opportunities for consultancies that may not provide ongoing managed services but have specialist expertise in planning, implementing or improving technology systems.
Suppliers should be prepared to explain how their approach addresses customer requirements, manages implementation risks and supports successful adoption.
Lot 3: Hardware
The third lot covers the supply, installation and configuration of ICT hardware for educational establishments. Products include end-user devices, servers, network equipment, storage systems, audiovisual equipment, classroom technology and related accessories. Associated services may include device configuration, deployment, asset tagging, inventory management, warranties and technology refresh planning.
For hardware suppliers and resellers, competitive pricing will be important, but customers will also need confidence in the reliability of equipment, delivery arrangements and ongoing support. Businesses offering installation and deployment services should consider how they will demonstrate their ability to work efficiently across school sites while minimising disruption.
How does the open framework work?
Unlike a conventional framework with a single appointment opportunity, Your Education Technology is being established as an open framework. The proposed scheme will run for a maximum of eight years, with Nexus intending to reopen it annually so that new suppliers can apply. The first framework is expected to begin in January 2027, with subsequent opportunities to join planned throughout the wider scheme.
This offers two important benefits for prospective suppliers. First, businesses that are ready to compete now can seek appointment to the initial framework. Second, suppliers that aren't ready for the October 2026 deadline may have further opportunities to apply when the framework reopens, subject to the requirements and timetable of each subsequent competition.
The notice also confirms that there is no maximum number of suppliers appointed to each lot. However, joining the framework does not guarantee contracts or expenditure. Eligible customers may award contracts through the relevant competitive procedures or, where permitted by the framework arrangements, without further competition. Suppliers will therefore need to consider both how to secure a framework place and how to remain competitive when customers purchase through it.
Who can apply for the framework?
The procurement is identified as particularly suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) across all three lots. This could include regional IT support businesses, specialist cybersecurity consultancies, technology resellers and larger companies providing comprehensive managed services. Suppliers may submit tenders for one, multiple or all three lots, provided they meet the applicable participation requirements.
The detailed financial and technical conditions are contained in the tender documents, rather than fully specified in the published notice. Businesses should check these requirements carefully, particularly where their services depend on specialist technical accreditations, delivery partners or third-party technology providers.
For suppliers with limited education-sector experience, the key question is how convincingly their existing capabilities can address the buyer's requirements. A business supporting commercial offices, for example, may have relevant experience in service desk delivery, device management or cybersecurity. However, it should also demonstrate an understanding of the particular operational needs of schools.
How will suppliers be evaluated?
The published notice confirms the following evaluation weightings:
Criterion | Weighting |
|---|---|
Quality | 60% |
Pricing | 30% |
Social value | 10% |
With 70% of the available marks allocated to quality and social value combined, suppliers will need to demonstrate more than competitive pricing. The detailed questions and scoring methodology will be set out in the tender documents, but several considerations are particularly relevant to education technology contracts.
- Service reliability and support: Schools depend on technology throughout the teaching day. Suppliers should explain how they manage service continuity, resolve faults and provide appropriate technical assistance.
- Cybersecurity and safeguarding: ICT providers should consider how their products and services support secure systems, responsible access management and the protection of sensitive information.
- Implementation and deployment: Hardware suppliers and specialist consultants should be able to demonstrate how installations, migrations and upgrades will be planned and delivered with minimal operational disruption.
- User training and adoption: Technology investments are more effective when staff can use them confidently. Where relevant, suppliers should explain their approach to training, guidance and ongoing support.
- Social value: Commitments should be relevant to the procurement and supported by realistic plans for delivery and measurement.
These are sensible preparation areas rather than confirmed individual evaluation questions. Suppliers should tailor their submissions to the specific requirements of their chosen lots. Thornton & Lowe's bid writing services can help ICT businesses interpret evaluation criteria and develop responses that demonstrate their technical capabilities and delivery experience.
How to prepare your education technology tender
With the initial submission deadline approaching, suppliers should prioritise the information that will determine whether their responses are compliant and competitive. Start by confirming which lots genuinely match your capabilities. There may be some overlap between managed services, consultancy and hardware supply, but a business shouldn't automatically apply across all three categories.
Next, review the mandatory participation requirements and gather supporting documents. This may include company information, relevant policies, certifications, project examples and financial evidence, depending on the tender pack. The strongest examples will demonstrate more than the successful supply of a product or service. They should explain the customer's original requirements, how the solution was implemented and the outcomes achieved.
For managed service providers, this might involve service performance and issue resolution. Hardware suppliers could highlight successful multi-site deployments, while consultancies may focus on project outcomes and technical problem-solving. Suppliers should also review their pricing and social value proposals to ensure they are consistent with the published requirements.
Finally, allow enough time for reviewing the completed tender and submitting it through the designated portal. The initial enquiry deadline is 16 October 2026 at midday, followed by the tender submission deadline of 30 October 2026 at midday. The competition can be accessed through the Nexus Multi-Academy Trust supplier portal.
Bid writing support for ICT suppliers
The Your Education Technology Framework offers businesses across the ICT market an opportunity to establish relationships with education-sector customers. Whether you're an MSP, technology consultancy or hardware supplier, a strong tender response should demonstrate how your proposed solution meets the needs of educational establishments, supported by relevant evidence and a clear delivery approach.
Thornton & Lowe works with technology businesses seeking public sector contracts, providing support with framework applications, bid strategy, quality responses and tender reviews. If you're preparing an application for Your Education Technology, contact Thornton & Lowe to discuss how we can help strengthen your submission.
