If you sell to schools for long enough, somebody will eventually ask:
“Are you on a framework?”
For suppliers new to education procurement, that question can sound more complicated than it really is.
A framework agreement is essentially a pre-arranged buying route.
A public-sector organisation has already run a procurement process, selected suitable suppliers and set many of the commercial rules in advance.
Schools, academy trusts and other eligible organisations can then use that framework to buy from those suppliers without starting every procurement from zero.
Under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, a framework is legally defined as a contract between a contracting authority and one or more suppliers that provides for future contracts to be awarded under it. The Act also introduced open frameworks, which allow successive frameworks on substantially the same terms and can create further opportunities for suppliers to join over time.
For suppliers, frameworks can be extremely useful.
But they are also commonly misunderstood.
Being appointed to one does not necessarily mean schools will automatically buy from you.
Being absent from one does not necessarily mean you cannot sell to schools.
And every framework has its own rules about who can use it, how contracts are awarded and when new suppliers can join.
This guide explains school framework agreements in plain English.
What is a framework agreement?
Imagine a group of schools wants to buy IT support.
Instead of every school separately checking:
- supplier suitability;
- commercial terms;
- procurement compliance;
- basic pricing structures;
a public-sector buying organisation can establish a framework.
Suppliers compete for places on it.
The successful suppliers then become available to eligible buyers for future contracts.
The important distinction is between the framework and the actual school contract
Winning a place on the framework does not usually mean you have won every future order.
The framework creates the route through which later contracts can be awarded.
Those later contracts are often called:
call-off contracts.
A school or trust uses the framework rules to award a call-off contract to a particular supplier.
Government guidance describes frameworks in exactly this way: they set the provisions under which future contracts for goods, services or works can be awarded.
Why do schools use frameworks?
Frameworks can make purchasing easier.
For the school, they can reduce
- procurement time;
- legal uncertainty;
- supplier vetting;
- contract drafting.
Department for Education guidance says approved frameworks can give schools access to pre-approved suppliers, agreed terms and conditions and legal protections.
They can also help demonstrate a compliant buying route
This becomes increasingly important as contract values rise.
Instead of conducting a completely new full procurement, the school may be able to purchase through an existing framework.
There can also be commercial advantages
Framework providers may negotiate:
- rates;
- discount structures;
- service standards;
- standardised contract terms.
That can make the buying decision easier for finance and procurement teams.
What does being “on a framework” actually mean for a supplier?
It means you have successfully passed the procurement process required to join that particular framework.
You may have been evaluated on
- price;
- quality;
- financial standing;
- technical capability;
- experience;
- social value;
- compliance.
But it does not automatically mean
- you have won guaranteed revenue;
- schools must choose you;
- you are the exclusive supplier;
- you will receive enquiries without marketing.
A framework with twenty suppliers may still require you to compete for every significant school opportunity.
Treat framework appointment as market access
Not as the sale itself.
This is similar to approved supplier status within a MAT: being approved can remove one barrier, but it does not necessarily generate demand on its own.
How does a school choose a supplier from a framework?
The answer depends on the framework.
The supplier should never assume that every buyer can simply choose whichever company it prefers.
A framework may allow direct award
This means the school can award the call-off contract without running a new competition, provided the framework's rules allow it and the required conditions are met.
The framework may use:
- fixed pricing;
- supplier ranking;
- specified selection criteria;
to determine how this works.
Or the school may need to run a mini-competition
This is also called a:
further competition.
The school invites the relevant framework suppliers to compete for the specific requirement.
DfE guidance says that where the framework requires a mini-competition, the school must follow the framework rules, invite the suppliers capable of meeting the requirement, assess bids fairly and select the supplier offering the best value under the stated evaluation approach.
Do not assume “we are on the framework” means direct award
Ask:
- Which framework?
- Which lot?
- What call-off method applies?
Those details matter.
What is a framework lot?
Large frameworks are often divided into categories known as:
lots.
For example, an education technology framework might contain separate lots for
- hardware;
- networking;
- software;
- support services.
A supplier may be appointed to only one or several lots
If you are on the networking lot, that does not automatically make you eligible for a software contract awarded under another lot.
Read the scope carefully before bidding
One of the biggest mistakes suppliers make is joining a framework whose lot does not really match what they sell.
You then spend years telling schools:
“Yes, we are on the framework, but technically not for that service.”
That is not especially useful.
Closed frameworks, open frameworks and dynamic markets are not the same thing
The procurement language became slightly more complicated after the Procurement Act 2023.
A traditional or closed framework
has a defined group of suppliers appointed when the framework is established.
If you miss the competition, you may have to wait until the framework expires and is re-procured.
An open framework
is a new Procurement Act concept.
Government guidance describes it as a scheme of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms, providing opportunities for supplier membership to be refreshed during its life.
A dynamic market is different again
A dynamic market is a list of qualified suppliers eligible for future procurements.
Unlike a closed framework, it must remain open for new qualifying suppliers to join.
Why does this matter?
If somebody tells you:
“You missed the framework tender,”
your next question should be:
“Is it a closed framework, an open framework or a dynamic market?”
The answer may determine whether you really have to wait several years.
Some older frameworks are still operating under the previous rules
The Procurement Act changed public procurement from 24 February 2025.
But procurement did not reset overnight.
Schools may still encounter frameworks established under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015
DfE guidance therefore specifically tells schools to determine whether the framework they are using operates under the older 2015 rules or the Procurement Act 2023.
Suppliers need to know this too
The practical framework documentation should explain:
- which rules apply;
- how call-offs operate;
- what notices are required;
- what commercial terms apply.
Do not assume rules from one framework transfer to another
Always use the documentation for the actual agreement.
Where do school frameworks come from?
There is no single organisation that owns every school framework.
Frameworks can be operated by
- government bodies;
- public-sector buying organisations;
- local authorities;
- sector procurement organisations;
- other contracting authorities.
DfE maintains school buying guidance and approved routes
Its Get help buying for schools service lists frameworks and other buying routes intended for schools and trusts.
The Government Commercial Agency also operates major frameworks
Government Commercial Agency replaced Crown Commercial Service in April 2026.
Its frameworks are available across eligible public-sector organisations and can include schools and academy trusts.
Always check the eligible-user list
A framework may be public-sector focused but not automatically available to every organisation.
For example, some school-specific arrangements can distinguish between:
- academy trusts;
- local authority-maintained schools;
- independent schools.
Do schools always have to use a framework?
No.
Frameworks are one procurement route.
DfE guidance gives schools several possible routes
Depending on value, procurement policy and circumstances, a school might:
- use a framework;
- buy lower-value goods through catalogues;
- seek several quotations;
- run a compliant procurement process.
The school's own procurement rules also matter.
There are exceptions where a particular route is mandated
A current example is supply staffing.
From September 2026, academy trusts are required to use the Government Commercial Agency Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment framework when buying agency supply staff, unless they use another route that complies with the Procurement Act 2023.
So when a school says
“We can only buy through a framework,”
that may reflect:
- legal requirements;
- trust policy;
- local purchasing rules;
- the specific category being bought.
Do not argue with the buyer.
Find out which framework or compliant route they need.
How do suppliers find framework opportunities?
Framework opportunities are procurement competitions.
You therefore need to monitor public-sector procurement rather than waiting for individual schools to invite you.
Start with Find a Tender
The enhanced Find a Tender service became the central digital platform for public procurement when the Procurement Act came into force.
Suppliers can register their organisation, store core business information, search opportunities and set alerts.
Set relevant alerts
Use:
- service categories;
- keywords;
- geographic areas;
- buyer names.
Also monitor procurement organisations relevant to your market
If you sell:
- IT;
- construction;
- catering;
- recruitment;
- professional services;
identify which public buying organisations regularly establish frameworks in those areas.
Register before an opportunity appears
Do not wait until two days before a deadline to discover that your supplier details need updating on the central platform.
Should a small supplier try to join frameworks?
Sometimes.
Not automatically.
A framework may be worthwhile if
- schools regularly ask whether you are on one;
- your typical contract values make procurement important;
- large MATs are your target customers;
- the framework has substantial relevant usage;
- your business can realistically service the contracts available.
It may be poor value if
- few of your target schools use it;
- competition between suppliers is extremely intense;
- framework fees make smaller jobs uneconomic;
- the commercial terms do not suit your business.
Read the commercial model before bidding
Frameworks can include:
- supplier fees;
- fixed pricing rules;
- maximum rates;
- reporting obligations;
- service-level requirements.
Do not win a framework place and only then discover that the economics do not work.
What happens after you get onto a framework?
This is where some suppliers become disappointed.
They win the procurement.
Add the framework logo to their website.
Then wait.
Framework membership is not a marketing strategy
Schools still need to know:
- who you are;
- what problem you solve;
- why your offer fits them.
Tell relevant prospects how they can buy from you
For example:
“We are available through Framework X, Lot 3, with both direct-award and further-competition routes.”
That is more useful than:
“Framework approved.”
Make procurement easy to understand
Add useful information to your:
- website;
- proposal;
- sales pack;
- school landing page.
The AllSchools guide How to Make Your Business Easier for Schools to Buy From covers this broader approach.
Keep selling
Framework status may help remove procurement friction.
It does not remove the need to create demand.
How should you respond when a school asks whether you are on a framework?
Do not give a one-word answer unless it really is that simple.
If you are on one
Say:
“Yes. We are appointed to [framework], Lot 2 for [service]. Schools can purchase from us through the framework's call-off process.”
If useful, add whether:
- direct award is possible;
- a mini-competition is required.
If you are not
Do not immediately assume the sale is dead.
Ask:
“Is there a specific framework your school or trust requires suppliers to use?”
The school may have another permissible buying route
Depending on:
- contract value;
- trust policy;
- procurement rules.
If the spend is relatively small, the school may be able to obtain quotations instead.
See School Procurement Thresholds: What Small Suppliers Need to Understand for the wider procurement context.
Common framework mistakes suppliers make
Thinking a framework guarantees sales
It usually does not.
Bidding for every available lot
Only bid where you can genuinely meet the scope.
Ignoring call-off rules
The buyer cannot necessarily choose you simply because it likes you.
Assuming all frameworks operate identically
They do not.
Ignoring fees and contract terms
A high revenue opportunity can become unattractive once costs and obligations are understood.
Failing to market framework status
A framework is useful only if potential customers know you are available through it.
Confusing framework approval with trust approval
A MAT may still have:
- internal procurement processes;
- approved supplier lists;
- local budget approval.
If MATs are your target market, see How to Get Onto a MAT Preferred Supplier List and Maintained Schools, Academies and MATs: What Suppliers Need to Know.
A simple framework checklist for suppliers
Before bidding
- Who can buy through the framework?
- How many suppliers will be appointed?
- Which lot fits your offer?
- How long will the framework run?
- Is it closed or open?
Commercial model
- Are there supplier fees?
- Are prices capped?
- Are discounts required?
- What payment terms apply?
Call-offs
- Can buyers direct award?
- Are mini-competitions required?
- How are suppliers selected?
Delivery
- Can you cover the required geography?
- Can you meet service levels?
- Can you handle larger contracts?
After award
- Update your website.
- Train the sales team.
- Know your lot numbers.
- Know the call-off rules.
- Tell suitable schools how to buy from you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a school framework agreement?
It is a pre-arranged public procurement contract that allows eligible schools, academy trusts or other buyers to award future contracts to suppliers appointed to the framework under defined rules.
Does being on a framework guarantee school contracts?
No. It normally makes you eligible to compete for or receive call-off contracts. Actual spending is not necessarily guaranteed.
What is a call-off contract?
It is the actual contract awarded by a buyer to a supplier under the rules of the framework.
What is a mini-competition?
A mini-competition, or further competition, is a procurement run between relevant suppliers already appointed to the framework to decide who wins a particular call-off contract.
Can a school directly choose a framework supplier?
Sometimes. The framework must permit direct award and the buyer must follow the method specified in the framework documents. Other frameworks require further competition.
What is an open framework?
Under the Procurement Act 2023, an open framework is a scheme of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms, allowing supplier participation to be refreshed during the scheme's life.
What is a dynamic market?
It is a list of qualified suppliers eligible to compete for future contracts. Unlike a closed framework, a dynamic market must remain open for new qualifying suppliers to join.
Can small businesses get onto public-sector frameworks?
Yes. The Procurement Act reforms explicitly aim to make public procurement more accessible to smaller businesses, start-ups and social enterprises, although suppliers must still meet the requirements of each individual procurement.
Where can suppliers find framework opportunities?
Find a Tender is the central digital platform for regulated public procurement. Suppliers can register, search notices and create opportunity alerts.
Do schools have to use frameworks?
Not in every situation. The correct route depends on the purchase, contract value, school or trust procurement rules and any category-specific requirements.
Are academy trusts required to use frameworks?
Not universally for every purchase. However, particular mandates can apply. From September 2026, for example, academy trusts must use the Government Commercial Agency Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment framework for agency supply staffing unless they use another compliant Procurement Act route.
Can independent schools use public frameworks?
It depends on the framework's eligibility rules. Some are open to a broad range of organisations, while school-specific frameworks may exclude independent schools. Always check the individual agreement.
What is a framework lot?
A lot is a defined category within a framework. Suppliers are appointed to particular lots based on the goods, services, geography or other scope covered.
Should every school supplier try to join a framework?
No. Compare the likely opportunity with the cost of bidding, framework fees, competition, commercial terms and whether your target schools actually use it.
What if a school wants us but we are not on its preferred framework?
Ask what its procurement policy allows. Depending on value and circumstances, another compliant route may exist. Do not encourage the school to bypass its own procurement procedures.
Can we join a framework after it has started?
Possibly. A closed framework normally does not admit new suppliers during its term, while an open framework or dynamic market can provide future opportunities to join. Check the specific procurement documents.
Is a framework the same as an approved supplier list?
No. An approved or preferred supplier list can be an internal organisational process. A formal public procurement framework is a contractual procurement mechanism with defined call-off rules.
Framework agreements sound complicated because public procurement has its own vocabulary.
But the basic idea is straightforward.
A buying organisation runs a procurement.
Suppliers earn a place on the framework.
Schools then use the framework's rules to award actual contracts.
For suppliers, that can make selling easier because much of the procurement structure is already in place.
But a framework is not a queue of schools waiting to buy from you.
You still need the right offer.
You still need to create awareness.
You still need to win direct awards or mini-competitions.
And you still need to deliver well once the contract starts.
Before bidding for a framework, understand:
who uses it;
which lot you need;
how call-offs are awarded;
what it costs;
and whether your target schools actually buy through it.
Then, if you win a place, treat it as what it really is:
a route into the market—not the final sale.
