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Updates: Buying for schools: how to buy what you need

2024

4 December 2024 published amendments

Writing and managing a contract

Updated to include details of the new Department for Education approved contract training course available to schools and multi-academy trusts.

18 September 2024 published amendments

Route 2: use catalogues to find low value goods

Updated ESPO procurement product catalogue information with new pricing information for 2024 to 2025.

2023

28 December 2023 published amendments

Find the right route to buy

The threshold values in route 5 have been updated.

14 September 2023 published amendments

Route 2: use catalogues to find low value goods

New section added.

Route 3: get at least 3 quotes from suppliers for low or medium value purchases

Renumbered to add a new route to use catalogues to find low value goods.

Route 4: advertise a contract and run a buying process for high value purchases under the PCR threshold

Renumbered to add a new route to use catalogues to find low value goods.

Route 5: run a public contracts regulations (PCR) compliant process for high value purchases over the threshold

Renumbered to add a new route to use catalogues to find low value goods.

1 September 2023 published amendments

Research and prepare

Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.

Writing a specification

Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.

Find the right route to buy

Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.

Route 1: use a framework agreement

Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.

Route 2: get at least 3 quotes from suppliers for low or medium value purchases

Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.

Route 3: advertise a contract and run a buying process for high value purchases under the PCR threshold

Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.

Route 4: run a public contracts regulations (PCR) compliant process for high value purchases over the threshold

Updated with the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.

2022

24 January 2022 published amendments

Find the right way to buy

Updated to reflect the legal and regulatory changes that schools need to conform to in order to remain legally compliant in their purchasing.

Buying high-value things under the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) procurement threshold

Updated to reflect the legal and regulatory changes that schools need to conform to in order to remain legally compliant in their purchasing.

Buying things that are over the procurement threshold

Updated to reflect the legal and regulatory changes that schools need to conform to in order to remain legally compliant in their purchasing.

2021

10 November 2021 published amendments

Writing a specification

Added a link to the new tool to create a specification for buying catering services or multi-functional devices.

Find the right way to buy

Updated the information on when to buy using a framework to include information about how frameworks are selected.

22 April 2021 published amendments

Buying things that are over the procurement threshold

Replaced links to an EU procurement portal with a UK procurement portal.

2020

28 October 2020 published amendments

Find the right way to buy

Updated to reflect the latest OJEU thresholds.

2019

1 July 2019 published amendments