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Buying for schools

From:
Department for Education
Published:
Updated:
, see all updates

  1. Contents

How to buy goods, works or services for your school.

Following these guides will help schools to:

  • find deals that are available
  • get value for money
  • comply with EU procurement law

Check our deals for schools first to see if they can supply what you need.

  1. Before you start How to prepare and research before buying things for your school to help you get the best deal and save money.
  2. Find the right way to buy When to buy from a deal or framework and when to get bids or quotes.
  3. Writing a specification How to write a specification – the document you give to suppliers explaining what you want to buy.
  4. Select a supplier direct from a framework agreement How schools can buy from a framework agreement where they’re allowed to select the supplier directly.
  5. Run a mini-competition How schools can buy from a framework agreement where all suppliers can bid.
  6. Buying low to medium cost things How schools can buy low or medium value things by researching suppliers and getting at least 3 quotes.
  7. Buying high-value things under the EU procurement threshold How schools can buy high value things, including how to advertise a contract and run a procurement process.
  8. Buying things that are over the EU procurement threshold How schools can buy high value things and comply with EU procurement rules, including advertising a contract and running a buying process.
  9. Writing contracts and managing a contract What should be in a school's contract with their supplier, and how they should manage them throughout the buying process.
  10. Fraud How to avoid fraud and what to do if you suspect it.
  11. How to manage your fixed assets Keeping a fixed asset register
  12. Get help with buying for schools Support for school business professionals.
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