Find the right route to buy
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-25)

When to buy from a framework agreement, when to get bids or quotes and when to run a buying process compliant with the The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Act 2023.

Follow your school’s procurement rules. You can get these from your school or your local authority.

Under the Procurement Act 2023 you will need to understand your obligations with regards to contract management and the publishing of appropriate notices.

The section Get training on the Procurement Act 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools/get-training-on-the-procurement-act-2023) has information on how to:
- get free, approved DfE training on the Procurement Act 2023
- register on the central digital platform
Route 1: use a framework agreement

DfE have reviewed and approved framework agreements for schools to buy goods and services.

Framework agreements help schools to procure goods and services from a list of pre-approved suppliers, with agreed terms and conditions and legal protections.

Framework agreements are provided by third parties. They run a tender to select the right suppliers to provide specific goods and services.

Each framework agreement tells you how to choose a supplier and place an order.

You will have 2 options:
- Select the supplier from a list
- Run a ‘mini-competition’ (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools/run-a-mini-competition), this is where you ask all suppliers on the list to send you a bid and you choose the best one
Read more about framework agreements (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-dfe-approved-framework-for-your-school) and how to find one.

See the steps to buying using this route (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools/run-a-mini-competition).

Route 2: use catalogues to find low value goods

Buy this way if you are buying goods that are low value.

Check your school’s procurement policy to see what they class as low value. We generally say low is under £10,000.

See the steps to buying using this route (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools/route-2-use-catalogues-to-find-low-value-goods).

Route 3: get at least 3 quotes from suppliers

Buy this way if:
- you cannot get what you need through a framework agreement
- what you are buying is low to medium value
Check your school’s procurement rules to see what they class as low to medium value. We generally say:
- low is under £10,000
- medium is £10,000 to £40,000
See the steps to buying using this route (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools/buying-low-to-medium-cost-things).

Route 4: advertise a contract and run a buying process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 for procurements under the threshold

You must run your own buying process, inviting suppliers to submit bids if:
- you cannot get what you need through a framework agreement
- you are buying high-value things
Your school’s procurement rules will set what is classed as high. We generally say high is over £40,000.

However, if what you are buying is over the threshold set out in the Procurement Act 2023 (https://www.gov.uk//guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools/buying-things-that-are-over-the-eu-procurement-threshold), you may have to run a compliant buying process which is explained in Route 5.

See the steps to buying using this route (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools/buying-high-value-things-under-the-eu-procurement-threshold). Note you can not run an under threshold procurement via a Dynamic Market.

Route 5: run a compliant buying process over the public procurement threshold

You need to run this kind of process if:
- you cannot get what you need through one of our framework agreements
- you are buying something over the public procurement thresholds set out in the Procurement Act 2023 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/schedule/1)
Some services for education, health and care are covered by the ‘light touch regime’.

Check the list of all the services covered by the light touch regime in the legislation (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/102/schedule/3/made).

We recommend that you get legal advice if what you are buying is over, or near to the thresholds.

See the steps to buying using this route (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools/buying-things-that-are-over-the-eu-procurement-threshold).