Reduced timescales – Save valuable time, as there’s no need to run a full tender, publish requirements, or carry out supplier pre‑qualification. All of this has already been completed.
Easy to use – Simply decide what you need, share these requirements through the framework, and award the contract. The process is straightforward and designed to minimise admin.
Strong supplier choice – Each lot includes three approved providers, giving public sector organisations and schools flexibility and the ability to choose the supplier that best fits their needs and budget.
Fully compliant – The framework meets all legal and EU regulatory requirements, helping to reduce risk and stay compliant without needing specialist procurement knowledge.
Assured supplier standards – All suppliers have been checked in advance for quality, reliability, and suitability, giving you confidence in the products and services.
Value through combined purchasing – By buying through a framework used by many organisations, benefit from aggregated spend, which helps secure competitive pricing and better value.
Clear terms and conditions – All suppliers have agreed to the same set of terms and conditions, making the process consistent, transparent, and easier to manage.
Free support available
You can buy through this solution either by making a direct award or by running a further competition. Our experienced team is here to guide you through every step, offering practical advice whenever you need it.
What our free support includes
Direct award support
• Helping you understand what you need and advising on the best way to buy it
• Sharing useful information about the market and approved suppliers
• Explaining how to buy specific services, works or products
• Making sure your purchase meets PCR2015 requirements
• Helping you complete all the necessary documents
• Advising on call‑off terms and conditions
• Guidance on KPIs
• Supporting or managing early conversations with suppliers
Further competition support
• Supporting or managing early supplier engagement
• Helping you draft all documents, including providing templates
• Advising on your specification, with anonymised examples if needed
• Helping you set award criteria, including sustainability requirements
• Running or supporting the evaluation of bids
• Moderating evaluation scores
• Drafting or checking award and rejection letters, with templates provided
• Advertising your further competition on YPO’s e‑tendering system (ProContract) and managing the full process, including clarifications
You can run a further competition on ProContract in three ways:
1.YPO manages the full process from start to finish
2. You request temporary access to ProContract and run it yourself, with optional support
3. If you already use ProContract, you can access and use our solutions directly - see our useful guide here
Dedicated support for schools
• We have a dedicated education procurement team, on hand to help schools use frameworks with ease
• Guidance through every step of the process
• Demystifying the procurement process, making it quick and easy to use frameworks
• Specialist school and education procurement knowledge
Standard documents available
• Further competition template
• Example specifications
• Example award questions
• Pricing matrix
• Award and rejection letter templates
• Call‑off contract terms and conditions
Most of our frameworks are split into lots, which is a category within a larger contract. Each lot groups together similar products or services. Instead of one big, catch‑all contract, you can choose the specific lot that matches what you need.
This framework is split into
• Lot 1 - First aid products
• Lot 2 - Defibrillation
• Lot 3 - Contractual
Why we use lot structures
• Makes buying clearer: Schools or public sector teams can go straight to the lot that covers their requirements
• Encourages specialist suppliers: Smaller or niche suppliers can bid for the parts they’re best at, rather than a full contract
• Gives buyers more choice: Each lot usually has multiple approved suppliers
• Improves value for money: Competition within each lot helps keep pricing competitive
• Reduces complexity: Buyers don’t need to navigate unnecessary products or services