Education Professional Services
Framework Description
Crescent Purchasing Consortium's Education Professional Services framework is CPC's first Open Framework under the Procurement Act 2023. It covers education-specific professional services for schools, colleges and universities. It runs from 2 February 2026 to 1 February 2034, and it will reopen to new suppliers several times during its eight-year term.
Context & Use Case
Schools, academies, colleges and universities use it for specialist services such as SEND advice, curriculum and assessment, therapy and psychology, translation and interpretation for families, leadership development and careers guidance. It is also open to the wider public sector through Crescent Services, and to NWUPC and NEUPC members. Buyers can direct award to the top-ranked supplier in a lot or run a mini-competition through MultiQuote.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: SEND advisory services Lot 2: Curriculum development and assessment Lot 3: Therapy and psychology services Lot 4: Translation and interpretation services Lot 5: Leadership development training and support Lot 6: Careers advice and guidance Lot 7: Technology and integration services
Lots
See framework link
Who Can Apply
SEND advisers, curriculum and assessment specialists, therapists and psychologists, translation and interpretation firms, leadership trainers, careers guidance providers and education technology integrators. As an Open Framework, it will reopen to new entrants during its eight-year term; CPC will set how often after the first 12 months of operation, so prepare now to apply at the next opening.
Buyer Benefits
Trusts and colleges get pre-vetted specialists for sensitive areas like SEND and therapy without running their own procurement, with call-off terms and pricing set at framework level. The Department for Education recommends the framework to schools and academies, and reopenings bring in new and niche providers over eight years.
Next Steps
Watch Find a Tender for the next reopening notice and register on CPC's tender portal. Prepare the core documents before the window opens: insurances, safeguarding and DBS policies, consultant CVs, and education case studies with measurable impact. Reopening windows can be short, so have answers drafted in advance.
How Athena Can Help
Open Frameworks reward suppliers who are ready when each window opens. Athena's Open Framework application support prepares your submission in advance, including selection answers, case studies and a compliance check, so you can submit quickly.
Once you are appointed, MultiQuote mini-competitions decide who gets the work. Our education bid writers can strengthen your proposals. For consultancy tenders that trusts and universities run directly, our Procurement Act bidding advice helps you stay compliant and competitive.
