Software Licenses and Associated Services for Academies and Schools 2026
Framework Description
Crescent Purchasing Consortium's Software Licenses and Associated Services for Academies and Schools 2026 framework started on 8 June 2026. It runs to 6 June 2028, with an option to extend by 12 months to 6 June 2029. It replaces the previous iteration and splits the market into six lots, mainly by software vendor, with a multi-purpose lot that combines the other five.
Context & Use Case
Academies, multi-academy trusts and schools use it to license Microsoft, Adobe and Google for Education and Chrome OS products, data security, backup and security tools, and educational software. A trust can buy from a vendor-specific lot or use the multi-purpose lot for a single supplier across categories. Orders are placed through CPC's MultiQuote portal, by direct award or mini-competition.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Microsoft Lot 2: Adobe Lot 3: Google for Education and Chrome OS Lot 4: Data Security, Backup and Recovery Lot 5: Other Off The Shelf Software, including educational software Lot 6: Multi-Purpose Lot combining Lots 1 to 5
Lots
Microsoft; Adobe; Google for Education and Chrome OS; Data Security, Backup and Recovery; Other Off The Shelf Software; Multi-Purpose Lot
Who Can Apply
Suits licensing resellers with education partner status, backup and security vendors, and educational software suppliers. Its panel was set by the original tender and is closed to new applications. The re-tender is likely around June 2028, or June 2029 if extended.
Buyer Benefits
Trusts want correctly priced education licences, one supplier where possible, and help keeping data safe and backed up. The vendor lots give price transparency for major agreements, while the multi-purpose lot lets a trust consolidate several licences with one reseller and cut admin.
Next Steps
Appointed suppliers should target trusts' summer and autumn renewals with clear education pricing on MultiQuote. Others cannot join until the re-tender, so note the 6 June 2028 end date and watch CPC's framework page for news. Build vendor accreditations, school data protection evidence and multi-academy trust case studies now.
How Athena Can Help
For appointed suppliers, Athena's bid management consultants sharpen mini-competition responses: win themes around licensing advice, competitor scoring on uplift, and pricing that wins the trust without eroding margin.
For suppliers aiming at the next round, our framework entry team advises on whether to pursue a vendor lot or the multi-purpose lot and prepares the application. Our support with public sector bids keeps everything compliant under the Procurement Act 2023. We also compliance-check every lot response before it is submitted.
