National Education Printer Agreement 3 (Nepa3)
Framework Description
The National Education Printer Agreement 3 (Nepa3, ITS2011 NE) is a framework let by NEUPC (North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium) for printers and print services in education. Its four lots cover equipment only, managed print, production print and a One Stop Shop combining equipment and services. Nepa3 started on 1 April 2025 and runs until 31 March 2028. This framework is used by NEUPC, SUPC and APUC.
Context & Use Case
Universities run large print estates across offices, libraries, student areas and in-house print units. They use Nepa3 to buy or lease multifunction devices, outsource fleet management and consumables, equip reprographics with production presses, or combine these. Call-offs run by mini-competition or direct award depending on the lot. Many institutions combine lots as print strategies shift.
Scope of Services
Lot: Equipment Only, purchase or lease of printers and multifunction devices Lot: Managed Print, including fleet management and consumables Lot: Production Print, for high-volume and specialist output Lot: One Stop Shop, combining equipment and services
Lots
Equipment Only; Managed Print; Production Print; One Stop Shop
Who Can Apply
Suits printer manufacturers such as Canon, Epson, HP, Kyocera, Ricoh, Sharp, Toshiba and Konica Minolta, and authorised partners and managed print providers with education or public-sector experience. Applications for Nepa3 are closed, so new suppliers must wait for the re-tender around March 2028.
Buyer Benefits
Universities want lower print costs, fewer devices, secure follow-me printing and better sustainability reporting. Nepa3 lets them choose between owning equipment and buying a managed service, and use direct award where it suits, so a fleet refresh does not need a full tender.
Next Steps
Appointed suppliers should prepare for fleet refresh competitions as institutional contracts expire. Others should follow SUPC's framework page (https://www.supc.ac.uk/frameworks/32243/), decide which lot fits their model, and gather references, sustainability data and managed service metrics ahead of 31 March 2028. Note that direct award favours those with strong reference sites.
How Athena Can Help
Nepa3 mini-competitions are often decided on total cost of ownership and service design. Athena's bid management specialists model pricing over the contract life, score your offer against rival brands and write answers on transition and sustainability.
For resellers and managed print providers outside Nepa3, our framework registration help prepares you for the re-tender, and our public sector tender advice helps you choose the right lot for your business model and price a managed service that is still profitable in year three.
