Framework Agreement For The Supply And Installation Of Audiovisual Equipment
Framework Description
The University of Birmingham is re-procuring its Framework Agreement for the Supply and Installation of Audiovisual Equipment, with annual spend of about £1.6 million. It published a preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender on 15 April 2026. The proposed lots, which may change, are Lot 1, supply only, with a single supplier, and Lot 2, supply and installation, with several ranked suppliers.
Context & Use Case
The University will use it to equip and upgrade teaching, learning and meeting spaces, buying equipment direct through Lot 1 or commissioning designed and installed systems through Lot 2. Services include systems design, project management, installation and account management, with planned and reactive maintenance for off-campus sites only, as main campus maintenance is handled in-house.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Supply Only (single supplier, proposed) Lot 2: Supply and Installation (multiple ranked suppliers, proposed) Projectors, large displays, digital signage and lighting systems Audio: amplifiers, distribution, microphones, PA/VA and recording Control products, AV cabinetry, lecterns and installation cabling Lecture capture and collaborative meeting and learning solutions Systems design, project management and off-campus maintenance
Lots
Yes: Lot 1 - Supply Only (single supplier); Lot 2 - Supply and Installation (multiple ranked suppliers)
Who Can Apply
Suits AV distributors for the supply-only lot and AV integrators with design and installation capability for the supply-and-installation lot, ideally with higher education experience. The new framework is at preliminary market engagement, so suppliers should engage now and prepare to bid when the tender is issued.
Buyer Benefits
A single supply-only partner gives the University consistent product pricing, while several ranked integrators provide installation capacity and competition for projects. Bundling design, installation and account management helps estates and IT teams keep teaching spaces working with less downtime during term.
Next Steps
Read the preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender and take part in any engagement the University runs, as the lot structure may still change. Then prepare for the tender: decide between supply only and supply and installation, and gather higher education AV case studies, manufacturer accreditations, design capability and account management arrangements.
How Athena Can Help
The University's lot structure may still change, so the first decision is where to bid. Athena's bid/no-bid planning helps you weigh the single-supplier supply lot against the ranked installation lot, and our AV tender writing team builds design-led answers and win themes, with a compliance check before submission.
Our higher education framework registrations service also finds AV frameworks from university purchasing consortia that are open now, so this tender is not your only route into the sector.
