Star Academies Furniture and Associated Services

Star Academies (Star) is a not-for-profit multi-academy trust. As one of the UK’s leading trusts, Star runs a diverse network of primary and secondary schools across the UK. Star currently comprises 36 schools - 11 primary schools, 23 secondary schools and two ‘all through’ schools. There is also a Head Office and Professional Development institute, both based in Blackburn. Our schools are located in five regional clusters: Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands and Greater London.

The trust is expected to grow over the lifetime of the contract. Further details about the Trust can be found on our website: www.staracademies.org.

Star Academies are looking to run an FTS (above threshold) competitive flexible procedure compliant under PA2023 to appoint a single suitable supplier for each lot (region), suppliers may bid and be appointed for more than one lot (region).

The suppliers selected will be able to provide a supply, installation, and packaging removal service for furniture across all Star Academies estate, this may also include a small-scale design element. Whilst the tender will be used as a basis for future works and pricing, the trust are looking to engage suppliers who will work collaboratively with us and tailor their approach, so that they are able to meet the specific needs of the trust.

This procurement also seeks to ensure that value for money is achieved for the trust and that the trust’s furniture and quality requirements are well managed and run in an efficient and consistent way across our entire estate.

The contract will run for an initial period of three years (plus a possible two further 12-month extensions) and successful bidders will remain on the contract for this period subject to performance and company stability (i.e. the company not going into administration). The tender is split into four lots to cover the respective regions where the schools are located, these are:

• Lot 1 - North West

• Lot 2 - West Yorkshire

• Lot 3 - West Midlands

• Lot 4 - London

Star are looking to shortlist up to three (3) companies per lot, identified from this Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), to receive the ITT pack which will provide a more detailed set of requirements. However, for the purposes of this shortlisting stage, bidders should assume that the ITT will include, but not be limited to:

• Supply and delivery of loose furniture items including but not limited to classroom chairs and desks, teacher chairs and desks, pedestals, office/admin chairs and desks, storage units for classrooms and office spaces. This may also include a small scale design element.

• Installation and packaging removal for goods.

The trust has provided a trust standard contract as part of the PSQ pack. Star’s preference is to engage with suppliers directly who will manage all aspects of the contract in house. If sub-contracts are required to meet the scope of this tender, these should be minimised. Any subcontracted arrangements must meet the same terms as the contract and will be the responsibility of the main supplier to manage.