Consultancy can be used to develop and achieve a school’s vision for ICT and provide in-depth advice on choosing the right technologies, alongside expertise in procurement, in order to deliver the desired outcomes for learners.
The consultancy services framework is designed to assist schools, colleges, academies and local authorities in commissioning high-calibre educational ICT consultancy services at competitive rates. These services are quality assured as the Department's evaluation process ensures that the suppliers on the framework meet a minimum set of criteria demanded by educational users in quality of service, technical capacity and business performance.
The consultancy services framework began in June 2009 and continues until May 2013.
Schools should identify their ICT equipment or services needs at an early stage so that it is easier to aggregate purchases. Schools can then look to collaborate with other schools with similar needs, where possible, so that they are more likely to receive value for money by collating these requirements into a single purchase. The consultancy services framework suppliers can support the aggregating process by providing expertise or resources which may be unavailable within the local authority.
The framework is also designed for situations when an extensive rebuilding or refurbishment programme leads to major investment in new ICT infrastructure. Other situations in which clients may want to use the framework agreement include, for example, when a school requires bespoke support to review its current ICT provision.
Download the supplier list from the associated resources section for details of the approved suppliers on the consultancy services framework.
