The Government Procurement Service (GPS), in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE), has launched the Information Management and Learning Services (IMLS) framework for use by schools, academies, consortia and local authorities (LAs). The framework allows the purchase of both Information Management Systems and Learning Platforms.
The framework addresses a number of key issues raised in the market and the media over the last couple of years, these include:
- Stopping the practice of suppliers charging academies twice for licences or charging up to £25,000 on transfer.
- Ensuring procurements are legally compliant, an issue identified by previous government-sponsored reports.
As well as having a number of other benefits:
- Provide better value for money, through competition.
- It has a quick reference pricing matrix, allowing easier benchmarking and/or budgeting.
- Provide establishments with a pre-approved list of suppliers.
- Encourage interoperability.
The framework was constructed to meet educational needs by engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, including schools, LAs, and Regional Broadband Consortia (RBCs).
A comprehensive set of advice and guidance documents will be available on the Department’s procurement website.
GPS will provide their standard advice service on use of the framework with specialist help also available from the Department via a specific email address.
The framework went live on 23 March 2012.
A comprehensive set of advice and guidance documents are available and case studies will be made available as they are developed.
Further information
The Becta report School management information systems and value for money published September 2010 and available in the associated resources on this page, provides further information on the marketplace for school management information systems, products and services, and specifically the procurement practices in place.
