Upcoming

Digital Configurator

Department for Education · Education

In brief

Department for Education has announced plans to buy IT and software and consultancy work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The estimated value is £1,583,333 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 18 months, up to 30 months with extensions, starting 25 September 2026.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Typical: a median of 4 bids per contract for this buyer (from 39 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

The Digital Configurator proposes a new DfE digital tool that will automate and standardise early-stage feasibility design for school buildings. It will translate the tools developed within the Department’s design standards into an intelligent rule-based digital environment, enabling the automatic generation of block models, site layouts, compliance checks, 3D visualisations and exportable design data. The tool will be a core enabler of consistent, compliant and efficient feasibility development across the school estate. The configurator shall be developed to enable ‘smart’ analysis of common changes and other compliance challenges. The successful supplier will undertake a phased programme…Read the full description
The Digital Configurator proposes a new DfE digital tool that will automate and standardise early-stage feasibility design for school buildings. It will translate the tools developed within the Department’s design standards into an intelligent rule-based digital environment, enabling the automatic generation of block models, site layouts, compliance checks, 3D visualisations and exportable design data. The tool will be a core enabler of consistent, compliant and efficient feasibility development across the school estate. The configurator shall be developed to enable ‘smart’ analysis of common changes and other compliance challenges. The successful supplier will undertake a phased programme to design, build, test and support the release of the Digital Configurator. The Digital Configurator supplier will benefit from a report, with pattern book compliant designs, which can be used, alongside the Department’s New Model Designs to train and test the configurators’ outputs. The Department intends to publish a market engagement notice and undertake market engagement in May-June 2026. The Department is considering a call-off from Construction Professional Services 2 (RM6356) or an Open Procedure tender. If we proceed with RM6356, the specific lot will be determined as the project develops. Read more about the Construction Framework 2025 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-buildings-construction-framework-2025

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 042137-2026
  2. Pipeline notice · UK1, notice 046121-2026

Last time this was bought

Schools Digital UR platform April 2026 (con_31403)

Awarded
9 April 2026
Value
Not stated, or split across lots
Contract ends
13 August 2026

Matched on Department for Education, the type of work and the title; it may be a related contract rather than the same one. Check the notice to be sure.

About the buyer

Procurements

211

Awards

133

Suppliers it has used most for IT and software

  1. Provision of Housing Market Sales & Rental Data

    Home OfficeUK-wideIT services and software, Marketing and communications

    Closing soon4 hours leftSuitable for SMEs

    £540kestimated
  2. Digital Consent and Sharing Decision Making Solution

    South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNorth EastIT services and software

    Closing soon4 hours left

    £135kestimated
  3. CCM1379 - OHU Software

    The Police and Crime Commissioner for LincolnshireNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South WestIT services and software, Social and domiciliary care

    Closing soon16 hours leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £82kestimated
  4. SONI087 IT Systems Implementation & Managed Services

    SONI LtdUK-wideIT services and software

    Closing soon16 hours leftExpress interestSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £18mframework ceiling
  5. Design Consultancy Framework

    Oxford Health NHS Foundation TrustSouth EastManagement consultancy, IT services and software

    Closing soon16 hours leftExpress interest11 lotsSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £4.5mframework ceiling

From notice 042137-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 7 May 2026, last updated 20 May 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.