Contracts FinderCall-off contract
Published 2 Sept 2026

Contracts Finder notice

Provision of Books and Reading Materials for Secondary School

Authority: Department for Education

Call-off from a framework agreement
CPV: Printed books, brochures and leaflets (22100000)
Published contract value£5,000,000Exc. VAT
Contract ends 31 Mar 2027
Awarded to BROWNS BOOKS
Contract starts 20 Aug 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

As part of the National Year of Reading, the Department for Education (DfE) is providing £ 5milllion to eligible secondary schools in England to purchase books and reading materials to encourage reading for pleasure and support literacy outcomes.

The contract has been awarded to A T Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns Books for the provision of books, reading materials and associated services, including an online ordering platform, order fulfilment , delivery , spend management and management information reporting. Eligible schools will be able to purchase books and reading materials up to their allocated funding value.

This contract was awarded following a further competition under the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) Framework Agreement LIB4061SU, Lot 1

Published procurement details

Procedure
Call-off from a framework agreement
Buyer reference
tender_525575/1605309
Category
Services
Tender status
Complete
Award status
Active
Suitable for SMEs
Yes
Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises
No
Tender deadline
Procurement method
Selective
Additional classifications 1: Reference
22110000
Additional classifications 1: Scheme
CPV
Additional classifications 1: Description
Printed books
Additional classifications 2: Reference
22113000
Additional classifications 2: Scheme
CPV
Additional classifications 2: Description
Library books
Additional classifications 3: Reference
22114000
Additional classifications 3: Scheme
CPV
Additional classifications 3: Description
Dictionaries, maps, music books and other books
Item 1: Delivery locations as published

North East, United Kingdom; North West, United Kingdom; Yorkshire and the Humber, United Kingdom; East Midlands, United Kingdom; West Midlands, United Kingdom; East of England, United Kingdom; London, United Kingdom; South East, United Kingdom; South West, United Kingdom

Key dates

Published dates
  1. Award decision
    20 Aug 2026
  2. Contract starts
    20 Aug 2026
  3. Notice published
    2 Sept 2026
  4. Contract ends
    31 Mar 2027

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

  • Department for EducationContracting authority Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT, EnglandContact email

Suppliers named on the notice

  • BROWNS BOOKSSupplier 5 Redcliff Road East Yorkshire HU14 3RS
    Voluntary, community or social enterprise
    No
    Business size
    SME

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • n/a awardDocumentPDF

Notices published for this procedure

Source record

Source
Contracts Finder
Notice language
en
Release reference
ocds-b5fd17-b0b151d8-f17f-420f-8e03-02271ac7f888-2026-09-02T12:40:57+01:00
Published
2 Sept 2026
Latest update
2 Sept 2026
Procedure reference
ocds-b5fd17-b0b151d8-f17f-420f-8e03-02271ac7f888
Contract reference
ocds-b5fd17-b0b151d8-f17f-420f-8e03-02271ac7f888-1