Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice

Published 2 Apr 2026, 08:52 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Copyright Licences for Schools - Schools Printed Music Licence - (SPML)

Official notice

Authority: Department for Education (Central government)

Direct award

Sectors: Recreational, cultural and sporting services (92) Delivery: Delivery location not published

Awarded value£22,603,865published award · exc. VAT

Awarded 2 Apr 2026no call for competition

Awarded to Printed Music Licensing Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Schools require licences to access copyright materials for teaching and learning and extracurricular activities.

Copyright licences are handled by and purchased from Copyright Management Organisations (CMOs). CMOs are a type of licensing body that grant rights to materials on behalf of rights holders (e.g. authors/composers).

The School Printed Music licence (SPML): Permits the copying and arranging of printed music owned by a school, teacher or music service or hub engaged in supporting the school.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Awarded

92000000 Recreational, cultural and sporting services

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record

Procedure method: Direct award
Legal basis: UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Notice status: Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold: Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered: Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 2 Apr 2026, 08:52 BST
Last source update: 11 May 2026, 13:11 BST
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-042983
Latest notice: Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area: Not published
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-067b59 Find a Tender

Why no open competition: Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights
Published justification: Printed Music Licensing Ltd are the sole source of the licence permitting the copying and arranging of printed music owned by a school, teacher or music service or hub engaged in supporting the school.

How it was run

Official notice

Submission deadline: —

Timeline

15 Apr 2026 → 11 May 2026 · 2 dates

Standstill ends194 days ago
15 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
Notice published168 days ago
11 May 2026, 13:11 BST

Notice history

4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 2 Apr 2026

Transparency notice published
2 Apr 2026, 08:52 BST
UK5
Contract award notice published
2 Apr 2026, 08:56 BST
UK6
Contract signature expected
17 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
scheduled
Contract details notice published
11 May 2026, 13:11 BST
UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 1

Awarded value £22,603,8651 award exc. VAT

Contracts signed 1latest 17 Apr 2026

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
Printed Music Licensing Ltd17 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2031	£22,603,865	2 Apr 2026	Awarded

Contracts

Copyright Licences for Schools - Schools Printed Music Licence - (SPML) · Printed Music Licensing Ltd
Signed
17 Apr 2026
Value
£22,603,865
Period
17 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2031
Status
active
No agreed KPIs: Provision of licences, KPIs are not suitable

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Department for Education

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDZG-3487-DPVD Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London, London, SW1P3BTContact name, email

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice

Printed Music Licensing LtdAwarded supplierGB-COH: 08177249 107 Gray's Inn Road, London, London, WC1X 8TZContact email
Printed Music Licensing LtdAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PWPN-8423-GVTT 107 Gray's Inn Road, London, London, WC1X 8TZContact email

Official documents & specifications (4)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Signed contract contractSigned contractPDF

Notices published for this procedure

Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender11 May 2026, 13:11 BST
Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender2 Apr 2026, 08:56 BST
Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender2 Apr 2026, 08:52 BST