Musical Instruments, Equipment and Technology Framework

The purpose of this PIN is to initiate market engagement. It is not being used as a call for competition. The PIN is intended as an information-gathering exercise.

As part of the National Plan for Music Education (NPME), the DfE announced £25m of capital funding for musical instruments and equipment, and technology where it is used specifically for music-making purposes and to benefit children and young people. The intention of this fund is to increase the volume, range, and accessibility of the instruments, equipment, and technology available to children and young people – including those with special educational needs or disabilities – and supporting Music Hubs to deliver against the aims expressed for them in the NPME.

Capital funding will be allocated to Music Hub Lead Organisations (HLOs) via a capital grant distributed by Arts Council England that can be spent across two academic years, from September 2024 to August 2026.

The purpose of this early engagement notice is to notify the market of the Department for Education’s (DfE) intention to establish a Framework to facilitate the purchasing of instruments and equipment using the capital grant funding.

The Framework will be split into different lots to identify the different types of instruments, equipment, and technology, including adapted/adaptive instruments, which can be purchased using the capital grant. These lots will be confirmed in due course.

The Department's intention is for the use of the Framework to be mandatory when purchasing instruments, equipment, and technology using the capital grant funding. Therefore, the Department want to ensure that the Framework includes a wide range of suppliers from across the country, to enable HLOs to make purchases as required, and in response to the needs of children and young people, schools, and families. The Department encourages SMEs to engage with this initiative.

An online supplier market engagement event will take place on, Wednesday 20th March 2024 from 11:00 to 12:00.

This market engagement session will provide further details to retailers and manufacturers of musical instruments, equipment, and technology about this important investment into the musical lives of children and young people. Information regarding this session will be sent to those who register their interest on our e-tendering portal Jaggaer, education.app.jaggaer.com ↗.

Further information about the DfE’s investment into Music Hubs is available here. This includes FAQs about the Capital Grant.

This notice is a zero value PIN for early market engagement. It is for information only and is not a call for competition. The Department for Education reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with contract award.