Musical Instruments for EA schools and Music Centres

Authority: the Education Authority (Central government)

Framework agreement13 lotsGoodsOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable

Sectors: Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories (37) Delivery: Northern Ireland (UKN)

Framework ceiling (notional)£3,000,000total for 13 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue · 1 value update

Submissions closed 28 Feb 2026awarded 31 Mar 2026

Awarded to FREDERICK HYDE LIMITED (03112115) - t/a Chamberlain Music +4 more13 awards

Framework period 4 yrsends 30 Apr 2030 · up to 31 Dec 2029 with extensions · starts 1 May 2026

What is being bought13 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The Education Authority (EA) invited tenders for the supply and delivery of Musical Instruments to individual schools and EA locations within Northern Ireland for a period of 4 years. This framework agreement is let by the Northern Ireland Education Authority ("EA") and is open to the EA, including NI educational bodies as follows and at some point, during the life of the framework agreement these bodies may wish to utilize the

agreement and should have access, at any point, with the permission of EA. This framework agreement is not intended to replace any current contracts/framework agreements that participating or non-participating institutions may already have in place.

www.education-ni.gov.uk/services/schools-plus ↗ Primary and Post Primary schools under the control of the EA, Catholic Maintained Schools, Independent Schools in NI, Irish

Medium Schools in NI, both Controlled and Voluntary Grammar Schools, Nursery School

for NI (both controlled and Catholic Maintained), school meals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth Centre's. www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/furthereduc… ↗

fe-colleges Further Education Colleges in NI, www.nicie.org/parents/school-finder/ ↗ Grant Controlled Integrated Education

Schools in NI, www.isc.co.uk/schools/northern-ire… ↗ Independent School in NI,

Libraries NI: www.librariesni.org.uk/Libraries/ ↗, EA Teachers' and Educational Centre's, Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment NI (CCEA), Armagh

Observatory and Planetarium, Middletown Centre for Autism, Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC), Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), Pre-Schools

and Nurseries included within the EA's Pre-School Education Programme (PSEP)

CPV: Accessories of musical instruments · Musical cornets and flutes · Musical instrument pouches or cases or accessories · Musical instrument stands or sheet holders · Musical instruments · Musical instruments and parts · Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories · Musical organs · Parts and accessories of musical instruments · Parts of musical instruments · Percussion instruments

How this framework works

From the published notice

Type: Open framework
Call-offs: call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
Bids received: 3 bids on the busiest of 12 lots · 5 suppliers appointed
Framework period: 4 yrs from 1 May 2026
Buyer regions: UKN

Who may buy through it

Primary and Post Primary schools under the control of the EA, Catholic Maintained

Schools, Independent Schools in NI, Irish Medium Schools in NI, both Controlled and

Voluntary Grammar Schools, Nursery School for NI (both controlled and Catholic

Maintained), school meals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth

Centre's. Further Education Colleges in NI, Grant Controlled Integrated Education

Schools in NI,

Independent School in NI, Libraries NI

EA Teachers' and Educational Centre's, Council for the Curriculum, Examination and

Assessment NI (CCEA), Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, Middletown Centre for

Autism, Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC), Northern Ireland Council for

Integrated Education (NICIE), Pre-Schools and Nurseries included within the EA's Pre-

School Education Programme (PSEP)

Published description of the framework

The Buyer will purchase from this Framework Agreement by Direct Call-off.

The Buyer will select a Framework Provider associated with the relevant product on the Framework Agreement (appointed on the basis of the criteria set out in the original Call for Tender), who is considered to best meet their operational and technical requirements, considering some or all of the following criteria:

Compatibility with existing instruments or curriculum requirements
Continuity of requirements, ensuring consistency across teaching and assessment
Product characteristics, reflecting the diverse needs of schools and pupils
Assessment availability, where specific instruments are required for examinations
Delivery lead time, ensuring timely supply to avoid disruption to teaching
Price, to secure best value for money

Lots and requirements (13)Procurement structure

13 lots · all with a published value

Every one of these 13 lots carries the same published figure, £230,769: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.

Lot #1Wind InstrumentsAwardedRenewal 4 yrsSMEVCSEceiling above

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 May 2026 – 30 Apr 2030 (4 yrs) · up to 31 Dec 2029 with extensions

Eligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible

Extensions: Extension options published

37000000 Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories 37300000 Musical instruments and parts 37310000 Musical instruments 37311300 Musical organs 37314300 Musical cornets and flutes 37316000 Percussion instruments

Lot #2HarpsAwarded 4 yrsSMEceiling above

The scope of requirements for this Lot includes the following:

Concert Harps
Pedal Harps
Lever Harps
Folk Harps

The value detailed in this lot is estimated. There is no commitment as to the usage,

volume or value of products required under this lot. The EA reserves the right to reallocate any values. between all lots under this Framework where required throughout the Framework. Agreement Period, within the limit of the overall awarded Framework Value.