The Contracting Authority wishes to establish a framework agreement for use by or on behalf of current and future eligible UK Contracting Authorities (and any future successors to these organisations). This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

— Local authorities,

— Housing associations,

— Educational establishments,

— Registered charities or third sector organisations,

— NHS bodies,

— Public authorities,

— Public bodies,

— Crown bodies,

— Police authorities,

— Fire authorities,

— Executive agencies.

For further reference, these include (but are not limited to): Central Government departments & their agencies (a list of executive agencies can be found at: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ministerial_responsibilities/executive_agencies.aspx); non departmental public bodies (NDPBs) (a list of NDPBs can be found at Annex A to the Public Bodies Directory 2009 published by the Cabinet Office which can be found at http://resources.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/PublicBodies2009_tcm6-35808.pdf); NHS bodies (i.e. Acute Trusts, Ambulance Trusts, Primary Care trusts, Care Trusts, NHS Hospital Trusts, Strategic Health Authorities, Mental Health Trusts, Special Health Authorities (a list of such Authorities and Trusts can be found at: http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/PrimaryCareTrustListing.aspx)); local authorities (i.e. a local authority as defined in Regulation 3(2) to (5) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 ("the Regulations"); police & emergency services authorities (i.e. fire authorities, fire and rescue authorities (a list of fire authorities can be found at: http://www.fireservice.co.uk/information/ukfrs)); Police authorities and the Metropolitan Police Authority as defined by Regulation 3 (1)(j) to (p) of the regulations; educational establishments (i.e. schools maintained by local authorities; Academies; City Technology Colleges; the Learning and Skills Council); Higher and Further education establishments and Universities; Housing Associations; The Scottish Parliament and the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies; or any organisation considered by the EU as public bodies for the purposes of procurement.

For a list of possible further participants please refer to the links below.

Public Authority as defined in the Freedom of Information Act.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/schedule/1

http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/official_information/authorities.aspx

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/uk-crown-bodies.htm

These lists are not exhaustive. It is not possible to provide a full list of potential participants. The details given are indicative only.

Estimated value:

The estimated value of contracts is 3bn GBP per annum.

The value presented is only an estimate. We cannot guarantee to successful suppliers any business through this framework agreement. Spend and/or volumes may vary throughout the life of the framework agreement from the anticipated levels stated in this notice.