Buying & procurement
Buying connectivity and network services through frameworks
The main routes for colleges and universities: Jisc membership itself, Jisc’s network solutions and telecommunications frameworks, the Government Commercial Agency’s Network Services 3, and the university purchasing consortia. What each covers, who can use it, and what we couldn’t confirm.
On this page
At a glance
- Jisc says members don’t need to tender for the core Jisc subscription; it recommends a UK5 notice above the threshold.
- Jisc’s network solutions framework (equipment and services) and telecommunications framework (circuits and dark fibre) are included in FE and HE membership.
- Crown Commercial Service became the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) on 1 April 2026; its Network Services 3 runs to 17 July 2027 for most lots.
- The regional university purchasing consortia — APUC, HEPCW, LUPC, NEUPC, NWUPC and SUPC — run frameworks too.
Start with what Jisc membership includes
Jisc membership comes with a Janet IP connection, DDoS mitigation, CSIRT support, eduroam and access to two Jisc frameworks — see Jisc membership. Jisc says that, as the UK’s sole national research and education network, members “do not need to run a tender” for the core subscription, and recommends publishing a UK5 transparency notice where the cost is over the relevant threshold.
Jisc network solutions framework
For wired and Wi-Fi network equipment and services: firewalls, customer equipment up to “high-end carrier-class type equipment supporting up to 100 Gigabit Ethernet and above”, access points and transceivers, cabling and installation, and professional and managed services. It launched on 1 June 2025 and is included in FE and HE membership. Jisc says there is “no need to use a full procurement process”.
We couldn’t see the framework’s lots or end date.
Jisc telecommunications framework
For circuits and fibre. Buyers can direct award to the first-ranked supplier or run a mini competition.
| Lot | Covers |
|---|---|
| 1. Managed transmission services | Leased circuits, wide area ethernet, xDSL, dark fibre — “typically required at bandwidths of 1Gbit/s and above” |
| 2. Dark fibre | Dark fibre |
| Supplier (both lots) | How you can buy |
|---|---|
| Neos Networks Limited | First ranked: direct award or mini competition |
| ITS Technology Group Limited | Mini competition only |
| Telcom Networks Limited | Mini competition only |
Who can use it: higher education institutions, FE and specialist colleges and research council establishments in the UK; charities and third-sector organisations; organisations connected or eligible to connect to Janet (including local authorities and regional broadband consortia); and members of HE and FE purchasing consortia. We couldn’t see the framework’s end date.
GCA Network Services 3 (RM6116)
The Crown Commercial Service became the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) on 1 April 2026; GCA says existing contracts and call-offs remain valid. Its Network Services 3 agreement is open to UK public sector organisations. Lots include 1a (wide area network), 2a (local area network) and 4b (digital communication services). It ends on 17 July 2027 for most lots, and on 22 May 2027 for lots 1c and 1d.
University purchasing consortia
The UK Universities Purchasing Consortia (UKUPC) brings together the regional consortia, plus specialist consortia for energy (TEC) and catering (TUCO):
- APUC — universities and colleges in Scotland;
- HEPCW — Wales;
- LUPC — London and around;
- NEUPC — North East England;
- NWUPC — North West England;
- SUPC — southern England.
Many frameworks tendered by one consortium are open to members of the others.
Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC)
CPC is described as run by the FE sector. It also appears among the DfE-approved buying options for schools (for example its “Communications solutions” framework, listed as expiring on 15 December 2026, and “ICT network, storage and service solutions”, expiring on 31 July 2029). We haven’t checked whether colleges can use those particular frameworks — the DfE service is for schools — so ask CPC.
Choosing a supplier
Work through our provider checklist, and see who says they supply colleges and universities in our supplier directory. The directory marks a framework as verified only when we found the supplier on the framework’s own list.
Sources
Checked 25 October 2026. We wrote this guide from these sources, in our own words:
- Jisc: How Jisc membership works (jisc.ac.uk)
- Jisc: Network solutions framework (jisc.ac.uk)
- Jisc: Telecommunications framework (jisc.ac.uk)
- GCA: Network Services 3 (RM6116) (gca.gov.uk)
- GCA: Crown Commercial Service (gca.gov.uk)
- UKUPC: Impact statement 2024–25 (LUPC) (lupc.ac.uk)
- DfE: Get help buying for schools — IT (get-help-buying-for-schools.education.gov.uk)
Broadband for Education is an independent guide. It is not a broker or a supplier, and it is not owned by, or connected to, Jisc, any network provider, framework or government body. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.