Project_10223 - EdTech Testbed Programme procurement

Description

The EdTech Testbed market engagement event took place on Thursday, 5 February 2026. If you would like to see the presentation slides and the accompanying Q&A log, and/or meeting recording, please email edtech.testbed@education.gov.uk. If you are interested in being connected with other suppliers for the purpose of forming a consortium, we would be happy to collect your details and share them with other interested parties. Please include your contact information, a brief overview of the type of partnership you are seeking, and a summary of your offer. Please email this information to edtech.testbed@education.gov.uk. ****Initial early engagement notice issued 21st January 2026**** Today, at Bett UK, the Secretary of State announced (see link for further details) that the DfE will be investing an additional £23m to expand our EdTech Impact Testbed pilot into the 4-year DfE EdTech Testbed Programme. The expanded programme will generate robust evidence over 4 years on the effectiveness of EdTech products and practice, including new AI tools and Assistive Technologies (AT), to reduce workload, improve outcomes, and support inclusion. Market Engagement Session: The Department for Education intends to procure a research and delivery supplier to evaluate the impact of EdTech tools in real education settings and deliver Lot 2 of the DfE EdTech Testbed Programme, scheduled to run from FY 2026-27 to FY 2029-30. Procurement Route: Subject to internal approvals, we intend to open the EdTech Testbed tender to suppliers registered on the Crown Commercial Services Research and Insight Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). We are sharing this information early to ensure potential suppliers have sufficient time to complete registration should they wish to bid. DPS Registration: If you are not currently registered on the Research and Insight DPS, you are encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible via the Supplier Registration Service: Step 1 - Choose type of organisation - Supplier Registration Service Please note that registration typically takes 15-21 days to complete. Suppliers whose registration is not finalised at the point the procurement goes live may be unable to submit a bid. Additional information: Useful links