NEUPC is pleased to announce the launch of its new Sustainable Furniture Solutions Framework (FFE2010 NE), providing members with a flexible and compliant route to market for a wide range of furniture requirements – with sustainability, reuse and the circular economy at its heart.

Running from 15 July 2026 to 14 July 2028, with the option to extend for a further two years to July 2030, the framework has been developed to support members with everything from furniture repair and refurbishment to office, residential, specialist and social-space furniture.

A key ambition for the new framework is to help institutions move away from the traditional take, make, use, dispose model and towards a more circular approach – keeping furniture, materials and components in use for longer and helping members support their sustainability and Net Zero objectives.

Who can access the framework?

The framework is available to members of: NEUPC, APUC, HEPCW, LUPC, NWUPC, SUPC, TUCO, CPC.

What does the framework cover?

The framework is divided into 11 awarded Lots, covering:

Lot 1: Furniture Refurbishment and/or Repair
Lot 2: Furniture Redistribution / Re-Use, including the option to provide/use an e-marketplace
Lot 3: Offices and Office Style Spaces Furniture
Lot 4: Student Accommodation / Residential Furniture
Lot 5: Beds and Mattresses
Lot 6: AV/IT Integrated/Secure Furniture
Lot 7: Smart/Secure Lockers & Storage
Lot 8: Lecture Theatre, Auditoria and Arena Seating
Lot 10: Indoor Social Space Furniture
Lot 11: Outdoor Social Space Furniture
Lot 12: Specialist Ergonomic Furniture and Associated Services

Lot 9 – Front of House Catering/Café Furniture was not awarded following the tender exercise.

Putting the circular economy at the heart of furniture procurement

One of the most important features of the framework is its focus on helping members adopt a circular economy
approach to furniture. Rather than automatically replacing existing furniture with new products, the framework encourages members to consider the full lifecycle of their furniture and prioritise:

Maintenance → Repair → Refurbishment/Upcycling → Recycling

Reuse and second-life products should be considered before purchasing new wherever appropriate, with disposal treated as a last resort.

This approach can help members reduce waste and demand for virgin materials, extend the life of existing assets, support sustainability and Net Zero commitments and potentially reduce expenditure over the longer term.

What are the benefits?

The framework provides members with:

• A compliant and efficient route to market, reducing the resource required to undertake individual procurement exercises.
• A wide range of pre-qualified specialist furniture suppliers.
• Flexibility to support requirements of different sizes and complexity.
• Both Direct Award and Competitive Selection Process call-off options.
• Capped framework pricing, with the opportunity for prices to be reduced at call-off.
• Responsible procurement and circular economy considerations embedded within the specification.
• Opportunities to build social value and community benefits into individual call-off contracts.
• Regional supplier coverage across the UK.
• Support from NEUPC throughout the life of the framework.

Responsible procurement

Responsible procurement has been embedded throughout the framework.

Suppliers have committed to delivering Social Value and Community Benefits, while the specification enables members to build their own sustainability priorities and reporting requirements into individual contracts.

Members are also encouraged to engage with suppliers early, particularly when considering reuse, refurbishment and other circular solutions, to understand what can be achieved before defining their final specification.

How do I call off?

Members have flexibility in how they use the framework, with call-offs available through either Direct Award or a Competitive Selection Process, depending on the nature of the requirement.

Direct Award can be used where the framework sets out all the terms governing the goods or services required, while Competitive Selection allows members to further define their individual requirements within the scope of the relevant Lot.

Find out more

Full framework documentation, including the Buyers Guide, supplier information, pricing and call-off documentation, is available through the Hunter Buyers Portal.

For help using the framework or to discuss your requirements, please contact: Antonio Ramirez.