Schoolbooks Scheme for Primary and Special Schools

The Primary Schoolbooks Scheme was introduced in 2023, to remove the cost from families of funding schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for all pupils in recognised primary and special schools. A full description of what is to be provided by schools to pupils is provided in the guidance.

• Primary Schoolbooks Scheme Guidance for schools 2025/2026

• Quick Reference guide for schools 2025/2026

To determine the total estimate of your schoolbooks (excluding classroom resources), you can use the “School Book List” tab contained within the Primary School Quotation Template:

• Primary School Quotation Template

Contract value under €50,000 excluding VAT

When the contract value is estimated under €50,000 excluding VAT, school can obtain three quotations using the Primary School Quotation Template linked above.

After receiving and reviewing the quotes, below templates can be used to notify suppliers of the results:

1. Under €50K Award Letter Template to Preferred Supplier

2. Under €50K Award Letter Template to Unsuccessful Supplier

Contract value over €50,000 excluding VAT

When the contract value is estimated at above €50,000 excluding VAT, a call for tenders must be published on eTenders platform. To do that, the school will need to follow guidance below:

Phase 1: First steps

Register or reactivate account on eTenders. Guidance on how to do it is available here.

Amend and finalise tender documents:

• Call for Tender (CFT) template and guidance video on how to complete it

•  Tender Response Document (TRD) template

  
  

 Phase 2: Publish a tender on eTenders platform

• Guidance document on how to publish a tender

• Guidance videos for each task necessary to publish a tender:

  • Create Workspace Call For Tender (CFT)

  • Finalise CFT Core Information

  • Associating Contracting Authority Users

  • Define CFT Workflow

  • Publish Contract Notice/Add Contract Documents

  • Create Notice

  • Publish the CFT Notice

  • Troubleshooting eForms in eTenders

 Phase 3: Evaluation Process

• Unlock a tender on eTenders platform to accessed documents submitted by suppliers

• Guidance video on how to evaluate received submissions

• Record your findings – comments and scores – in the evaluation template

Phase 4: Post – Award Process

• Prepare notification letters to preferred and unsuccessful suppliers

• Letter to Preferred Schoolbook Supplier Template

• Letter to Unsuccessful Schoolbook Supplier Template