Several open-source providers are in the running for a new Becta framework covering the supply of software licences to the education sector.

Novell, Sirius Corporation and LinuxIT are thought to be among 21 firms invited to tender for the approved supplier catalogue, worth a potential £80m over four years.

Submissions for the final round have to be in before 13 August. The final list of up to 10 suppliers will be unveiled in October.

It is the first time education technology agency Becta has broadened its list of approved suppliers to include open-source specialists, as it moves to put pressure on Microsoft.

Peter Dawes-Huish, chief executive of LinuxIT, confirmed that his company had been invited to tender for the framework, which is being run in conjunction with OGCbuying.solutions.

“We welcome the opportunity to provide software and services to Becta as we have in the commercial sector. But we are yet to see how Becta intends to make a viable climate for both paid-for and free software providers,” he said.

Tom Callway, marketing director at Sirius, refused to confirm Sirius’ involvement, but said: “We hope an open-source company is included in the final list because it will benefit both the open-source community and children.”

Ian Lynch, chief executive of open -source outfit The Learning Machine, said the move demonstrates that Becta now sees open source as a mainstream alternative for schools.

“Becta is seeing the light but ­ as an organisation that is supposedly a technology innovator ­ it should have moved into open source three or four years ago,” he added.

Lynch also claimed many schools would bypass the new list and instead work with local suppliers.