diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb
index afb1601f60..d1851eb663 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb
@@ -6,64 +6,27 @@ version = '4.7.1'
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = SYSTEM
+toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.2.0'}
 
-allow_system_deps = [('Python', SYS_PYTHON_VERSION)]
-
-# Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-osdependencies = [
-    ('libxml2'),
-    ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
+builddependencies = [
+    ('binutils', '2.40'),
+    ('cURL', '8.3.0'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
 ]
 
-# We use pip, setuptools and wheel compatible with Python 3.7 and above
-# Note that ReFrame itself is compatible also with Python 3.6
-# As listed in the python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.7.1/setup.cfg
-# To use with Python 3.6, please install ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb instead
-req_py_majver = 3
-req_py_minver = 7
+# Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
+# the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
+dependencies = [
+    ('Python', '3.11.5'),
+    ('libxslt', '1.1.38'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+    ('libxml2', '2.11.5'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+]
 
 exts_list = [
-    # stick to pip 24.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
-    # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
-    ('pip', '24.0', {
-        'use_pip': False,
-        'checksums': ['ea9bd1a847e8c5774a5777bb398c19e80bcd4e2aa16a4b301b718fe6f593aba2'],
-    }),
-    # Require new enough setuptools to work with Python 3.12, which doesn't have pkgutil.ImpImporter anymore
-    # See https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/commit/6653e747c3815b140156249205397ef3719581ee
-    # 68.0.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.7
-    ('setuptools', '68.0.0', {
-        'use_pip': False,
-        'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
-        'checksums': ['baf1fdb41c6da4cd2eae722e135500da913332ab3f2f5c7d33af9b492acb5235'],
-    }),
-    # stick to wheel 0.42.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
-    ('wheel', '0.42.0', {
-        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py3-none-any.whl',
-        'checksums': ['177f9c9b0d45c47873b619f5b650346d632cdc35fb5e4d25058e09c9e581433d'],
-    }),
-    # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
-    # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path
-    # so that ReFrame (and only ReFrame) will find & use all of these dependencies.
-    # In EasyBuild, we should adhere to this installation method because a) it is how ReFrame is meant to be used and
-    # b) it isolates all of ReFrame dependencies from any other python code you run. Thus, there is no chance that
-    # a test will pick up on any python deps from ReFrame itself.
-    # For this to work, we need to disable download_dep_fail and sanity_pip_check, as both are _expected_ to fail
-    # for this setup.
     ('reframe', version, {
-        # Deps are downloaded to %(installdir)/external, which won't polute the PYTHONPATH, so is ok
         'download_dep_fail': False,
-        # ReFrame uses its custom sys.path to find necessary packages, they are not on PYTYHONPATH
-        # Thus, the regular pip sanity check is expected to fail, even if ReFrame would run just fine
-        'sanity_pip_check': False,
-        # Set modulename to False, as to skip the sanity_check-step from extension.py (python -c "import reframe")
-        # This step would fail, since the regular python interpreter wouldn't find the additional packages in
-        # %(installdir)/external. That's fine, as ReFrame should never be imported directly, only through the
-        # reframe command.
         'modulename': False,
-        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && "
-                          "./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && ./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        'sanity_pip_check': False,
         'source_tmpl': 'v%(version)s.tar.gz',
         'source_urls': ['https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/archive/'],
         'checksums': ['ed693368d8b47327981a0db2b984c88d7dd703add1ffe736c95f9193ef727baf'],
@@ -86,4 +49,10 @@ sanity_check_paths = {
 
 sanity_check_commands = ['reframe --version']
 
+# Since this is at the GCCcore toolchain level, make sure ReFrame is configured to purge modules before running
+# any tests by default
+modextravars = {
+    'RFM_PURGE_ENVIRONMENT': '1',
+}
+
 moduleclass = 'devel'

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb
index 1d11c9a167..d1851eb663 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb
@@ -1,73 +1,32 @@
-# This EasyConfig is made with older setuptools and wheel versions, so that it still works with Python-3.6.X
-# For newer python versions, we suggest to use ReFrame-4.6.2.eb (without suffix)
 easyblock = 'PythonBundle'
 
 name = 'ReFrame'
 version = '4.7.1'
-versionsuffix = '-Python-3.6'
 
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = SYSTEM
+toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.2.0'}
 
-allow_system_deps = [('Python', SYS_PYTHON_VERSION)]
-
-# Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-osdependencies = [
-    ('libxml2'),
-    ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
+builddependencies = [
+    ('binutils', '2.40'),
+    ('cURL', '8.3.0'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
 ]
 
-# Listed as python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.6.2/setup.cfg
-req_py_majver = 3
-req_py_minver = 6
-
-# The setuptools in this EasyConfig is the latest that works for Python 3.6, but is too old for Python 3.12
-# See https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/pull/21269#discussion_r1741570244
-max_py_majver = 3
-max_py_minver = 11
+# Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
+# the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
+dependencies = [
+    ('Python', '3.11.5'),
+    ('libxslt', '1.1.38'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+    ('libxml2', '2.11.5'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+]
 
 exts_list = [
-    # stick to pip 21.3.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
-    # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
-    ('pip', '21.3.1', {
-        'use_pip': False,
-        'checksums': ['fd11ba3d0fdb4c07fbc5ecbba0b1b719809420f25038f8ee3cd913d3faa3033a'],
-    }),
-    # Require new enough setuptools to install with e.g. pyproject.toml
-    # 59.6.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.6
-    ('setuptools', '59.6.0', {
-        'use_pip': False,
-        'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
-        'checksums': ['22c7348c6d2976a52632c67f7ab0cdf40147db7789f9aed18734643fe9cf3373'],
-    }),
-    # stick to wheel 0.37.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
-    ('wheel', '0.37.1', {
-        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py2.py3-none-any.whl',
-        'checksums': ['4bdcd7d840138086126cd09254dc6195fb4fc6f01c050a1d7236f2630db1d22a'],
-    }),
-    # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
-    # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path
-    # so that ReFrame (and only ReFrame) will find & use all of these dependencies.
-    # In EasyBuild, we should adhere to this installation method because a) it is how ReFrame is meant to be used and
-    # b) it isolates all of ReFrame dependencies from any other python code you run. Thus, there is no chance that
-    # a test will pick up on any python deps from ReFrame itself.
-    # For this to work, we need to disable download_dep_fail and sanity_pip_check, as both are _expected_ to fail
-    # for this setup.
     ('reframe', version, {
-        # Deps are downloaded to %(installdir)/external, which won't polute the PYTHONPATH, so is ok
         'download_dep_fail': False,
-        # ReFrame uses its custom sys.path to find necessary packages, they are not on PYTYHONPATH
-        # Thus, the regular pip sanity check is expected to fail, even if ReFrame would run just fine
-        'sanity_pip_check': False,
-        # Set modulename to False, as to skip the sanity_check-step from extension.py (python -c "import reframe")
-        # This step would fail, since the regular python interpreter wouldn't find the additional packages in
-        # %(installdir)/external. That's fine, as ReFrame should never be imported directly, only through the
-        # reframe command.
         'modulename': False,
-        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && "
-                          "./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && ./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        'sanity_pip_check': False,
         'source_tmpl': 'v%(version)s.tar.gz',
         'source_urls': ['https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/archive/'],
         'checksums': ['ed693368d8b47327981a0db2b984c88d7dd703add1ffe736c95f9193ef727baf'],
@@ -90,4 +49,10 @@ sanity_check_paths = {
 
 sanity_check_commands = ['reframe --version']
 
+# Since this is at the GCCcore toolchain level, make sure ReFrame is configured to purge modules before running
+# any tests by default
+modextravars = {
+    'RFM_PURGE_ENVIRONMENT': '1',
+}
+
 moduleclass = 'devel'

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb
index c0e95bf7b1..d1851eb663 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb
@@ -6,19 +6,19 @@ version = '4.7.1'
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.3.0'}
+toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.2.0'}
 
 builddependencies = [
-    ('binutils', '2.42'),
-    ('cURL', '8.7.1'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
+    ('binutils', '2.40'),
+    ('cURL', '8.3.0'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
 ]
 
 # Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
 # the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
 dependencies = [
-    ('Python', '3.12.3'),
-    ('libxslt', '1.1.42'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-    ('libxml2', '2.12.7'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+    ('Python', '3.11.5'),
+    ('libxslt', '1.1.38'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+    ('libxml2', '2.11.5'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
 ]
 
 exts_list = [

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb
index afb1601f60..c0e95bf7b1 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb
@@ -6,64 +6,27 @@ version = '4.7.1'
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = SYSTEM
+toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.3.0'}
 
-allow_system_deps = [('Python', SYS_PYTHON_VERSION)]
-
-# Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-osdependencies = [
-    ('libxml2'),
-    ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
+builddependencies = [
+    ('binutils', '2.42'),
+    ('cURL', '8.7.1'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
 ]
 
-# We use pip, setuptools and wheel compatible with Python 3.7 and above
-# Note that ReFrame itself is compatible also with Python 3.6
-# As listed in the python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.7.1/setup.cfg
-# To use with Python 3.6, please install ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb instead
-req_py_majver = 3
-req_py_minver = 7
+# Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
+# the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
+dependencies = [
+    ('Python', '3.12.3'),
+    ('libxslt', '1.1.42'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+    ('libxml2', '2.12.7'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+]
 
 exts_list = [
-    # stick to pip 24.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
-    # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
-    ('pip', '24.0', {
-        'use_pip': False,
-        'checksums': ['ea9bd1a847e8c5774a5777bb398c19e80bcd4e2aa16a4b301b718fe6f593aba2'],
-    }),
-    # Require new enough setuptools to work with Python 3.12, which doesn't have pkgutil.ImpImporter anymore
-    # See https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/commit/6653e747c3815b140156249205397ef3719581ee
-    # 68.0.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.7
-    ('setuptools', '68.0.0', {
-        'use_pip': False,
-        'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
-        'checksums': ['baf1fdb41c6da4cd2eae722e135500da913332ab3f2f5c7d33af9b492acb5235'],
-    }),
-    # stick to wheel 0.42.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
-    ('wheel', '0.42.0', {
-        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py3-none-any.whl',
-        'checksums': ['177f9c9b0d45c47873b619f5b650346d632cdc35fb5e4d25058e09c9e581433d'],
-    }),
-    # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
-    # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path
-    # so that ReFrame (and only ReFrame) will find & use all of these dependencies.
-    # In EasyBuild, we should adhere to this installation method because a) it is how ReFrame is meant to be used and
-    # b) it isolates all of ReFrame dependencies from any other python code you run. Thus, there is no chance that
-    # a test will pick up on any python deps from ReFrame itself.
-    # For this to work, we need to disable download_dep_fail and sanity_pip_check, as both are _expected_ to fail
-    # for this setup.
     ('reframe', version, {
-        # Deps are downloaded to %(installdir)/external, which won't polute the PYTHONPATH, so is ok
         'download_dep_fail': False,
-        # ReFrame uses its custom sys.path to find necessary packages, they are not on PYTYHONPATH
-        # Thus, the regular pip sanity check is expected to fail, even if ReFrame would run just fine
-        'sanity_pip_check': False,
-        # Set modulename to False, as to skip the sanity_check-step from extension.py (python -c "import reframe")
-        # This step would fail, since the regular python interpreter wouldn't find the additional packages in
-        # %(installdir)/external. That's fine, as ReFrame should never be imported directly, only through the
-        # reframe command.
         'modulename': False,
-        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && "
-                          "./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && ./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        'sanity_pip_check': False,
         'source_tmpl': 'v%(version)s.tar.gz',
         'source_urls': ['https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/archive/'],
         'checksums': ['ed693368d8b47327981a0db2b984c88d7dd703add1ffe736c95f9193ef727baf'],
@@ -86,4 +49,10 @@ sanity_check_paths = {
 
 sanity_check_commands = ['reframe --version']
 
+# Since this is at the GCCcore toolchain level, make sure ReFrame is configured to purge modules before running
+# any tests by default
+modextravars = {
+    'RFM_PURGE_ENVIRONMENT': '1',
+}
+
 moduleclass = 'devel'

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb
index 1d11c9a167..c0e95bf7b1 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb
@@ -1,73 +1,32 @@
-# This EasyConfig is made with older setuptools and wheel versions, so that it still works with Python-3.6.X
-# For newer python versions, we suggest to use ReFrame-4.6.2.eb (without suffix)
 easyblock = 'PythonBundle'
 
 name = 'ReFrame'
 version = '4.7.1'
-versionsuffix = '-Python-3.6'
 
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = SYSTEM
+toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.3.0'}
 
-allow_system_deps = [('Python', SYS_PYTHON_VERSION)]
-
-# Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-osdependencies = [
-    ('libxml2'),
-    ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
+builddependencies = [
+    ('binutils', '2.42'),
+    ('cURL', '8.7.1'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
 ]
 
-# Listed as python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.6.2/setup.cfg
-req_py_majver = 3
-req_py_minver = 6
-
-# The setuptools in this EasyConfig is the latest that works for Python 3.6, but is too old for Python 3.12
-# See https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/pull/21269#discussion_r1741570244
-max_py_majver = 3
-max_py_minver = 11
+# Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
+# the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
+dependencies = [
+    ('Python', '3.12.3'),
+    ('libxslt', '1.1.42'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+    ('libxml2', '2.12.7'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+]
 
 exts_list = [
-    # stick to pip 21.3.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
-    # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
-    ('pip', '21.3.1', {
-        'use_pip': False,
-        'checksums': ['fd11ba3d0fdb4c07fbc5ecbba0b1b719809420f25038f8ee3cd913d3faa3033a'],
-    }),
-    # Require new enough setuptools to install with e.g. pyproject.toml
-    # 59.6.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.6
-    ('setuptools', '59.6.0', {
-        'use_pip': False,
-        'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
-        'checksums': ['22c7348c6d2976a52632c67f7ab0cdf40147db7789f9aed18734643fe9cf3373'],
-    }),
-    # stick to wheel 0.37.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
-    ('wheel', '0.37.1', {
-        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py2.py3-none-any.whl',
-        'checksums': ['4bdcd7d840138086126cd09254dc6195fb4fc6f01c050a1d7236f2630db1d22a'],
-    }),
-    # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
-    # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path
-    # so that ReFrame (and only ReFrame) will find & use all of these dependencies.
-    # In EasyBuild, we should adhere to this installation method because a) it is how ReFrame is meant to be used and
-    # b) it isolates all of ReFrame dependencies from any other python code you run. Thus, there is no chance that
-    # a test will pick up on any python deps from ReFrame itself.
-    # For this to work, we need to disable download_dep_fail and sanity_pip_check, as both are _expected_ to fail
-    # for this setup.
     ('reframe', version, {
-        # Deps are downloaded to %(installdir)/external, which won't polute the PYTHONPATH, so is ok
         'download_dep_fail': False,
-        # ReFrame uses its custom sys.path to find necessary packages, they are not on PYTYHONPATH
-        # Thus, the regular pip sanity check is expected to fail, even if ReFrame would run just fine
-        'sanity_pip_check': False,
-        # Set modulename to False, as to skip the sanity_check-step from extension.py (python -c "import reframe")
-        # This step would fail, since the regular python interpreter wouldn't find the additional packages in
-        # %(installdir)/external. That's fine, as ReFrame should never be imported directly, only through the
-        # reframe command.
         'modulename': False,
-        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && "
-                          "./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && ./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        'sanity_pip_check': False,
         'source_tmpl': 'v%(version)s.tar.gz',
         'source_urls': ['https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/archive/'],
         'checksums': ['ed693368d8b47327981a0db2b984c88d7dd703add1ffe736c95f9193ef727baf'],
@@ -90,4 +49,10 @@ sanity_check_paths = {
 
 sanity_check_commands = ['reframe --version']
 
+# Since this is at the GCCcore toolchain level, make sure ReFrame is configured to purge modules before running
+# any tests by default
+modextravars = {
+    'RFM_PURGE_ENVIRONMENT': '1',
+}
+
 moduleclass = 'devel'

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb
index d1851eb663..c0e95bf7b1 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb
@@ -6,19 +6,19 @@ version = '4.7.1'
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.2.0'}
+toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.3.0'}
 
 builddependencies = [
-    ('binutils', '2.40'),
-    ('cURL', '8.3.0'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
+    ('binutils', '2.42'),
+    ('cURL', '8.7.1'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
 ]
 
 # Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
 # the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
 dependencies = [
-    ('Python', '3.11.5'),
-    ('libxslt', '1.1.38'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-    ('libxml2', '2.11.5'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+    ('Python', '3.12.3'),
+    ('libxslt', '1.1.42'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+    ('libxml2', '2.12.7'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
 ]
 
 exts_list = [

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb
index afb1601f60..1d11c9a167 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
+# This EasyConfig is made with older setuptools and wheel versions, so that it still works with Python-3.6.X
+# For newer python versions, we suggest to use ReFrame-4.6.2.eb (without suffix)
 easyblock = 'PythonBundle'
 
 name = 'ReFrame'
 version = '4.7.1'
+versionsuffix = '-Python-3.6'
 
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
@@ -16,32 +19,33 @@ osdependencies = [
     ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
 ]
 
-# We use pip, setuptools and wheel compatible with Python 3.7 and above
-# Note that ReFrame itself is compatible also with Python 3.6
-# As listed in the python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.7.1/setup.cfg
-# To use with Python 3.6, please install ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb instead
+# Listed as python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.6.2/setup.cfg
 req_py_majver = 3
-req_py_minver = 7
+req_py_minver = 6
+
+# The setuptools in this EasyConfig is the latest that works for Python 3.6, but is too old for Python 3.12
+# See https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/pull/21269#discussion_r1741570244
+max_py_majver = 3
+max_py_minver = 11
 
 exts_list = [
-    # stick to pip 24.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
+    # stick to pip 21.3.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
     # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
-    ('pip', '24.0', {
+    ('pip', '21.3.1', {
         'use_pip': False,
-        'checksums': ['ea9bd1a847e8c5774a5777bb398c19e80bcd4e2aa16a4b301b718fe6f593aba2'],
+        'checksums': ['fd11ba3d0fdb4c07fbc5ecbba0b1b719809420f25038f8ee3cd913d3faa3033a'],
     }),
-    # Require new enough setuptools to work with Python 3.12, which doesn't have pkgutil.ImpImporter anymore
-    # See https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/commit/6653e747c3815b140156249205397ef3719581ee
-    # 68.0.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.7
-    ('setuptools', '68.0.0', {
+    # Require new enough setuptools to install with e.g. pyproject.toml
+    # 59.6.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.6
+    ('setuptools', '59.6.0', {
         'use_pip': False,
         'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
-        'checksums': ['baf1fdb41c6da4cd2eae722e135500da913332ab3f2f5c7d33af9b492acb5235'],
+        'checksums': ['22c7348c6d2976a52632c67f7ab0cdf40147db7789f9aed18734643fe9cf3373'],
     }),
-    # stick to wheel 0.42.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
-    ('wheel', '0.42.0', {
-        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py3-none-any.whl',
-        'checksums': ['177f9c9b0d45c47873b619f5b650346d632cdc35fb5e4d25058e09c9e581433d'],
+    # stick to wheel 0.37.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
+    ('wheel', '0.37.1', {
+        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py2.py3-none-any.whl',
+        'checksums': ['4bdcd7d840138086126cd09254dc6195fb4fc6f01c050a1d7236f2630db1d22a'],
     }),
     # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
     # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb
index c0e95bf7b1..1d11c9a167 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb
@@ -1,32 +1,73 @@
+# This EasyConfig is made with older setuptools and wheel versions, so that it still works with Python-3.6.X
+# For newer python versions, we suggest to use ReFrame-4.6.2.eb (without suffix)
 easyblock = 'PythonBundle'
 
 name = 'ReFrame'
 version = '4.7.1'
+versionsuffix = '-Python-3.6'
 
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.3.0'}
+toolchain = SYSTEM
 
-builddependencies = [
-    ('binutils', '2.42'),
-    ('cURL', '8.7.1'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
-]
+allow_system_deps = [('Python', SYS_PYTHON_VERSION)]
 
-# Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
-# the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
-dependencies = [
-    ('Python', '3.12.3'),
-    ('libxslt', '1.1.42'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-    ('libxml2', '2.12.7'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+# Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+osdependencies = [
+    ('libxml2'),
+    ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
 ]
 
+# Listed as python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.6.2/setup.cfg
+req_py_majver = 3
+req_py_minver = 6
+
+# The setuptools in this EasyConfig is the latest that works for Python 3.6, but is too old for Python 3.12
+# See https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/pull/21269#discussion_r1741570244
+max_py_majver = 3
+max_py_minver = 11
+
 exts_list = [
+    # stick to pip 21.3.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
+    # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
+    ('pip', '21.3.1', {
+        'use_pip': False,
+        'checksums': ['fd11ba3d0fdb4c07fbc5ecbba0b1b719809420f25038f8ee3cd913d3faa3033a'],
+    }),
+    # Require new enough setuptools to install with e.g. pyproject.toml
+    # 59.6.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.6
+    ('setuptools', '59.6.0', {
+        'use_pip': False,
+        'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
+        'checksums': ['22c7348c6d2976a52632c67f7ab0cdf40147db7789f9aed18734643fe9cf3373'],
+    }),
+    # stick to wheel 0.37.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
+    ('wheel', '0.37.1', {
+        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py2.py3-none-any.whl',
+        'checksums': ['4bdcd7d840138086126cd09254dc6195fb4fc6f01c050a1d7236f2630db1d22a'],
+    }),
+    # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
+    # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path
+    # so that ReFrame (and only ReFrame) will find & use all of these dependencies.
+    # In EasyBuild, we should adhere to this installation method because a) it is how ReFrame is meant to be used and
+    # b) it isolates all of ReFrame dependencies from any other python code you run. Thus, there is no chance that
+    # a test will pick up on any python deps from ReFrame itself.
+    # For this to work, we need to disable download_dep_fail and sanity_pip_check, as both are _expected_ to fail
+    # for this setup.
     ('reframe', version, {
+        # Deps are downloaded to %(installdir)/external, which won't polute the PYTHONPATH, so is ok
         'download_dep_fail': False,
-        'modulename': False,
-        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && ./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        # ReFrame uses its custom sys.path to find necessary packages, they are not on PYTYHONPATH
+        # Thus, the regular pip sanity check is expected to fail, even if ReFrame would run just fine
         'sanity_pip_check': False,
+        # Set modulename to False, as to skip the sanity_check-step from extension.py (python -c "import reframe")
+        # This step would fail, since the regular python interpreter wouldn't find the additional packages in
+        # %(installdir)/external. That's fine, as ReFrame should never be imported directly, only through the
+        # reframe command.
+        'modulename': False,
+        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && "
+                          "./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
         'source_tmpl': 'v%(version)s.tar.gz',
         'source_urls': ['https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/archive/'],
         'checksums': ['ed693368d8b47327981a0db2b984c88d7dd703add1ffe736c95f9193ef727baf'],
@@ -49,10 +90,4 @@ sanity_check_paths = {
 
 sanity_check_commands = ['reframe --version']
 
-# Since this is at the GCCcore toolchain level, make sure ReFrame is configured to purge modules before running
-# any tests by default
-modextravars = {
-    'RFM_PURGE_ENVIRONMENT': '1',
-}
-
 moduleclass = 'devel'

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb
index d1851eb663..1d11c9a167 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb
@@ -1,32 +1,73 @@
+# This EasyConfig is made with older setuptools and wheel versions, so that it still works with Python-3.6.X
+# For newer python versions, we suggest to use ReFrame-4.6.2.eb (without suffix)
 easyblock = 'PythonBundle'
 
 name = 'ReFrame'
 version = '4.7.1'
+versionsuffix = '-Python-3.6'
 
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.2.0'}
+toolchain = SYSTEM
 
-builddependencies = [
-    ('binutils', '2.40'),
-    ('cURL', '8.3.0'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
-]
+allow_system_deps = [('Python', SYS_PYTHON_VERSION)]
 
-# Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
-# the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
-dependencies = [
-    ('Python', '3.11.5'),
-    ('libxslt', '1.1.38'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-    ('libxml2', '2.11.5'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+# Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+osdependencies = [
+    ('libxml2'),
+    ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
 ]
 
+# Listed as python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.6.2/setup.cfg
+req_py_majver = 3
+req_py_minver = 6
+
+# The setuptools in this EasyConfig is the latest that works for Python 3.6, but is too old for Python 3.12
+# See https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/pull/21269#discussion_r1741570244
+max_py_majver = 3
+max_py_minver = 11
+
 exts_list = [
+    # stick to pip 21.3.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
+    # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
+    ('pip', '21.3.1', {
+        'use_pip': False,
+        'checksums': ['fd11ba3d0fdb4c07fbc5ecbba0b1b719809420f25038f8ee3cd913d3faa3033a'],
+    }),
+    # Require new enough setuptools to install with e.g. pyproject.toml
+    # 59.6.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.6
+    ('setuptools', '59.6.0', {
+        'use_pip': False,
+        'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
+        'checksums': ['22c7348c6d2976a52632c67f7ab0cdf40147db7789f9aed18734643fe9cf3373'],
+    }),
+    # stick to wheel 0.37.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
+    ('wheel', '0.37.1', {
+        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py2.py3-none-any.whl',
+        'checksums': ['4bdcd7d840138086126cd09254dc6195fb4fc6f01c050a1d7236f2630db1d22a'],
+    }),
+    # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
+    # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path
+    # so that ReFrame (and only ReFrame) will find & use all of these dependencies.
+    # In EasyBuild, we should adhere to this installation method because a) it is how ReFrame is meant to be used and
+    # b) it isolates all of ReFrame dependencies from any other python code you run. Thus, there is no chance that
+    # a test will pick up on any python deps from ReFrame itself.
+    # For this to work, we need to disable download_dep_fail and sanity_pip_check, as both are _expected_ to fail
+    # for this setup.
     ('reframe', version, {
+        # Deps are downloaded to %(installdir)/external, which won't polute the PYTHONPATH, so is ok
         'download_dep_fail': False,
-        'modulename': False,
-        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && ./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        # ReFrame uses its custom sys.path to find necessary packages, they are not on PYTYHONPATH
+        # Thus, the regular pip sanity check is expected to fail, even if ReFrame would run just fine
         'sanity_pip_check': False,
+        # Set modulename to False, as to skip the sanity_check-step from extension.py (python -c "import reframe")
+        # This step would fail, since the regular python interpreter wouldn't find the additional packages in
+        # %(installdir)/external. That's fine, as ReFrame should never be imported directly, only through the
+        # reframe command.
+        'modulename': False,
+        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && "
+                          "./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
         'source_tmpl': 'v%(version)s.tar.gz',
         'source_urls': ['https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/archive/'],
         'checksums': ['ed693368d8b47327981a0db2b984c88d7dd703add1ffe736c95f9193ef727baf'],
@@ -49,10 +90,4 @@ sanity_check_paths = {
 
 sanity_check_commands = ['reframe --version']
 
-# Since this is at the GCCcore toolchain level, make sure ReFrame is configured to purge modules before running
-# any tests by default
-modextravars = {
-    'RFM_PURGE_ENVIRONMENT': '1',
-}
-
 moduleclass = 'devel'

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb
index 1d11c9a167..afb1601f60 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
-# This EasyConfig is made with older setuptools and wheel versions, so that it still works with Python-3.6.X
-# For newer python versions, we suggest to use ReFrame-4.6.2.eb (without suffix)
 easyblock = 'PythonBundle'
 
 name = 'ReFrame'
 version = '4.7.1'
-versionsuffix = '-Python-3.6'
 
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
@@ -19,33 +16,32 @@ osdependencies = [
     ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
 ]
 
-# Listed as python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.6.2/setup.cfg
+# We use pip, setuptools and wheel compatible with Python 3.7 and above
+# Note that ReFrame itself is compatible also with Python 3.6
+# As listed in the python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.7.1/setup.cfg
+# To use with Python 3.6, please install ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb instead
 req_py_majver = 3
-req_py_minver = 6
-
-# The setuptools in this EasyConfig is the latest that works for Python 3.6, but is too old for Python 3.12
-# See https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/pull/21269#discussion_r1741570244
-max_py_majver = 3
-max_py_minver = 11
+req_py_minver = 7
 
 exts_list = [
-    # stick to pip 21.3.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
+    # stick to pip 24.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
     # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
-    ('pip', '21.3.1', {
+    ('pip', '24.0', {
         'use_pip': False,
-        'checksums': ['fd11ba3d0fdb4c07fbc5ecbba0b1b719809420f25038f8ee3cd913d3faa3033a'],
+        'checksums': ['ea9bd1a847e8c5774a5777bb398c19e80bcd4e2aa16a4b301b718fe6f593aba2'],
     }),
-    # Require new enough setuptools to install with e.g. pyproject.toml
-    # 59.6.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.6
-    ('setuptools', '59.6.0', {
+    # Require new enough setuptools to work with Python 3.12, which doesn't have pkgutil.ImpImporter anymore
+    # See https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/commit/6653e747c3815b140156249205397ef3719581ee
+    # 68.0.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.7
+    ('setuptools', '68.0.0', {
         'use_pip': False,
         'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
-        'checksums': ['22c7348c6d2976a52632c67f7ab0cdf40147db7789f9aed18734643fe9cf3373'],
+        'checksums': ['baf1fdb41c6da4cd2eae722e135500da913332ab3f2f5c7d33af9b492acb5235'],
     }),
-    # stick to wheel 0.37.1, which is compatible with Python 3.6
-    ('wheel', '0.37.1', {
-        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py2.py3-none-any.whl',
-        'checksums': ['4bdcd7d840138086126cd09254dc6195fb4fc6f01c050a1d7236f2630db1d22a'],
+    # stick to wheel 0.42.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
+    ('wheel', '0.42.0', {
+        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py3-none-any.whl',
+        'checksums': ['177f9c9b0d45c47873b619f5b650346d632cdc35fb5e4d25058e09c9e581433d'],
     }),
     # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
     # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb
index c0e95bf7b1..afb1601f60 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.3.0.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb
@@ -6,27 +6,64 @@ version = '4.7.1'
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.3.0'}
+toolchain = SYSTEM
 
-builddependencies = [
-    ('binutils', '2.42'),
-    ('cURL', '8.7.1'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
-]
+allow_system_deps = [('Python', SYS_PYTHON_VERSION)]
 
-# Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
-# the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
-dependencies = [
-    ('Python', '3.12.3'),
-    ('libxslt', '1.1.42'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-    ('libxml2', '2.12.7'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+# Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+osdependencies = [
+    ('libxml2'),
+    ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
 ]
 
+# We use pip, setuptools and wheel compatible with Python 3.7 and above
+# Note that ReFrame itself is compatible also with Python 3.6
+# As listed in the python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.7.1/setup.cfg
+# To use with Python 3.6, please install ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb instead
+req_py_majver = 3
+req_py_minver = 7
+
 exts_list = [
+    # stick to pip 24.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
+    # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
+    ('pip', '24.0', {
+        'use_pip': False,
+        'checksums': ['ea9bd1a847e8c5774a5777bb398c19e80bcd4e2aa16a4b301b718fe6f593aba2'],
+    }),
+    # Require new enough setuptools to work with Python 3.12, which doesn't have pkgutil.ImpImporter anymore
+    # See https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/commit/6653e747c3815b140156249205397ef3719581ee
+    # 68.0.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.7
+    ('setuptools', '68.0.0', {
+        'use_pip': False,
+        'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
+        'checksums': ['baf1fdb41c6da4cd2eae722e135500da913332ab3f2f5c7d33af9b492acb5235'],
+    }),
+    # stick to wheel 0.42.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
+    ('wheel', '0.42.0', {
+        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py3-none-any.whl',
+        'checksums': ['177f9c9b0d45c47873b619f5b650346d632cdc35fb5e4d25058e09c9e581433d'],
+    }),
+    # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
+    # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path
+    # so that ReFrame (and only ReFrame) will find & use all of these dependencies.
+    # In EasyBuild, we should adhere to this installation method because a) it is how ReFrame is meant to be used and
+    # b) it isolates all of ReFrame dependencies from any other python code you run. Thus, there is no chance that
+    # a test will pick up on any python deps from ReFrame itself.
+    # For this to work, we need to disable download_dep_fail and sanity_pip_check, as both are _expected_ to fail
+    # for this setup.
     ('reframe', version, {
+        # Deps are downloaded to %(installdir)/external, which won't polute the PYTHONPATH, so is ok
         'download_dep_fail': False,
-        'modulename': False,
-        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && ./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        # ReFrame uses its custom sys.path to find necessary packages, they are not on PYTYHONPATH
+        # Thus, the regular pip sanity check is expected to fail, even if ReFrame would run just fine
         'sanity_pip_check': False,
+        # Set modulename to False, as to skip the sanity_check-step from extension.py (python -c "import reframe")
+        # This step would fail, since the regular python interpreter wouldn't find the additional packages in
+        # %(installdir)/external. That's fine, as ReFrame should never be imported directly, only through the
+        # reframe command.
+        'modulename': False,
+        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && "
+                          "./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
         'source_tmpl': 'v%(version)s.tar.gz',
         'source_urls': ['https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/archive/'],
         'checksums': ['ed693368d8b47327981a0db2b984c88d7dd703add1ffe736c95f9193ef727baf'],
@@ -49,10 +86,4 @@ sanity_check_paths = {
 
 sanity_check_commands = ['reframe --version']
 
-# Since this is at the GCCcore toolchain level, make sure ReFrame is configured to purge modules before running
-# any tests by default
-modextravars = {
-    'RFM_PURGE_ENVIRONMENT': '1',
-}
-
 moduleclass = 'devel'

diff --git a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb
index d1851eb663..afb1601f60 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1-GCCcore-13.2.0.eb
+++ b/easybuild/easyconfigs/r/ReFrame/ReFrame-4.7.1.eb
@@ -6,27 +6,64 @@ version = '4.7.1'
 homepage = 'https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe'
 description = '''ReFrame is a framework for writing regression tests for HPC systems.'''
 
-toolchain = {'name': 'GCCcore', 'version': '13.2.0'}
+toolchain = SYSTEM
 
-builddependencies = [
-    ('binutils', '2.40'),
-    ('cURL', '8.3.0'),  # Used by ReFrame to download pip in the bootstrap
-]
+allow_system_deps = [('Python', SYS_PYTHON_VERSION)]
 
-# Note that for ReFrame's CPU autodetect to work
-# the system also needs to provide (new enough versions of) these dependencies
-dependencies = [
-    ('Python', '3.11.5'),
-    ('libxslt', '1.1.38'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
-    ('libxml2', '2.11.5'),  # Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+# Required by lxml, which is installed by ReFrame's bootstrap installer
+osdependencies = [
+    ('libxml2'),
+    ('libxslt', 'libxslt1.1'),
 ]
 
+# We use pip, setuptools and wheel compatible with Python 3.7 and above
+# Note that ReFrame itself is compatible also with Python 3.6
+# As listed in the python_requires in https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/blob/v4.7.1/setup.cfg
+# To use with Python 3.6, please install ReFrame-4.7.1-Python-3.6.eb instead
+req_py_majver = 3
+req_py_minver = 7
+
 exts_list = [
+    # stick to pip 24.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
+    # we still need pip outside of ReFrame's external dependencies, since the install cmd uses pip
+    ('pip', '24.0', {
+        'use_pip': False,
+        'checksums': ['ea9bd1a847e8c5774a5777bb398c19e80bcd4e2aa16a4b301b718fe6f593aba2'],
+    }),
+    # Require new enough setuptools to work with Python 3.12, which doesn't have pkgutil.ImpImporter anymore
+    # See https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/commit/6653e747c3815b140156249205397ef3719581ee
+    # 68.0.0 is the latest compatible with Python 3.7
+    ('setuptools', '68.0.0', {
+        'use_pip': False,
+        'source_urls': ['https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/s/setuptools/'],
+        'checksums': ['baf1fdb41c6da4cd2eae722e135500da913332ab3f2f5c7d33af9b492acb5235'],
+    }),
+    # stick to wheel 0.42.0, which is compatible with Python 3.7
+    ('wheel', '0.42.0', {
+        'source_tmpl': 'wheel-%(version)s-py3-none-any.whl',
+        'checksums': ['177f9c9b0d45c47873b619f5b650346d632cdc35fb5e4d25058e09c9e581433d'],
+    }),
+    # ReFrame's bootstrap script is intended to run with zero dependencies. It downloads all python deps for ReFrame
+    # into a %(installdir)/external directory. ReFrame's main executable (reframe) adds this dir to python's sys.path
+    # so that ReFrame (and only ReFrame) will find & use all of these dependencies.
+    # In EasyBuild, we should adhere to this installation method because a) it is how ReFrame is meant to be used and
+    # b) it isolates all of ReFrame dependencies from any other python code you run. Thus, there is no chance that
+    # a test will pick up on any python deps from ReFrame itself.
+    # For this to work, we need to disable download_dep_fail and sanity_pip_check, as both are _expected_ to fail
+    # for this setup.
     ('reframe', version, {
+        # Deps are downloaded to %(installdir)/external, which won't polute the PYTHONPATH, so is ok
         'download_dep_fail': False,
-        'modulename': False,
-        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && ./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
+        # ReFrame uses its custom sys.path to find necessary packages, they are not on PYTYHONPATH
+        # Thus, the regular pip sanity check is expected to fail, even if ReFrame would run just fine
         'sanity_pip_check': False,
+        # Set modulename to False, as to skip the sanity_check-step from extension.py (python -c "import reframe")
+        # This step would fail, since the regular python interpreter wouldn't find the additional packages in
+        # %(installdir)/external. That's fine, as ReFrame should never be imported directly, only through the
+        # reframe command.
+        'modulename': False,
+        'preinstallopts': "export PATH=%(installdir)s/bin:$PATH && "
+                          "./bootstrap.sh +docs +pygelf && cp --recursive external %(installdir)s && ",
         'source_tmpl': 'v%(version)s.tar.gz',
         'source_urls': ['https://github.com/reframe-hpc/reframe/archive/'],
         'checksums': ['ed693368d8b47327981a0db2b984c88d7dd703add1ffe736c95f9193ef727baf'],
@@ -49,10 +86,4 @@ sanity_check_paths = {
 
 sanity_check_commands = ['reframe --version']
 
-# Since this is at the GCCcore toolchain level, make sure ReFrame is configured to purge modules before running
-# any tests by default
-modextravars = {
-    'RFM_PURGE_ENVIRONMENT': '1',
-}
-
 moduleclass = 'devel'