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376F_26 Library Stock

Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Award

13 Apr 2026 at 16:20

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

11 Mar 2026 at 12:37

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

09 Dec 2025 at 10:34

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

03 Jul 2025 at 11:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

06 Jun 2025 at 11:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

25 Mar 2025 at 15:20

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, has completed the procurement process for the 376F_26 Library Stock, which is a national framework agreement for the supply of 'shelf-ready' library stock that includes adult and children's books. The procurement utilised an open procedure and was covered under the GPA regulations. The procurements were carried out through multiple stages, with the final award date on 13th April 2026 and contracts signed on 24th March 2026. These contracts encompass two lots, namely Adult Stock and Children's Stock, with active statuses starting on 1st April 2026 and running until 31st March 2028, with potential extensions up to 31st March 2030. The framework is valued at a gross total of £52.8 million and involves multiple suppliers located throughout the UK, providing opportunities across various public bodies.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in the supply of printed matter and related services. With the framework segmented into lots and using a competitive selection process, there are promising prospects for suppliers that can deliver quality and cost-effective library stock solutions across the UK. Potential participants include those catering to educational establishments, local authorities, and similar public sector services. Suppliers will benefit from a structured remuneration model while adhering to ESPO's framework agreement and providing necessary services directly to designated public bodies, creating valuable partnerships and potential growth within the educational and public library sectors.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

376F_26 Library Stock

Notice Description

National framework agreement for the supply of 'shelf-ready' stock to libraries, serviced to individual specification. It offers the supply of adult and children's library stock, including fiction and non-fiction. The Framework is divided into 2 lots. For any additional details please also refer to https://www.espo.org/library-stock-376f-26.html

Lot Information

Adult Stock

Suppliers awarded to this lot will be required to be able to provide a wide range of services stock from all of the below categories: * Adult fiction * Adult non-fiction * Reference materials For further details, please refer to the tender documents.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract.

Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months, and ESPO may choose to use the extension periods where: * The framework is performing well; * The framework continues to meet customer needs. ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as 2x 12-month periods). Total estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.

Children's Stock

Suppliers awarded to this lot will be required to be able to provide a wide range of services stock from both of the below categories: * Children's fiction, including board books * Children's non-fiction For further details, please refer to the tender documents.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract.

Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months, and ESPO may choose to use the extension periods where: * The framework is performing well; * The framework continues to meet customer needs. ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as 2x 12-month periods). Total estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.

Planning Information

The submission deadline for the Request for Information (RFI) is being extended until 18th July 2025 (5pm). Suppliers are required to register and complete the relevant stages on the Central Digital Platform if they wish to participate in or bid for this framework. The ESPO 376F_26 Request for Information (RFI) is available on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org) and the submission deadline is as details above. Suppliers wishing to participate must first register interest for 376F_26 via the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (please refer to instructions below on how to express your interest). The RFI is available within a Public Message on the Portal and suppliers should follow the instructions for completing the RFI as captured within the Public Message. To ensure that equal treatment principles are upheld, any information provided by the market that ESPO deems to be non-confidential or commercially sensitive which shapes our procurement process, proposed route and any refinements will be shared as part of the tender process, including details of the process and outcomes. Potential bidders will not be prejudiced by any participation or failure to participate to this preliminary market engagement exercise and should note that a response to this preliminary market engagement exercise does not guarantee an invitation to participate in this or any future procurement that ESPO may conduct. Suppliers will be engaged with to: • Assess the market's capacity to meet ESPO's requirements • Assess any changes to the market • Understand whether introducing a call-off without competition route to market for this framework is viable • Understand whether there are any additional core goods/services that we could add to the framework offering • Understand what distinctive features between suppliers' offering represent best value to customers • Identify any potential risks or challenges in the market • Gain an understanding of whether localised Social Value can and will be offered under the scope of the contract • Ensure that the market is prepared for carbon reduction plans to be included as a condition of participation for the procurement. For the purposes of this Preliminary market engagement (PME), please express your interest as follows (if not already completed): (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '376F_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest. Please access the Messages area/section of the eProcurement Portal (ProContract / EastMidsTenders - Messages can be accessed via the Activity dashboard once an Expression of interest has been completed) for any further communications on this preliminary market engagement, including the RFI documentation. In the case of any questions or clarifications relating to this PME, these should also be submitted to ESPO as a Message on the eProcurement Portal (again once an Expression of interest has been completed).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04f88e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033413-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

CPV Codes

22000000 - Printed matter and related products

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£52,800,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£52,800,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£22,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£22,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Apr 20264 months ago
Submission Deadline
19 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
14 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
5 Mar 20265 months ago
Contract Period
1 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE19 1ES
Postcode Area
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Blaby
Electoral Ward
Enderby
Westminster Constituency
South Leicestershire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
3
Supplier Names

A.T. LITTLE & SONS LIMITED (t/a Browns Books)

ASKEWS AND HOLTS LIBRARY SERVICES LTD

PETERS LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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