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182_26 Creative Materials, Card, Textiles and Glitter

Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

17 Mar 2026 at 15:26

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

21 Jan 2026 at 16:02

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

18 Aug 2025 at 16:13

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

29 Apr 2025 at 15:12

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process titled "182_26 Creative Materials, Card, Textiles and Glitter" involves Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, as the buying organisation. The framework is designed to facilitate the supply of a variety of craft-related products, including creative materials, card, textiles, and glitter, to the ESPO Distribution Centre located in Leicester, UK. This procurement has reached the award stage, with contracts signed on 13 February 2026. The framework comprises four lots and uses an open procedure, as per the legal basis of UKPGA 2023, section 54. The contracts are set to begin on 1 March 2026 and run until 31 March 2028, with the possibility of extension up to February 2030. All awarded suppliers are based in the United Kingdom, covering regions such as UKF22, UKH14, and UKD34, and include mainly SMEs, ensuring that small and medium enterprises have significant involvement.

This procurement offers substantial opportunities for businesses in the craft and textile industry by providing a lucrative framework for supplying creative and craft materials to a significant public sector buyer. The lots cover a range of goods, including handicraft and art supplies, textiles, paraffin wax, and craft paper, creating diverse opportunities for competitive participation. SMEs specialising in these areas can benefit significantly, leveraging their capability to deliver quality goods across different regions mentioned in the framework. The open procedure allows broad participation, inviting capable suppliers to compete under clearly defined criteria, with a strong emphasis on both price and quality, thereby fostering business growth and enhancing market presence for successful bidders.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

182_26 Creative Materials, Card, Textiles and Glitter

Notice Description

ESPO catalogue framework for the supply of creative materials, card textiles and glitter, for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester. This will include a wide variety of craft related products. The Framework is divided into 4 lots.

Lot Information

Collage and Accessories

Supply of assorted collage and craft products for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester. For further details, please refer to the procurement/tender documents.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products listed within the Pricing Schedule (accessible with all other procurement/tender documents) throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope.

Renewal: Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.

Craft Kits and Packs

Supply of craft products and craft packs for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester. For further details, please refer to the procurement/tender documents.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products listed within the Pricing Schedule (accessible with all other procurement/tender documents) throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope.

Renewal: Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.

Textiles and Protective Covers

Supply of textile and craft products for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester. For further details, please refer to the procurement/tender documents.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products listed within the Pricing Schedule (accessible with all other procurement/tender documents) throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope.

Renewal: Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.

Craft Paper and Accessories

Supply of craft paper and accessories for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester. For further details, please refer to the procurement/tender documents.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products listed within the Pricing Schedule (accessible with all other procurement/tender documents) throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope.

Renewal: Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.

Planning Information

The purpose of the Preliminary market engagement (PME) is to cover a range of topics designed to best explore our requirements in a possible future procurement. These topics may include: 1. develop ESPO's requirements and approach to the procurement 2. help better identify suitable suppliers in the market and their supply chains 3. understand products/service offerings from suppliers and the marketplace in general Engagement with suppliers is anticipated to be a mix of methods, including Requests for Information (RFI) and meetings (both virtual and/or in-person). Visits to supplier's premises may also be used where deemed to be of particular use. For the purposes of this Preliminary market engagement (PME), please express your interest as follows: (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '182_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 - optional responses are required by 12/05/2025. 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). Notwithstanding the above process, as this procurement exercise is a renewal of an existing ESPO framework, ESPO reserves the right to engage with some, all or none of the incumbent suppliers appointed to the existing framework, alongside any additional suppliers identified following the above expression of interest and/or RFI exercise. Suppliers should note that this is a preliminary market engagement exercise (and NOT a competitive tender process at this stage). The participation of a supplier in this preliminary market engagement will not constitute any contractual agreement between the respondent and ESPO. A supplier's participation, or lack of participation, in this preliminary market engagement shall not impact the ability of the supplier to participate in any resulting tender exercise. Suppliers should note that any interest indicated does not constitute a commitment to participate in any future tendering exercise.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05095c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024187-2026
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

09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

19 - Leather and textile fabrics, plastic and rubber materials

37 - Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories

39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

CPV Codes

09221200 - Paraffin wax

19200000 - Textile fabrics and related items

19220000 - Woollen fabrics

19400000 - Textile yarn and thread

37810000 - Handicraft supplies

37820000 - Art supplies

37823500 - Art and craft paper

39227100 - Sewing needles or knitting needles

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,880,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,880,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£2,880,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£2,400,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Mar 20265 months ago
Submission Deadline
17 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
18 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
8 Jan 20267 months ago
Contract Period
1 Mar 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
12
Supplier Names

ANGLO BRANDS LIMITED

ANTHONY PETERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED

BRIGHT IDEAS MARKETING LIMITED

DALER-ROWNEY LIMITED

HABICO LIMITED

J.M.CLAYTON AND CO.LIMITED

JOHN L BRIERLEY ARTS & CRAFTS LTD

MAJOR BRUSHES LIMITED

TEXET SALES LIMITED

VICTORIA GRANT LIMITED

WHITECROFT ESSENTIALS (LYDNEY) LTD

WIGSTON PAPER 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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