Planning

199_27 Design and Technology

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

28 May 2026 at 08:50

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 May 2025 at 12:13

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, is engaging in a preliminary market engagement process for the procurement of Design & Technology materials and equipment, scheduled to commence in January 2027. The procurement falls under the industry category of educational equipment, with the main procurement being goods. It involves deliveries to ESPO's distribution centre in Leicester and directly to customers throughout the UK. The planning stage is ongoing with a crucial deadline for responses to the Request for Information (RFI) set for 17:00 on 12 June 2026. The procurement process includes a framework agreement, and communication of future notices is anticipated by 1 September 2026.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the educational and public sector supply chains, especially those specialising in construction kits, electronics, and educational tools. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can benefit by leveraging their abilities to meet the diverse needs outlined in the framework, particularly those with established track records in producing and delivering relevant goods across the UK. This framework renewal not only invites established suppliers but also encourages new entrants to engage in the market engagement process, fostering competitive growth and business expansion in the educational sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

199_27 Design and Technology

Notice Description

ESPO is a trading department of Leicestershire County Council. It is a non-profit making body owned and operated jointly by six local authorities. We provide a catalogue range, providing our customers with access to over 28,000 products that cover all key areas of education and wider public sector requirements. We are conducting preliminary market engagement with the intention of establishing a framework for the supply of Design & Technology (D&T) materials and equipment for use in schools. The products covered by this proposed Framework will be purchased for re-sale, and orders will be placed according to demand. Delivery shall be to ESPO's distribution centre in Leicester, and for delivery directly to ESPO's customers throughout the UK. The Framework is envisaged to include the following Lots (subject to change): Lot 1. Construction Kits, Modelling Kits and Educational Sets, Coding and Robotics Educational Sets, Badge Making Equipment, D&T Components, Electronics Equipment and Components, Tools, Accessories and Furniture Lot 2. Construction Kits, Modelling Kits and Educational Sets, D&T Components, Glue Guns and Glue Sticks, Spray Paints The above Lot structure is for information only and some details may be amended within the invitation to tender. This Pre Market Engagement aims to identify capable suppliers in the market with track record in delivering goods within this product category. We are requesting information from relevant organisations to help us define our requirements (please refer to the Engagement process description section of this notice for further details). This is not a call for competition. Tender documentation is not yet available.

Planning Information

The purpose of the Pre-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 to understand 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) hosted on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org), and meetings (both virtual and in-person). Visits to supplier’s premises may also be used where deemed to be of particular use. Suppliers wishing to participate in the engagement process must first express an interest as follows: (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '199_27' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest. Suppliers can then access the RFI questionnaire in the ‘Messages’ section via the ‘Activity’ dashboard once an expression of interest has been registered - the deadline for responding to the RFI is 17:00 (5pm) on 12 June 2026. Responses to the RFI as well as any questions or clarifications should be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal. 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 ESPO framework, alongside any additional suppliers identified following the above expressions of interests and/or a RFI exercise.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0510da
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050071-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

03 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

24 - Chemical products

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

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

42 - Industrial machinery

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

CPV Codes

03415000 - Softwood

24910000 - Glues

31711100 - Electronic components

37524900 - Game kits

39162000 - Educational equipment

39241100 - Knives

42715000 - Sewing machines

44511000 - Hand tools

44810000 - Paints

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£833,333 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 May 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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
Post Town
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

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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