Planning

Blackpool Community Equipment Service

BLACKPOOL COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Oct 2025 at 15:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Blackpool Council, a public authority within the sub-central government tier of the United Kingdom, is in the planning stage of its procurement process for establishing new community equipment contracts. The initiative, titled "Blackpool Community Equipment Service", operates within the industry categories of medical equipment and health and social work services. The scope of procurement encompasses goods and services spanning from the delivery to the disposal of various medical devices and community care equipment across Blackpool and the Fylde coast area. The procurement process is currently in the planning stage, with a key deadline for interested parties to express their interest by 2 November 2025. The anticipated start date for contracts is 1 September 2026, potentially extending for up to five years, subject to ongoing government reforms.

This tender offers significant opportunities for growth for businesses involved in the supply, hire, and reuse of community equipment, specifically those capable of providing end-to-end service solutions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), are well-suited to compete in this procurement process, particularly those with experience in supporting healthcare and social care pathways. Engagement with this procurement activity allows suppliers to shape service delivery models through dialogue with Blackpool Council, allowing them to potentially influence contract specifications and duration. The capability to support hospital discharge pathways and supply directly to health and social care facilities could position providers as key players in this regional initiative. The contract allows for innovation in service delivery, making collaboration and partnership strategies beneficial for qualified businesses.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Blackpool Community Equipment Service

Notice Description

This notice is for pre-market engagement to assess the market as part of procurement planning. Blackpool Council is seeking to engage with interested suppliers of community equipment for children and adults, and those suppliers who have the capability to reuse and recycle existing equipment, or provide servicing of equipment. There is no commitment at this stage to proceed with any procurement procedure. All information provided is purely for information and should the authority proceed to a competitive process, the market will be notified via the relevant transparency notices under PA23. Any dates, timescales or contract values are indicative only and subject to revision.

Planning Information

Blackpool Council is seeking to establish new community equipment contract/s with effect from autumn 2026. Blackpool's existing community equipment model consists of a number of supplier contracts covering purchase, hire and reuse of equipment. The local authority wishes to enter into exploratory dialogue and scoping discussions with organisations that have the capability and experience to deliver local community equipment services. The main purpose of this notice is to help the Council to scope requirements, understand market capability and assess levels of interest. The new model will include purchase, rental and reuse of a broad range of adult and paediatric equipment comprising; standard, non-standard and other specialist or bespoke items. The service will cover end-to-end activities such as; delivery, collection, reuse, cleaning, storage, servicing, maintenance, repair and disposal. Blackpool Equipment Service (BES) will oversee day-to-day management of the contract/s and delivery of the Service. Supplier/s would be required to work in partnership with the Equipment Service to support hospital discharge pathways and supply equipment directly to client's homes and health and social care facilities and other community based settings including schools and nurseries across the Blackpool and nearby Fylde coast area. Blackpool Council would like to invite comments from qualified organisations about medium-term service offers, viable contract durations, essential service requirements, functions and possible specification options for the Community Equipment Service. Contract/s duration may be up to 5 years, although this may change owing to uncertainty surrounding the UK Government's proposed local government reforms; including future local authority geographies and reorganisation timetables. English Devolution White Paper Parties interested in delivering some part/s or all aspects of Blackpool's community equipment service are invited to email the contracts.team@blackpool.gov.uk to express an interest to participate in this dialogue. Applications to participate should be received no later than midnight Sunday 2 November 2025. The Council will select a number of organisations from those applying to participate in dialogue. Participation (or non-participation) will confer no advantage or disadvantage should the Authority commence a formal procurement process at some future date. A procurement exercise is planned to commence in spring 2026, to ensure supplier contract/s are in place and implemented by 01 September 2026, with regular contract break clauses.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05cf3e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066490-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Oct 20251 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
3 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BLACKPOOL COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
ftsprocurementnotices@blackpool.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BLACKPOOL
Postcode
FY1 1NB
Post Town
Blackpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD42 Blackpool
Delivery Location
TLD42 Blackpool
Local Authority
Blackpool
Electoral Ward
Talbot
Westminster Constituency
Blackpool South

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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