Planning

Meet the Buyer Event

EAST SUFFOLK COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Jan 2026 at 10:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

East Suffolk Council is organising a "Meet the Buyer" event as a part of their procurement planning process, scheduled for the 5th of February 2026. This event will be held at their offices in Woodbridge, and East Suffolk aims to engage potential suppliers interested in public sector contracts, specifically within the general public services industry. The process is currently in the planning stage, and the event serves as a preliminary market engagement. Businesses interested in participating are encouraged to join this session, which will end on the 6th of February 2026. The location falls under the UKH14 region, and the primary procurement category is services.

This event presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly SMEs and VCSEs, as it provides insights into East Suffolk Council's procurement practices and expectations. Attendees will receive individual 15-minute sessions with the council's procurement team, making it an excellent forum for businesses seeking entry into public sector contracting. The session is especially beneficial to businesses new to the tendering process, offering guidance on social value, navigating procurement procedures, and using specific tendering systems. This can be a vital stepping stone for businesses looking to expand their market presence and refine their approach to government contracting.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Meet the Buyer Event

Notice Description

East Suffolk Council's Procurement Team is hosting a Meet the Buyer event at their Woodbridge offices on Thursday 5th February 2026. In this event, you will be offered a 121 session for up to 15 minutes with a member of the Procurement Team. This event is aimed at suppliers who want to get involved in bidding for council or public sector contracts but maybe don't know where to start! Please note that this session is for training purposes only and no open tender opportunities will be discussed in detail at the event. To book your 15 minute slot, please email procurement@eastsuffolk.gov.uk. If you have any specific area of business to discuss or questions you would like answered, please let us know in this email so we can match you with the right member of the Procurement Team.

Planning Information

About the Event In this event, you will be offered a 121 session for up to 15 minutes with a member of the Procurement Team. This event is aimed at suppliers who want to get involved in bidding for council or public sector contracts but maybe don't know where to start! Topics to discuss with Procurement Team members in your individual session could include: • Social Value • Completing tender documents (examples will be available) • How to register on the government's Central Digital Platform, Find a Tender Service • East Suffolk's tendering system, In-tend, and how to create and manage your profile on the system, guidance on submitting Clarifications • Guidance on navigating the different procurement procedures under new procurement legislation Please note that this session is for training purposes only and no open tender opportunities will be discussed in detail at the event. To book your 15 minute slot, please email procurement@eastsuffolk.gov.uk. If you have any specific area of business to discuss or questions you would like answered, please let us know in this email so we can match you with the right member of the Procurement Team.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060275
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001715-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75110000 - General public services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jan 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Feb 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Feb 2026 - 6 Feb 2026 30 days
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
EAST SUFFOLK COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WOODBRIDGE
Postcode
IP12 1RT
Post Town
Ipswich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH63 East Suffolk
Delivery Location
TLH14 Suffolk CC
Local Authority
East Suffolk
Electoral Ward
Melton
Westminster Constituency
Suffolk Coastal

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-060275-2026-01-09T10:06:34Z",
    "date": "2026-01-09T10:06:34Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-060275",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PLPP-1174-BHLX",
            "name": "East Suffolk Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PLPP-1174-BHLX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "East Suffolk House, Station Road, Melton",
                "locality": "Woodbridge",
                "postalCode": "IP12 1RT",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@eastsuffolk.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PLPP-1174-BHLX",
        "name": "East Suffolk Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "About the Event In this event, you will be offered a 121 session for up to 15 minutes with a member of the Procurement Team. This event is aimed at suppliers who want to get involved in bidding for council or public sector contracts but maybe don't know where to start! Topics to discuss with Procurement Team members in your individual session could include: * Social Value * Completing tender documents (examples will be available) * How to register on the government's Central Digital Platform, Find a Tender Service * East Suffolk's tendering system, In-tend, and how to create and manage your profile on the system, guidance on submitting Clarifications * Guidance on navigating the different procurement procedures under new procurement legislation Please note that this session is for training purposes only and no open tender opportunities will be discussed in detail at the event. To book your 15 minute slot, please email procurement@eastsuffolk.gov.uk. If you have any specific area of business to discuss or questions you would like answered, please let us know in this email so we can match you with the right member of the Procurement Team.",
                "dueDate": "2026-02-05T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "001715-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001715-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-09T10:06:34Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "5226",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Meet the Buyer Event",
        "description": "East Suffolk Council's Procurement Team is hosting a Meet the Buyer event at their Woodbridge offices on Thursday 5th February 2026. In this event, you will be offered a 121 session for up to 15 minutes with a member of the Procurement Team. This event is aimed at suppliers who want to get involved in bidding for council or public sector contracts but maybe don't know where to start! Please note that this session is for training purposes only and no open tender opportunities will be discussed in detail at the event. To book your 15 minute slot, please email procurement@eastsuffolk.gov.uk. If you have any specific area of business to discuss or questions you would like answered, please let us know in this email so we can match you with the right member of the Procurement Team.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "75110000",
                        "description": "General public services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKH14",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-02-05T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2026-02-06T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}