Planning

Gym Equipment

UNIVERSITY OF KENT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Feb 2026 at 12:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Kent, located in Canterbury, Kent, is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for gym equipment. This process involves a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) activity under Section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023. The engagement aims to explore available commercial models, costs, risks, and delivery options for replacing out-of-warranty fitness suite equipment. The deadline for responses to this engagement is 24th February 2026, with a potential procurement exercise to commence in the week of 9th March 2026. The procurement falls under the goods category and is above threshold, with the successful contract period set to begin on 1st July 2026 and end on 30th June 2031. The industry categories relevant to this tender include fitness, gymnasium, and leisure equipment.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in fitness and gym equipment to engage with a prestigious educational institution. It is ideally suited for suppliers with expertise in providing innovative solutions for gym apparatus and leisure machinery. With a potential value of up to £450,000, companies equipped to address the University's requirements for cardiovascular and weight training equipment will find this a lucrative chance for growth. Participation in the market engagement will not hinder future involvement in the procurement exercise, providing an open pathway for new and established businesses alike to compete in shaping the University's fitness suite upgrade.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

Gym Equipment

Notice Description

The University of Kent is undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) activity in accordance with Section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023. The current fitness suite equipment is up to 12 years old and currently not under warranty. With cardiovascular equipment failing regularly and parts and servicing obsolete or slow machines are placed out of order frequently awaiting attention from Core Health & Fitness Technicians or awaiting parts that can take weeks to ship and arrive. The purpose of this engagement is to develop an understanding of the available market, commercial models, costs, risks and delivery options for the provision of gym equipment. The University has not yet decided whether the requirement will be met through purchase, lease, lease to buy or another arrangement. Information gathered from this exercise will be used to inform the decision making regarding the preferred commercial approach to help shape the project specification for the provision of gym equipment. Participation or non-participation in this exercise will not prevent any supplier from participating in any future procurement process. It is not intended that information provided by any supplier will place any supplier at an advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement. Responses received as part of this preliminary market engagement will not be scored or evaluated. This preliminary market engagement does not constitute a commitment to undertake a procurement exercise. However, subject to the outcome of this engagement, it is the University's intention to commence a procurement exercise w/c 9th March 2026. Response and Deadline Please complete the questions below and return via the EU Supply portal by 24th February 2026 at 12:00hrs.

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=102921&TID=100108128&B=

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0655de
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014243-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

37420000 - Gymnasium equipment

37440000 - Fitness equipments

37442000 - Weight and resistance training equipment

37480000 - Machinery or apparatus for leisure equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£375,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Feb 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Mar 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2031 Over 5 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
UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Contact Name
Claire Baxter
Contact Email
c.baxter@kent.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 7892719788

Buyer Location

Locality
CANTERBURY, KENT
Postcode
CT2 7NZ
Post Town
Canterbury
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ44 East Kent
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Canterbury
Electoral Ward
Blean Forest
Westminster Constituency
Canterbury

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-0655de-2026-02-17T12:00:37Z",
    "date": "2026-02-17T12:00:37Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0655de",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDYN-9654-JPQJ",
            "name": "University of Kent",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDYN-9654-JPQJ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "The Registry",
                "locality": "Canterbury, Kent",
                "postalCode": "CT2 7NZ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ44"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Claire Baxter",
                "email": "c.baxter@kent.ac.uk",
                "telephone": "+44 7892719788"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.kent.ac.uk/finance/procurement.html",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PDYN-9654-JPQJ",
        "name": "University of Kent"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=102921&TID=100108128&B=",
                "dueDate": "2026-02-24T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "014243-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014243-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-02-17T12:00:37Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "CB25_005",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Gym Equipment",
        "description": "The University of Kent is undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) activity in accordance with Section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023. The current fitness suite equipment is up to 12 years old and currently not under warranty. With cardiovascular equipment failing regularly and parts and servicing obsolete or slow machines are placed out of order frequently awaiting attention from Core Health & Fitness Technicians or awaiting parts that can take weeks to ship and arrive. The purpose of this engagement is to develop an understanding of the available market, commercial models, costs, risks and delivery options for the provision of gym equipment. The University has not yet decided whether the requirement will be met through purchase, lease, lease to buy or another arrangement. Information gathered from this exercise will be used to inform the decision making regarding the preferred commercial approach to help shape the project specification for the provision of gym equipment. Participation or non-participation in this exercise will not prevent any supplier from participating in any future procurement process. It is not intended that information provided by any supplier will place any supplier at an advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement. Responses received as part of this preliminary market engagement will not be scored or evaluated. This preliminary market engagement does not constitute a commitment to undertake a procurement exercise. However, subject to the outcome of this engagement, it is the University's intention to commence a procurement exercise w/c 9th March 2026. Response and Deadline Please complete the questions below and return via the EU Supply portal by 24th February 2026 at 12:00hrs.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "LOT-0000",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "37440000",
                        "description": "Fitness equipments"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "37420000",
                        "description": "Gymnasium equipment"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "37442000",
                        "description": "Weight and resistance training equipment"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "37480000",
                        "description": "Machinery or apparatus for leisure equipment"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "LOT-0000"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 450000,
            "amount": 375000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "LOT-0000",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-07-01T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2031-06-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-03-09T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}