Planning

SOL30123 Letterbox Club 2026 - Pre-Market Engagement

SOLIHULL METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Mar 2026 at 10:31

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is engaging in a procurement process titled "SOL30123 Letterbox Club 2026 - Pre-Market Engagement," focused on the goods sector. This initiative involves supplying monthly parcels containing age-appropriate books, games, and stationery for children from vulnerable backgrounds, with an estimated annual cost of £19,000. The procurement is currently at the planning stage, with a preliminary market engagement notice published on 10 March 2026, and a due date for questionnaire submission set for 24 March 2026. The procurement is centred in the UKG32 region, United Kingdom, with plans for ongoing communication around 25 March 2026. The procurement process is underpinned by the legal framework of the UKPGA 2023/54.

This tender presents growth opportunities for businesses that specialise in educational materials and have a propensity for social engagement, particularly those within the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sectors. The council’s initiative leverages the Pupil Premium Plus for Looked After Children grant, ensuring each child in the programme receives educational resources tailored to their needs. Companies with expertise in producing school books, educational games, and stationery should find this procurement advantageous. The contract period is set to start on 1 May 2026 and conclude on 30 April 2029, offering a steady business opportunity for eligible providers to make a meaningful impact in the community.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

SOL30123 Letterbox Club 2026 - Pre-Market Engagement

Notice Description

SMBC is seeking to engage with potential providers who are able to supply monthly parcels containing age-appropriate books, games and stationery packs for children from vulnerable family backgrounds at a cost of PS150 per child. Estimated annual cost PS19,000. Letterbox Club programme, providing books to children. The Pupil Premium Plus for Looked After Children grant is used to pay for the programme. Each looked after child in the cohort receives their own parcel of books, maths games, stationery and other. The council is undertaking pre-market engagement prior to finalising future requirements for potentially the next three years.

Planning Information

Complete and return the questionnaire.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066610
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021216-2026
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

22 - Printed matter and related products

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

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

CPV Codes

22111000 - School books

30192700 - Stationery

37524100 - Educational games

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£57,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Mar 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
25 Mar 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 2029 3-4 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
SOLIHULL METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SOLIHULL
Postcode
B91 3QB
Post Town
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG32 Solihull
Delivery Location
TLG32 Solihull
Local Authority
Solihull
Electoral Ward
St Alphege
Westminster Constituency
Solihull West and Shirley

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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