Planning

**Pre-Market Engagement** Supply and Delivery of Sports and Fitness Equipment and the Maintenance of Gymnasium and Fitness Equipment

THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

03 Apr 2026 at 15:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI) is conducting a pre-market engagement for the forthcoming tender regarding the supply, delivery, and maintenance of sports and fitness equipment, projected to start in October 2026. The procurement is in the planning stage, focused on gathering supplier insights into creating a framework agreement. It targets the sports goods and equipment industry and involves the maintenance services for gymnasium equipment within the UK region. EANI, a public authority operating under Northern Irish devolved regulations, is soliciting feedback through a questionnaire accessible via eTendersNI, with a submission deadline of 3pm on 28 April 2026.

This engagement opens opportunities for businesses specialising in sports equipment and its associated maintenance, offering a chance to influence the framework's design to better suit market demands. SMEs should find this particularly advantageous as the project is suited for their participation. With an estimated contract value of £14.4 million, enterprises can anticipate significant business growth. Participating in the early stages of the procurement process allows businesses to align their capabilities with EANI’s requirements, ensuring readiness for the potential tender post-market engagement. Adapting to insights gathered during this stage can provide a competitive edge without giving any undue advantage in the formal tendering process.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

**Pre-Market Engagement** Supply and Delivery of Sports and Fitness Equipment and the Maintenance of Gymnasium and Fitness Equipment

Notice Description

**Please note, this is not a Tender exercise** The Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI), in preparation for a procurement process, wish to engage with the market to seek supplier views and feedback on potential approaches for a Framework for the Supply and Delivery of Sports and Fitness Equipment, and the Maintenance of Gymnasium and Fitness Equipment. Market Feedback will be provided via the completion of a questionnaire, to be submitted via eTendersNI. There are no documents to be completed or provided other than the questionnaire. Any information gathered through this market consultation exercise will inform internal business planning and any possible subsequent procurement process and will NOT be appraised in any future tender evaluation exercise. Please note that participation or nonparticipation in this preliminary market consultation exercise shall not prevent any supplier from participating in any potential procurement process, nor is it intended that any information supplied shall place any supplier at an advantage or disadvantage in any forthcoming procurement process. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of a formal procurement process.

Planning Information

The Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI), in preparation for a procurement process, wish to engage with the market to seek supplier views and feedback on potential approaches for a Framework for the Supply and Delivery of Sports and Fitness Equipment, and the Maintenance of Gymnasium and Fitness Equipment. Market Feedback will be provided via the completion of a questionnaire, to be submitted via eTendersNI. Suppliers who wish to participate in the pre market engagement exercise should complete the pre market engagement questionnaire on eTendersNI, accessible under the CfT CA Unique ID EANI-5203 Furthern information including the questionnaire can be downloaded from the CfT on eTendersNI. Suppliers also have the opportunity to submit queries regarding the engagement via the eTendersNI messaging function. The Questionnaire must be completed and submitted via the messaging function on eTendersNI no later than 3pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026. There are no documents required at this point other than the completed questionnaire. Any information gathered through this market consultation exercise will inform internal business planning and any possible subsequent procurement process and will NOT be appraised in any future tender evaluation exercise. Please note that participation or nonparticipation in this preliminary market consultation exercise shall not prevent any supplier from participating in any potential procurement process, nor is it intended that any information supplied shall place any supplier at an advantage or disadvantage in any forthcoming procurement process. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of a formal procurement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067c76
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031207-2026
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

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

50 - Repair and maintenance services

51 - Installation services (except software)

CPV Codes

37400000 - Sports goods and equipment

50870000 - Repair and maintenance services of playground equipment

51121000 - Installation services of fitness equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£12,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Apr 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 May 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
6 Oct 2026 - 6 Oct 2030 4-5 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
THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT1 2NQ
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Duncairn
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

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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