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IP012ITT06-26-01 Parcel and pallet delivery services

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

12 Jun 2026 at 09:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

07 May 2026 at 12:32

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicestershire County Council, trading under the name ESPO, is currently in the planning stages of a procurement process for parcel and pallet delivery services, set to commence in 2028. This public authority, located in Leicester, UK, has initiated a tender to identify suitable suppliers to support its logistics operations throughout the country. The main procurement category is services, specifically within the 'Post and courier services' sector. Interested suppliers are invited to participate in this preliminary market engagement through a Request for Information (RFI), with responses due by 17:00 on 17 July 2026. Additional market engagement activities, including meetings and site visits, are anticipated following the RFI submission deadline. This procurement process, valued at approximately £5 million, represents a strategic review of ESPO's existing contracts and aims to shape future procurement strategies.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in postal, courier, and parcel transportation services. With ESPO dispatching around 300,000 parcels and 6,500 pallets annually across England, Scotland, and Wales, businesses adept in large-scale delivery services could find substantial growth potential here. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged to express interest, given their suitability for the contract. Engaging in this procurement process offers the chance to establish long-term partnerships and enhances market visibility by collaborating with a well-established public sector organisation like ESPO.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

IP012ITT06-26-01 Parcel and pallet delivery services

Notice Description

ESPO is a public sector owned professional buying organisation (PSBO), that specialise in providing a wide range of goods and services to the public sector. It offers a catalogue range of over 28,000 products and delivers throughout England, Scotland and Wales. At present, ESPO dispatch in the region of 300,000 parcels and 6,500 pallets per annum. At this time, ESPO is undertaking a wholesale review of its existing contracts for parcel and pallet delivery services. As part of this project ESPO are looking to conduct preliminary market engagement with a range of relevant suppliers in this market. The purpose of this will be to help shape future procurement strategies. Interested suppliers are asked to note that it is not ESPO's intention to permit any future contracts or frameworks awarded to be utilised by any of ESPO's customer. For the avoidance of doubt any arrangements will be solely for the use of ESPO.

Planning Information

Engagement is initially via a Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire hosted on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org). The deadline for responding to the RFI is 17:00 (5pm) on 17 July 2026. Suppliers wishing to participate in the engagement process must first express an interest as follows: (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for opportunity 'IP012ITT06-26-01' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest. Suppliers can then access the RFI questionnaire in the Messages section via the Activity dashboard once an expression of interest has been registered. Responses to the RFI as well as any questions or clarifications should be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal. Following review of submitted RFIs, it is anticipated ESPO will carry out additional preliminary market engagement activities with suppliers. These may include meetings and site visits to supplier locations or their customers’ premises.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06935c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055542-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

CPV Codes

60161000 - Parcel transport services

64100000 - Post and courier services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,166,667 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Jun 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Oct 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2028 - 31 Mar 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE19 1ES
Post Town
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Blaby
Electoral Ward
Enderby
Westminster Constituency
South Leicestershire

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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