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79_27 Educational Furniture

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

28 May 2026 at 06:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

07 May 2026 at 13:09

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, seeks to establish a framework for the supply of Educational Furniture, with a focus on delivering goods to ESPO's distribution centre in Leicester and directly to customers throughout the UK. The process is currently in the planning stage, with pre-market engagement scheduled to conclude by 19th June 2026. Interested suppliers need to express their interest by 12th June 2026 to participate in requests for information prior to the formal tender stage. This engagement is aimed at identifying suitable suppliers for various lots, including tables, chairs, and storage units, classified under the industry category of furniture and furnishings. The procurement is facilitated through a framework agreement, with contracts anticipated to commence on 1st April 2027 and span until March 2029, potentially extending to 2031.

This procurement presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses operating within the educational furniture sector. The engagement process allows companies to showcase their capacity and supply chain capabilities, positioning themselves as key suppliers within ESPO's expansive product catalogue, which caters to the education sector and broader public sector needs. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged to participate, as the framework will include multiple product lots, offering diverse entry points for businesses to compete and potentially secure long-term contracts. The total anticipated value of this procurement underscores significant demand, enabling suppliers to expand their market presence and client base across the UK educational and public sectors.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

79_27 Educational Furniture

Notice Description

ESPO is a trading department of Leicestershire County Council. It is a non-profit making body owned and operated jointly by six local authorities. We provide a catalogue range, providing our customers with access to over 28,000 products that cover all key areas of education and wider public sector requirements. We are conducting preliminary market engagement with the intention of establishing a framework for the supply of Educational Furniture. The products covered by this proposed Framework will be purchased for re-sale, and orders will be placed according to demand. Delivery shall be to ESPO's distribution centre in Leicester, and for delivery directly to ESPO's customers throughout the UK. The Framework is envisaged to include the following Lots (subject to change): Lot 1. ESPO Smartbuy Range Lot 2. Core Tables Lot 3. Specialist Tables Lot 4. Chairs and Stools Lot 5. Bean Bags and Cushions Lot 6. Metal Storage and Trays Lot 7. Storage and Library Furniture Lot. 8 Metal Lockers Lot. 9 Wooden Lockers Lot. 10 Changing Room Furniture Lot. 11 Hazardous Storage Cupboards Lot. 12 Early Years Furniture The above Lot structure is for information only and some details may be amended within the invitation to tender. This Pre Market Engagement aims to identify capable suppliers in the market with track record in delivering goods within this product category. We are requesting information from relevant organisations to help us define our requirements (please refer to the Engagement process description section of this notice for further details). This is not a call for competition. Tender documentation is not yet available.

Planning Information

The purpose of the Pre-Market Engagement (PME) is to cover a range of topics designed to best explore our requirements in a possible future procurement. These topics may include: 1. Develop ESPO’s requirements and approach to the procurement. 2. Help better identify suitable suppliers in the market and to understand their supply chains. 3. Understand products/service offerings from suppliers and the marketplace in general. Engagement with suppliers is anticipated to be a mix of methods, including Requests for Information (RFI) hosted on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org), and meetings (both virtual and in-person). Visits to supplier’s premises may also be used where deemed to be of particular use. 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 tender opportunity '79_27' (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 - the deadline for responding to the RFI is 17:00 (5pm) on 12 June 2026. Responses to the RFI as well as any questions or clarifications should be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal. Notwithstanding the above process, as this procurement exercise is a renewal of an existing ESPO framework, ESPO reserves the right to engage with some, all or none of the incumbent suppliers appointed to the existing ESPO framework, alongside any additional suppliers identified following the above expressions of interests and/or a RFI exercise.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06936f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049997-2026
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

39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

CPV Codes

39000000 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

44421700 - Boxes and lockers

44421720 - Lockers

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£18,333,333 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 May 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Sep 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 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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