Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

273_27 Office Machines and Equipment

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

28 May 2026 at 10:14

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

07 May 2026 at 13:19

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process involves Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, planning a new framework for the supply of office machines and equipment. This initiative, currently in the planning stage, aims to establish a comprehensive framework agreement for items such as office machines, computer accessories, and clocks, to be delivered to Leicester and across the UK. The pre-market engagement is set to conclude with responses due by 3 July 2026, following which a detailed framework is anticipated for launch. Key dates include the engagement deadline on 3 July 2026 and a planned start for the framework on 1 March 2027. This procurement falls under the goods category and is above the threshold, indicating significant investment sized at approximately £3.24 million gross.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses supplying office and computing machinery. The focus on items like laminators, binders, and IT consumables suggests firms with established supply chains and delivery capacities will find this particularly attractive. Especially suited for SMEs, the framework agreement promises continuity of orders for businesses capable of meeting ESPO's comprehensive needs. By participating in preliminary market engagement, companies can shape ESPO's final procurement requirements, creating a lucrative opportunity for businesses aiming to expand their footprint in the public sector market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

273_27 Office Machines and Equipment

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 Office Machines and Equipment. 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. Also, a number of products will require delivery directly to ESPO's customers throughout the UK. The Framework is envisaged to include the following Lots (subject to change): Lot 1. Office Machines Lot 2. Computer Accessories and IT Consumables Lot 3. Clocks 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 '273_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 03 July 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-06937a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050176-2026
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

22 - Printed matter and related products

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

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

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

42 - Industrial machinery

CPV Codes

22850000 - Binders and related accessories

30000000 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

32340000 - Microphones and loudspeakers

39254100 - Clocks

39254120 - Wall clocks

42994230 - Laminators

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,700,000 £1M-£10M
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
1 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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06937a-2026-05-28T11:14:38+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-28T11:14:38+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06937a",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "041984-2026",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK1",
                "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041984-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-07T14:19:31+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "050176-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050176-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-28T11:14:38+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "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 '273_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 03 July 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.",
                "dueDate": "2026-07-10T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PYDD-1122-TCVN",
            "name": "Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PYDD-1122-TCVN"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Barnsdale Way, Grove Park, Enderby",
                "locality": "Leicester",
                "postalCode": "LE19 1ES",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKF22"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Catalogue Procurement Team",
                "email": "tenders@espo.org"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.espo.org/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PYDD-1122-TCVN",
        "name": "Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "273_27",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "273_27 Office Machines and Equipment",
        "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 Office Machines and Equipment. 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. Also, a number of products will require delivery directly to ESPO's customers throughout the UK. The Framework is envisaged to include the following Lots (subject to change): Lot 1. Office Machines Lot 2. Computer Accessories and IT Consumables Lot 3. Clocks 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.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "30000000",
                        "description": "Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "42994230",
                        "description": "Laminators"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "22850000",
                        "description": "Binders and related accessories"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "32340000",
                        "description": "Microphones and loudspeakers"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "39254100",
                        "description": "Clocks"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "39254120",
                        "description": "Wall clocks"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 3240000,
            "currency": "GBP",
            "amount": 2700000
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "techniques": {
            "hasFrameworkAgreement": true
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2027-03-01T00:00:00+00:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2031-02-28T23:59:59+00:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-09-04T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "planned",
        "aboveThreshold": true
    },
    "language": "en"
}