--- title: "Market Engagement Activity- Suppliers and manufacturers of rekenrek styles abacus" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-26f8fe2d-a0fd-421f-bfc3-162dae30de60" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-26f8fe2d-a0fd-421f-bfc3-162dae30de60" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-26f8fe2d-a0fd-421f-bfc3-162dae30de60.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-26f8fe2d-a0fd-421f-bfc3-162dae30de60.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION" published: "2021-05-17" --- # Market Engagement Activity- Suppliers and manufacturers of rekenrek styles abacus Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-26f8fe2d-a0fd-421f-bfc3-162dae30de60 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-26f8fe2d-a0fd-421f-bfc3-162dae30de60) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-26f8fe2d-a0fd-421f-bfc3-162dae30de60.json) ## Summary The Department for Education is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Market Engagement Activity- Suppliers and manufacturers of rekenrek styles abacus". This initiative falls under the educational equipment industry category, with a focus on acquiring up to 360,000 'rekenrek' style abacuses for distribution to approximately 6,000 schools across England, set to commence delivery in September 2021. Key milestones include an engagement end date of 30 June 2021, and potential suppliers are invited to express their interest by 17:00 GMT on 21 May 2021. This tender presents a significant opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers, particularly those focusing on educational equipment, to expand their business within the public sector. Enterprises that emphasise low carbon production, ethical sourcing, and can meet the specified safety standards for children's products will be well-suited to participate. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to engage, especially those with the capacity to deliver and commit to the outlined requirements effectively. ## Notice The purpose of this PIN is to initiate market engagement. It is not being used as a call for competition. The PIN is intended as an information-gathering exercise. This PIN is intended to: - Explore whether there are organisations who can manufacture and supply and/or distribute 'rekenrek' style abacuses that can also demonstrate a low carbon footprint, ethical resourcing and value for money. - We are interested in suppliers/ manufacturers who could commit to and have the capacity to deliver up to 360,000 abacuses to up to 6,000 schools in England from September 2021. - The Department is particularly interested in limiting environmental impact and will be looking for responses which also demonstrate a low carbon footprint. Specification for the rekenrek style abacus: - Size of the frame: Approx: 25-30cm wide - Material: Wood or robust plastic with metal rod for the beads. Frame colour unimportant. - Must have two rows, each consisting of five red and five white beads (it's important that red beads come before white beads) - Beads must be 0.8-1.5cm wide. Ideally beads should be of the flat type rather than fully round as young children find these easier to move. There must be 20 beads in total. - Function: It should be easy to tip back and forth so that beads easily slide across when tipped. - Safety: They must be suitable for a child of 4 years old and accredited with the EU safety standard CE and the BSI Kite Mark. Background: As part of our efforts to support numeracy development in schools, we are exploring the potential use of a specific abacus. The expected timeline for this would be for delivery to commence in September 2021. To meet this limited delivery timeframe, we asking for responses from manufacturers/ suppliers that confirm that they have the capability and the capacity to deliver by 17:00 GMT on Friday 21 May. We will then seek further information from those companies who contact us. Manufacturers and suppliers who can respond positively to the criteria should contact the following email address by 17:00 GMT on Friday 21 May- maths.programme@education.gov.uk This notice is a zero value PIN for early market engagement. It is for information only and is not a call for competition. The Department for Education reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with contract award. Additional information: Manufacturers and suppliers who can respond positively to the criteria should contact the following email address by 17:00 GMT on Friday 21 May- maths.programme@education.gov.uk ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f589e981-7b72-4637-8213-8a1070daa762 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 17 May 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 30 Jun 2021 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1P 3BT | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 39162000 - Educational equipment - 80000000 - Education and training services ## Release History - 17 May 2021 at 12:42 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f589e981-7b72-4637-8213-8a1070daa762 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f589e981-7b72-4637-8213-8a1070daa762 17th May 2021 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-26f8fe2d-a0fd-421f-bfc3-162dae30de60. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-26f8fe2d-a0fd-421f-bfc3-162dae30de60.json.