---
title: "235_27 Sports Equipment"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-069376"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069376"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069376.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069376.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO"
published: "2026-05-28"
---

# 235_27 Sports Equipment

Buyer: LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069376

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## Summary

The procurement process is led by Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, focusing on the supply of sports equipment under the title "235_27 Sports Equipment". The procurement falls under the industry category of goods, specifically sports goods and equipment, with a procurement stage currently in planning. The key location for delivery is the ESPO Distribution Centre in Leicester and additional delivery sites throughout the UK. This preliminary market engagement is scheduled with an engagement deadline of 3 July 2026, and the procurement aims to establish a framework contract with an expected start date of 1 March 2027 and completion by 31 March 2029, with possible extension to 28 February 2031. ESPO, acting as the sub-central government authority, is exploring engagement methods including Requests for Information (RFI) and supplier meetings, both virtual and in-person.

This tender offers significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for SMEs that supply sports equipment. Businesses with expertise in sports goods, including football, badminton, hockey, basketball, and related products, will find this opportunity well-suited to their offerings. The framework envisages several lots, such as Balls and Ball Sports and ESPO Branded Sports Equipment, allowing for diversification and broad market coverage. By participating in this procurement process, businesses can secure a position within a framework agreement, which serves as a stable, long-term opportunity to supply products both to ESPO and directly to wider public sector customers across the UK, fostering growth in the public procurement sector.

## Notice

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 Sports Equipment. The products covered by this proposed Framework will be purchased for re-sale, and orders will be placed according to demand. Delivery shall typically be to ESPO's distribution centre in Leicester. Also, a small 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. Balls and Ball Sports Lot 2. Batting Sports Lot 3. ESPO Branded Sports Equipment Lot 4. Other Sports Equipment 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 '235_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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050125-2026 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 4 Sep 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,666,667 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO |
| Locality | LEICESTER |
| Post town | Leicester |
| Postcode | LE19 1ES |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire |
| ITL 3 | TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland |
| Local authority | Blaby |
| Electoral ward | Enderby |
| Westminster constituency | South Leicestershire |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 37411230 - Hockey sticks
- 37450000 - Field and court sports equipment
- 37461000 - Table games and equipment

## Release History

- 28 May 2026 at 09:32 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050125-2026
- 7 May 2026 at 13:16 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041974-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050125-2026
  28th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041974-2026
  7th May 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
- https://www.espo.org/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-h6vhtk-069376. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069376.json.