--- title: "236_27 Matting" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-069377" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069377" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069377.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069377.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO" published: "2026-05-28" --- # 236_27 Matting Buyer: LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069377 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069377) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069377.json) ## Summary The current procurement process is initiated by Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, focusing on the supply of matting for educational and public sector needs. The planning stage is underway, with the intention to establish a framework agreement for various matting products, categorised into different lots such as classroom, outdoor, and safety mats. The procurement involves delivery to ESPO's distribution centre in Leicester and direct delivery to customers across the UK. The procurement value is projected at £1,083,333. The pre-market engagement phase is open until 3 July 2026, with responses due by the deadline to facilitate detailed supplier engagement. This procurement presents a significant growth opportunity for businesses specialising in matting solutions, especially those capable of delivering products to diverse locations within the UK. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a proven supply track record are particularly encouraged to participate, as the procurement process emphasises identifying suppliers with strong market presence. The existence of multiple lots indicates an inclusive structure that could allow businesses to tender based on their specialist areas within the matting industry. Engaging in this process could provide companies with the opportunity to expand their footprint within the public sector market, by delivering essential goods to a wide range of customers. ## 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 Matting. 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. Logo, Classroom, Traditional, Safety and Floor Protection Mats Lot 2. Outdoor Heavy Duty, Entrance and Multi-Purpose Mats Lot 3. Learning Mats (Single Lots) 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 '236_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/050003-2026 | | 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 | 31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,083,333 | | 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 - 39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products ### Codes - 39000000 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products ## Release History - 28 May 2026 at 07:07 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050003-2026 - 7 May 2026 at 13:16 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041977-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050003-2026 28th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041977-2026 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-069377. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069377.json.