---
title: "286_27 Musical Instruments"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06937b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06937b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06937b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06937b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO"
published: "2026-05-28"
---

# 286_27 Musical Instruments

Buyer: LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06937b

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## Summary

Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, is initiating the procurement process for a framework titled "286_27 Musical Instruments," focused on supplying musical instruments and related products primarily for the education sector, including primary and secondary schools. This procurement, currently in the planning stage, is outlined as a pre-market engagement to establish requirements and identify suitable suppliers. The engagement process includes submitting a Request for Information (RFI) by 17:00 on 12 June 2026. The overall process aims to finalise by 19 June 2026, with the procurement's delivery commencing on 1 March 2027 and potentially continuing until 31 March 2029, with further extensions possible. The procurement category is classified under "goods," and the procurement is valued at approximately £700,000, gross amount. The goods will primarily be delivered to ESPO’s distribution centre in Leicester but will also be made available across the UK.

This tender presents exciting growth opportunities for businesses involved in the manufacturing and supply of musical instruments and associated equipment. It is especially promising for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a track record in this sector. Companies specialising in percussion instruments, electronic equipment, and audio accessories could find significant opportunities, as the framework includes a variety of lots covering these areas. Participating businesses have the chance to expand their reach by supplying to a reputable public authority and leveraging ESPO’s robust logistics network, thereby enhancing visibility and boosting sales within the public sector market. The procurement framework's structure and the possibility of continuous renewal make it an attractive long-term contract for suitable suppliers.

## 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 Musical Instruments and associated products for use in the Education Sector including early years, but mainly in Primary and Secondary Schools. 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. Percussion Assorted Product, Class Packs, Percussion Packs, Handheld Percussion, World Percussion and Tune Percussion Lot 2. Tuned Percussion, Percussion Drums and World Percussion Instruments Lot 3. Tuned Instruments, Plastic Instruments, Recorders, Ocarinas, Stringed Instruments, Ukuleles and Guitars, Keyboards and Piano Lot 4. Trolleys, Cabinets, Storage & Music Stands Lot 5. Electronic Equipment; Amps and cables Audio and Studio, Recording and Equipment Mixing, Microphones and vocal effects processors PA's and Speakers Lot 6. Brass and Woodwind 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 '286_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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050061-2026 |
| 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 | £583,333 |
| 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

- 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- 37 - Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories

### Codes

- 32321200 - Audio-visual equipment
- 32330000 - Apparatus for sound, video-recording and reproduction
- 32340000 - Microphones and loudspeakers
- 32351300 - Audio equipment accessories
- 32353000 - Sound recordings
- 33120000 - Recording systems and exploration devices
- 37000000 - Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories

## Release History

- 28 May 2026 at 08:36 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050061-2026
- 7 May 2026 at 13:19 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041986-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050061-2026
  28th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041986-2026
  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-06937b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06937b.json.