---
title: "NEPO407 - Food and General Provisions"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06b7f9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06b7f9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b7f9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b7f9.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED"
published: "2026-06-18"
---

# NEPO407 - Food and General Provisions

Buyer: THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06b7f9

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## Summary

The Association of North East Councils Limited is planning a procurement process for the "NEPO407 - Food and General Provisions" framework. This initiative aims to establish a multi-supplier framework to provide food and general provisions to establishments such as schools and other public sector catering premises. The procurement falls under the goods category, specifically focusing on food, beverages, tobacco, and related products. Located in Gateshead within the UKC region, the planning stage currently includes a milestone for preliminary market engagement, which began on 18 June 2026 with a submission deadline for the market engagement questionnaire on 10 July 2026. Virtual consultation sessions are scheduled between 14 and 28 July 2026, and the framework is expected to commence on 1 August 2027, running until 31 July 2031. The estimated contract value is £240 million gross, and the tender process will utilise an open approach.

This procurement process presents a substantial opportunity for businesses involved in the supply and distribution of food and related general provisions. It is particularly suited for SMEs given the framework's multi-supplier lot structure, allowing various vendors to compete. Engaging in the preliminary market engagement activities can provide valuable insights into the contracting authority's expectations and help shape the future framework. Additionally, participation in virtual market consultation sessions can position businesses favourably by enabling them to understand procurement intricacies and prepare competitive bids when the full tender documentation becomes available later in 2026. This tender is an ideal platform for firms aiming to strengthen their presence in the public sector supply chain within the UKC region.

## Notice

NEPO is seeking to establish a multi-supplier, multi-lot framework for the provision of Food and General Provisions. The solution will provide for the supply and distribution of food and general provisions to a variety of Contracting Authority establishments on behalf of NEPO Member Authorities, including but not limited to, schools and other public sector catering premises. This preliminary market engagement notice provides advance notice to the marketplace of the tendering opportunity and NEPO's intention to undertake market consultation activities with suppliers to help shape the future framework.

### Planning Information

NEPO intend to publish a preliminary market engagement questionnaire via Open eTendering system (www.open-uk.org). The questionnaire responses will help NEPO design the framework by providing the level of market interest and provide insight from suppliers on the shaping of the future provision.
The questionnaire will be made accessible via the Open eTendering system on 18 June 2026 with a submission deadline of 12 noon Friday 10 July 2026. 
Suppliers wishing to access and complete the questionnaire must first register on the Open eTendering system using the following link https://www.open-uk.org. For guidance on how to create an account or submit your questionnaire response through Open, please visit https://www.open-hub.org/training to access the available Training Guides. If you need technical assistance from the Open Support team, this can be requested via open.support@nepo.org. 
PLEASE NOTE: Open is accessible 24/7 however, technical support is available Monday to Thursday 08:30 - 17:00 and Friday 08:30 - 16:30.
NEPO also intends to hold virtual market consultation sessions for interested suppliers between 14 July and 28 July 2026. These sessions will include a presentation and provide an opportunity for suppliers to ask questions. Suppliers wishing to register attendance should access Microsoft Bookings via the link provided within the market engagement questionnaire on Open, by 12:00 noon on Friday 10 July.
Attendance at the Microsoft Teams meetings is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Presentations and Q&A from the session will
be published as part of the procurement process. Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement.
Please note the above information may be subject to change.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057527-2026 |
| 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 | 18 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 21 Sep 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Jul 2027 - 31 Jul 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £200,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED |
| Locality | GATESHEAD |
| Post town | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Postcode | NE8 3DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC43 Tyneside |
| Local authority | Gateshead |
| Electoral ward | Bridges |
| Westminster constituency | Gateshead Central and Whickham |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

### Codes

- 15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

## Release History

- 18 Jun 2026 at 11:21 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057527-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057527-2026
  18th June 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.nepo.org
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.open-hub.org/training
- https://www.open-uk.org

## 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-06b7f9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06b7f9.json.