991_26 Supply of Early Years and Curriculum Product Ranges

Procurement reference

991_26

Procurement description

This is for a Preliminary market engagement (PME) where the tender documentation is not yet available. However, interest (Expressions of interest) can still be registered (please refer to the Engagement Section for further details on how to complete).

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.

This Preliminary market engagement notice (PMEN) is being published to alert the supplier market that ESPO is looking to establish a Framework for the supply of Early Years and Curriculum Product Ranges. 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 and directly to ESPO's customers throughout the UK.

The Framework is envisaged to include the following Lots (subject to change):

Lot 1 - Supply of Curriculum Product Ranges

Lot 2 - Supply of Early Learning Product Ranges

Lot 3 - Classroom Reward Products

Lot 4 - Early Outdoor Play & Garden Furniture

Lot 5 - Bikes, Trikes & Ride on Vehicles

Lot 6 - Educational Mini White Board Ranges

Lot 7 - General Supplementary Curriculum Resources

Lot 8 - Children's Aprons & Outdoor Clothing

The above Lot structure is for information only and some details may be amended within the invitation to tender.

This Preliminary 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.

Note: Further details on the Procurement Act, including registration on the Central Digital Platform, can be found as follows:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/information-and-guidance-for-suppliers

Or otherwise, please refer to the ESPO Website as follows:

https://www.espo.org/the-procurement-act-2023

Main category

Goods

Delivery regions

• UK - United Kingdom

Total value (estimated)

21600000 GBP Including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

01 April 2026, 00:00AM to 31 March 2027, 23:59PM

Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 31 March 2030

Is a framework being established?

Yes

Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO

Is the total value above threshold?

Above threshold

CPV classifications

• 18000000 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories
• 22110000 - Printed books
• 22459100 - Advertising stickers and strips
• 30192153 - Phrase stamps
• 30192800 - Self-adhesive labels
• 30195000 - Boards
• 30199400 - Gummed or adhesive paper
• 34431000 - Non-motorised bicycles
• 35113430 - Safety vests
• 35113440 - Reflective vests
• 37000000 - Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories
• 39142000 - Garden furniture
• 39160000 - School furniture
• 39298600 - Globes

Delivery regions

• UK - United Kingdom

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 April 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

31 March 2027, 23:59PM

Extension end date (estimated)

31 March 2030, 23:59PM

Can the contract be extended?

Yes

Engagement process description

The purpose of the Preliminary 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 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) and meetings (both virtual and/or in-person). Visits to supplier's premises may also be used where deemed to be of particular use.

For the purposes of this Preliminary market engagement (PME), please express your interest as follows:

(a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '991_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest.

Please access the Messages area/section of the eProcurement Portal (ProContract / EastMidsTenders - Messages can be accessed via the Activity dashboard once an Expression of interest has been completed) for any further communications on this preliminary market engagement, including the RFI documentation - optional responses are required by 12/05/2025.

In the case of any questions or clarifications relating to this PME, these should also be submitted to ESPO as a Message on the eProcurement Portal (again once an Expression of interest has been completed).

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 framework, alongside any additional suppliers identified following the above expression of interest and/or RFI exercise.

Suppliers should note that this is a preliminary market engagement exercise (and NOT a competitive tender process at this stage). The participation of a supplier in this preliminary market engagement will not constitute any contractual agreement between the respondent and ESPO.

A supplier's participation, or lack of participation, in this preliminary market engagement shall not impact the ability of the supplier to participate in any resulting tender exercise. Suppliers should note that any interest indicated does not constitute a commitment to participate in any future tendering exercise.

Due date

18 July 2025, 23:59PM

Has the engagement period already ended?

No