98_26 Heavy and Light Catering Equipment - Supply, Maintenance and Kitchen Design - Preliminary mark...

PRELIMINARY MARKET ENGAGEMENT (PME) NOTIFICATION - This follows on from the previous prior information (Planned procurement) notification as a Preliminary market engagement including Request for Information (plus FAQ document) is now being undertaken (the tender documentation is still not yet available). You MUST register your interest (Expressions of interest) here (and if not previously completed) if you wish to take part in this.

PLEASE ACCESS THE MESSAGES AREA/SECTION ON THE ACTIVITY DASHBOARD (ONCE AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST HAS BEEN COMPLETED) FOR ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS FOR THIS PRELIMINARY MARKET ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING THE RFI DOCUMENTATION (AND ITS RESPONSE DEADLINE, the Expression of interest window may however be kept open beyond this date). Note: If you are unable to complete an Expression of interest, this is likely to be due to this having already been completed/registered. Please check your Activities area in this case (or otherwise contact Proactis Supplier Support for any other system related questions). And in case of any further queries/questions on this PME/Opportunity, these MUST be received via the Messages area/section of this eProcurement Portal only (also stated below).

ESPO are intending to establish a National framework for the supply of various heavy and light commercial catering equipment, maintenance and servicing of catering equipment and turnkey kitchen design. Suppliers will be able to bid on a regional and/or sub-regional basis.

We are seeking to engage with suppliers who can offer:
a) the direct supply and delivery of a wide range of heavy and commercial catering equipment;
b) the direct supply and delivery of light catering equipment and/or catering consumables and disposables;
c) preventative and reactive maintenance and servicing of commercial catering equipment;
d) turnkey kitchen design and installation.

The duration of the framework agreement is expected to be for 24 months, with the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated includes the option period.

ESPO may contact suppliers to seek clarification or understanding of the information provided in their RFI response or to discuss their RFI responses in further detail.

To ensure that equal treatment principles are upheld, any information provided by the market that ESPO deems to be neither confidential or commercially sensitive which shapes our procurement process, proposed route and any refinements will be shared and used to help ensure that participating suppliers are not unfairly advantaged, including details of the process and outcomes. Potential bidders will not be prejudiced by any participation or failure to participate to this preliminary market engagement exercise and should note that a response to this preliminary market engagement exercise does not guarantee an invitation to participate in this or any future procurement that ESPO may conduct.

Note: for any questions relating to the operation of the Portal itself, ProContract, these should be submitted to Proactis, and the following links (URL's) can be used for this for supplier support and system technical queries: https://www.proactis.com/uk/support-login/ or via https://suppliersupport.proactisservicedesk.com/. OTHERWISE, ANY QUESTIONS RELATING TO THIS PME SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO ESPO by accessing the Messages area/section once an Expression of interest has been completed.

For further details on the Procurement Act, including registration on the Central Digital Platform, this 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