991_26 Supply of Early Years and Curriculum Product Ranges - Preliminary market engagement

PRELIMINARY MARKET ENGAGEMENT (PME) NOTIFICATION - This is for a Preliminary market engagement (PME) where the tender documentation is not yet available. However, interest (Expressions of interest) can be registered here, and please refer to the UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice for full details on the Engagement being undertaken, including the anticipated Engagement period / deadline (see 'https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030010-2025', the Expression of interest window may continue to be kept open beyond the published Engagement deadline).

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). 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 (as also stated below).

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 and Garden Furniture
Lot 5 - Bikes, Trikes and Ride on Vehicles
Lot 6 - Educational Mini White Board Ranges
Lot 7 - General Supplementary Curriculum Resources
Lot 8 - Children’s Aprons and Outdoor Clothing

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

The duration of the framework agreement is expected to be for 12 months, with the option to extend for up to a further 36 months. The total estimated value stated includes the option period.

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.

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.

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