Scope
Reference
900_26
Description
This is for a Preliminary market engagement (PME) where the tender documentation is not yet available. However, interest (Expressions of interest) can be registered, and please refer to the Engagement Section for further details (including how to express an interest).
ESPO are conducting the preliminary market engagement with the intention of establishing a multi-supplier framework for the supply of a wide range of water dispensers, including associated products and services such as maintenance and sanitisation, alongside consumables such as water bottles and cups.
We are seeking to engage with suppliers who can offer the above services on a national, regional, or sub-regional basis.
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:
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £4,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 18925000 - Water-bottle holders and holsters
- 31141000 - Water coolers
- 39370000 - Water installations
- 41110000 - Drinking water
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
- GG - Guernsey
- IM - Isle of Man
- JE - Jersey
Engagement
Engagement deadline
14 October 2025
Engagement process description
Suppliers are required to register and complete the relevant stages on the Central Digital Platform if they wish to participate or bid for this framework.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - To be completed and returned by 12 noon, 07 October 2025 (see below for further details on how to access and complete this).
Engagement is being undertaken via a Request for Information (RFI) Questionnaire that is available as a Public Message on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org). Please refer to all instructions in the Public Messages, and any organisation that feels they can contribute should return the RFI Questionnaire via the Messaging facility on the eProcurement Portal by 12:00 (12 noon) on 07 October 2025.
Suppliers wishing to participate and access Public Messages MUST first register interest for 900_26 via the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (please see below for further details on this).
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 '900_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest (this action is only required once, after which you can go to your 'Activities' in the eProcurement Portal instead).
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.
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).
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 nor commercially sensitive and which shapes our procurement process, proposed route, and any refinements, will be shared during the procurement, 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 participation in this or any future procurement that ESPO may conduct.
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.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
14 November 2025
Contracting authority
Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYDD-1122-TCVN
Barnsdale Way, Grove Park, Enderby
Leicester
LE19 1ES
United Kingdom
Contact name: Food, Communities and Technology Procurement Team
Email: tenders@espo.org
Website: https://www.espo.org/
Region: UKF22 - Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government