Official UK procurement notice
182_26 Creative Materials, Card, Textiles and Glitter
Authority: Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO (Local council)
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionESPO catalogue framework for the supply of creative materials, card textiles and glitter, for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester. This will include a wide variety of craft related products.
The Framework is divided into 4 lots.
CPV: Art and craft paper · Art supplies · Handicraft supplies · Paraffin wax · Sewing needles or knitting needles · Textile fabrics and related items · Textile yarn and thread · Woollen fabrics
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 12 bids on the busiest of 4 lots · 12 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 2 yrs 1 mo · up to 4 yrs from 1 Mar 2026
Published description of the framework
It should be noted that the Framework could be used, as outlined in option 1 and 2 below, by ESPO where creative materials, card, textiles and glitter is required:
Option 1 -Call-off without competition
'Calling-off' Goods from the awarded Supplier who is a) included in the Framework and b) identified as offering the most advantageous solution to ESPO's requirements, based on the Framework award decision.
For Lots (including sub-lots), purchase orders will be placed with the awarded Supplier as required by ESPO.
Option 2 - Call-off with competition (Competitive Selection Process)
'Calling-off' by conducting a competition (competitive selection process) amongst those Suppliers identified in the Framework as being able to provide the required Goods.
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Collage and AccessoriesAwardedRenewalPublished value£1,272,000
Supply of assorted collage and craft products for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester.
For further details, please refer to the procurement/tender documents.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
Lot #2Craft Kits and PacksAwardedRenewalPublished value£312,000
Supply of craft products and craft packs for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester.
For further details, please refer to the procurement/tender documents.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
Lot #3Textiles and Protective CoversAwardedRenewalPublished value£1,056,000
Supply of textile and craft products for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester.
For further details, please refer to the procurement/tender documents.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
Lot #4Craft Paper and AccessoriesAwardedRenewalPublished value£240,000
Supply of craft paper and accessories for delivery to the ESPO Distribution Centre, Leicester.
For further details, please refer to the procurement/tender documents.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Non-Price: 20%
- Price: 80%
Published award criteria (2)
- Price
- Non-Price
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the procurement/tender documents for conditions of participation.
- Price carries 80 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 8 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
- “182_26 Creative Materials, Card, Textiles and Glitter” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 29 Apr 2025, 15:12 BST
- Last source update
- 17 Mar 2026, 15:26 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 28 Nov 2025
- Authority reference
182_26- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-049604- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area in notice
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05095cFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 17 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 10 Sept 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Please refer to all instructions captured via www.eastmidstenders.org ↗.
Timeline
29 Apr 2025 → 17 Mar 2026 · 10 dates- Planning notice published29 Apr 2025, 15:12 BST
- Market engagement18 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
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:
- develop ESPO's requirements and approach to the procurement
- help better identify suitable suppliers in the market and their supply chains
- 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 www.eastmidstenders.org ↗; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '182_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.
- Tender notice published18 Aug 2025, 16:13 BST
- Clarification questions by10 Sept 2025, 17:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown17 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by328 days ago28 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent275 days ago21 Jan 2026
- Standstill ends265 days ago30 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts236 days ago1 Mar 2026
- Latest notice published219 days ago17 Mar 2026, 15:26 GMT
Notice history
10 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 29 Apr 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published29 Apr 2025, 15:12 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published18 Aug 2025, 16:13 BSTUK4
- Published value updated18 Aug 2025, 16:13 BST
- Status changed to active18 Aug 2025, 16:13 BST
- Procurement method changed18 Aug 2025, 16:13 BST
- Deadline published: 17 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST18 Aug 2025, 16:13 BST
- Contract award notice published21 Jan 2026, 16:02 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete21 Jan 2026, 16:02 GMT
- Contract signature expected2 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published17 Mar 2026, 15:26 GMTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-04: 1 release · 29 Apr 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Collage and Accessories1 award | |||
| Anthony Peters Manufacturing Company LimitedSME, Bright Ideas Marketing LimitedSME, Daler-Rowney Limited, Habico LimitedSME, Major Brushes LimitedSME, Texet Sales LtdSME +3 more1 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 28 Feb 2030Extensions: Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above. · Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products listed within the Pricing Schedule (accessible with all other procurement/tender documents) throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope. | £1,272,000 inc. VAT | 8 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Craft Kits and Packs1 award | |||
| Anglo Brands LtdSME, Anthony Peters Manufacturing Company LimitedSME, Daler-Rowney Limited, Habico LimitedSME, John L Brierley Arts and Crafts LtdSME, Major Brushes LimitedSME +2 more1 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 28 Feb 2030Extensions: Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above. · Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products listed within the Pricing Schedule (accessible with all other procurement/tender documents) throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope. | £312,000 inc. VAT | 8 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Textiles and Protective Covers1 award | |||
| Anglo Brands LtdSME, Daler-Rowney Limited, Habico LimitedSME, J M Clayton & Co LtdSME, Major Brushes LimitedSME, Texet Sales LtdSME +3 more1 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 28 Feb 2030Extensions: Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above. · Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products listed within the Pricing Schedule (accessible with all other procurement/tender documents) throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope. | £1,056,000 inc. VAT | 8 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 4 · Craft Paper and Accessories1 award | |||
| Bright Ideas Marketing LimitedSME, Daler-Rowney Limited, Habico LimitedSME, Major Brushes LimitedSME, Victoria Grant LimitedSME1 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 28 Feb 2030Extensions: Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above. · Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products listed within the Pricing Schedule (accessible with all other procurement/tender documents) throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope. | £240,000 inc. VAT | 8 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Lot 1. Collage and Accessories · Anthony Peters Manufacturing Company LimitedSME, Bright Ideas Marketing LimitedSME, Daler-Rowney Limited, Habico LimitedSME, Major Brushes LimitedSME, Texet Sales LtdSME +3 more
- Signed
- 13 Feb 2026
- Value
- £1,060,000
- Period
- 1 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 28 Feb 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.
- Options
- ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope.
Lot 2. Craft Kits and Packs · Anglo Brands LtdSME, Anthony Peters Manufacturing Company LimitedSME, Daler-Rowney Limited, Habico LimitedSME, John L Brierley Arts and Crafts LtdSME, Major Brushes LimitedSME +2 more
- Signed
- 13 Feb 2026
- Value
- £260,000
- Period
- 1 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 28 Feb 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.
- Options
- ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope.
Lot 3. Textiles and Protective Covers · Anglo Brands LtdSME, Daler-Rowney Limited, Habico LimitedSME, J M Clayton & Co LtdSME, Major Brushes LimitedSME, Texet Sales LtdSME +3 more
- Signed
- 13 Feb 2026
- Value
- £880,000
- Period
- 1 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 28 Feb 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.
- Options
- ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope.
Lot 4. Craft Paper and Accessories · Bright Ideas Marketing LimitedSME, Daler-Rowney Limited, Habico LimitedSME, Major Brushes LimitedSME, Victoria Grant LimitedSME
- Signed
- 13 Feb 2026
- Value
- £200,000
- Period
- 1 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 28 Feb 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Once the initial period of the contract has ended (i.e., 31 March 2028), there is an option to extend the framework by up to a further 23 months. This is dependent on ESPO, ESPO Customers, and market needs, as well as the performance of sales. All estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.
- Options
- ESPO reserves the right to add or remove to the products throughout the lifetime of the Framework, so long as they are in line with the Framework scope.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Collage and Accessories | 10final-stage tenders · 15 at stage one | 10 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Craft Kits and Packs | 9final-stage tenders · 15 at stage one | 9 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Textiles and Protective Covers | 12final-stage tenders · 15 at stage one | 12 | 0 | — |
| 4 · Craft Paper and Accessories | 8final-stage tenders · 15 at stage one | 8 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
12 commercial parties on the notice- ANGLO BRANDS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- ANTHONY PETERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITEDFramework contractor
- BRIGHT IDEAS MARKETING LIMITEDFramework contractor
- DALER-ROWNEY LIMITEDFramework contractor
- HABICO LIMITEDFramework contractor
- J.M.CLAYTON AND CO.LIMITEDFramework contractor
- JOHN L BRIERLEY ARTS & CRAFTS LTDFramework contractor
- MAJOR BRUSHES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- TEXET SALES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- VICTORIA GRANT LIMITEDFramework contractor
Show 2 more suppliers
- WHITECROFT ESSENTIALS (LYDNEY) LTDFramework contractor
- WIGSTON PAPER LIMITEDFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (12)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Technical specifications Please refer to the procurement/tender documents (see above for further details including summary instructions on how to access these).
- Bidding documents and specifications To tender (please proceed to step (e) if an Expression of interest has already been completed): (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '182_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastM…
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
Show 2 more notices
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender