Official UK procurement notice
376F_26 Library Stock · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO (Local council)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionNational framework agreement for the supply of 'shelf-ready' stock to libraries, serviced to individual specification. It offers the supply of adult and children’s library stock, including fiction and non-fiction.
The Framework is divided into 2 lots.
For any additional details please also refer to www.espo.org/library-stock-376f-2… ↗
CPV: Printed matter and related products
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
- Bids received
- 3 bids on the busiest of 2 lots · 3 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 2 yrs · up to 4 yrs from 1 Apr 2026
- Buyer regions
- UK
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
0.50% of call-off value · As a public body, ESPO have a statutory obligation to recover the costs incurred in the management of this Framework. This obligation is met by means of a Framework Fee which will be payable by the Suppliers to ESPO based on the total turnover of business conducted by them under the Framework.
Who may buy through it
As a Centralised procurement authority as defined in the Procurement Act 2023, the Framework is open for use by Public Bodies (defined at www.espo.org/amfile/file/download… ↗) that also fall into one of the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: Local Authorities; Educational Establishments (including Academies); Central Government Departments and Agencies; Police, Fire & Rescue and Coastguard Emergency Services; NHS and HSC Bodies, including Ambulance Services; Registered Charities; Registered Social Landlords; The Corporate Office of the House of Lords, The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons; or any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament. Details on general classification of end user establishments and geographical areas are available at: www.espo.org/legal ↗.
Published description of the framework
Customers wishing to buy library stock via the Framework will do so in the following way in accordance with section 45 of the Procurement Act 2023 (and any subsequent amendment or re-enactment thereof):
Call-off with competition (Further Competitive Selection Process)
'Calling-off' by conducting a further competitive selection process amongst those Suppliers identified in the Framework as being able to provide the required Goods and Services. Customers will assess the suppliers as set out in the terms and conditions of the Framework.
Please note that once this Framework is established, the right is reserved by the Customer when running a further competitive selection process, to invite the Suppliers to participate in an eAuction.
All Goods and Services provided under the Framework will be provided and delivered directly to the Customers, in accordance with instructions given to the Supplier at the time of placing the order. Liability for payment of the Supplier’s invoices will rest solely with the Customer, as appropriate in each case.
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 2 lots carries the same published figure, £26,400,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Adult StockAwardedRenewalceiling above
Suppliers awarded to this lot will be required to be able to provide a wide range of services stock from all of the below categories:
- Adult fiction
- Adult non-fiction
- Reference materials
For further details, please refer to the tender documents.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents for conditions of participation (note: the Procurement Specific Questionnaire including Conditions of Participation questions, is captured as a Question set in the eProcurement Portal, ProContract, and is completed online there once a response has been started).
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents for conditions of participation (note: the Procurement Specific Questionnaire including Conditions of Participation questions, is captured as a Question set in the eProcurement Portal, ProContract, and is completed online there once a response has been started).
Lot #2Children's StockAwardedRenewalceiling above
Suppliers awarded to this lot will be required to be able to provide a wide range of services stock from both of the below categories:
- Children's fiction, including board books
- Children's non-fiction
For further details, please refer to the tender documents.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents for conditions of participation (note: the Procurement Specific Questionnaire including Conditions of Participation questions, is captured as a Question set in the eProcurement Portal, ProContract, and is completed online there once a response has been started).
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents for conditions of participation (note: the Procurement Specific Questionnaire including Conditions of Participation questions, is captured as a Question set in the eProcurement Portal, ProContract, and is completed online there once a response has been started).
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: 70%
- Price: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Price
- Non-Price
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents for conditions of participation (note: the Procurement Specific Questionnaire including Conditions of Participation questions, is captured as a Question set in the eProcurement Portal, ProContract, and is completed online there once a response has been started).
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents for conditions of participation (note: the Procurement Specific Questionnaire including Conditions of Participation questions, is captured as a Question set in the eProcurement Portal, ProContract, and is completed online there once a response has been started).
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “376F_26 Library Stock” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.
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
- As a Centralised procurement authority as defined in the Procurement Act 2023, the Framework is open for use by Public Bodies (defined at https://www.espo.org/amfile/file/download/file/9608/) that also fall into one of the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: Local Authorities; Educational Establishments (including Academies); Central Government Departments and Agencies; Police, Fire & Rescue and Coastguard Emergency Services; NHS and HSC Bodies, including Ambulance Services; Registered Charities; Registered Social Landlords; The Corporate Office of the House of Lords, The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons; or any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament. Details on general classification of end user establishments and geographical areas are available at: https://www.espo.org/legal.
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 25 Mar 2025, 15:20 GMT
- Last source update
- 13 Apr 2026, 16:20 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 27 Feb 2026
- Authority reference
376F_26- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-080940- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04f88eFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 19 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 7 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · 0.50% of call-off value · As a public body, ESPO have a statutory obligation to recover the costs incurred in the management of this Framework. This obligation is met by means of a Framework Fee which will be payable by the Suppliers to ESPO based on the total turnover of business conducted by them under the Framework.
Refer to all instructions captured via www.eastmidstenders.org ↗.
Timeline
25 Mar 2025 → 13 Apr 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published25 Mar 2025, 15:20 GMT
- Market engagement29 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
The submission deadline for the Request for Information (RFI) is being extended until 18th July 2025 (5pm).
Suppliers are required to register and complete the relevant stages on the Central Digital Platform if they wish to participate in or bid for this framework.
The ESPO 376F_26 Request for Information (RFI) is available on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org ↗) and the submission deadline is as details above. Suppliers wishing to participate must first register interest for 376F_26 via the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (please refer to instructions below on how to express your interest).
The RFI is available within a Public Message on the Portal and suppliers should follow the instructions for completing the RFI as captured within the Public Message.
To ensure that equal treatment principles are upheld, any information provided by the market that ESPO deems to be non-confidential or commercially sensitive which shapes our procurement process, proposed route and any refinements will be shared as part of the tender process, 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.
Suppliers will be engaged with to:
- Assess the market's capacity to meet ESPO's requirements
- Assess any changes to the market
- Understand whether introducing a call-off without competition route to market for this framework is viable
- Understand whether there are any additional core goods/services that we could add to the framework offering
- Understand what distinctive features between suppliers' offering represent best value to customers
- Identify any potential risks or challenges in the market
- Gain an understanding of whether localised Social Value can and will be offered under the scope of the contract
- Ensure that the market is prepared for carbon reduction plans to be included as a condition of participation for the procurement.
For the purposes of this Preliminary market engagement (PME), please express your interest as follows (if not already completed):
(a) Go to www.eastmidstenders.org ↗; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '376F_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.
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).
- Next notice expected339 days ago14 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Tender notice published315 days ago9 Dec 2025, 10:34 GMT
- Clarification questions by285 days ago7 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends274 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown19 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by234 days ago27 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent223 days ago11 Mar 2026
- Standstill ends210 days ago23 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts202 days ago1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published190 days ago13 Apr 2026, 16:20 BST
Notice history
11 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 25 Mar 2025- Planned procurement notice published25 Mar 2025, 15:20 GMTUK3
- Preliminary market engagement notice published6 Jun 2025, 11:56 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published3 Jul 2025, 11:02 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published9 Dec 2025, 10:34 GMTUK4
- Published value updated9 Dec 2025, 10:34 GMT
- Status changed to active9 Dec 2025, 10:34 GMT
- Deadline moved to 19 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT9 Dec 2025, 10:34 GMT+34 days · was 16 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Contract award notice published11 Mar 2026, 12:37 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete11 Mar 2026, 12:37 GMT
- Contract signature expected23 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published13 Apr 2026, 16:20 BSTUK7
Published amendments (1)
The submission deadline for the Request for Information (RFI) is being extended until 18th July 2025 (5pm).
Routine re-releases (6)
- 2025-07: 1 release · 3 Jul 2025
- 2025-06: 1 release · 6 Jun 2025
- 2025-03: 1 release · 25 Mar 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast£22,000,000 is the framework's published maximum, restated by the publisher on 2 award rows. It is one ceiling, not 2 separate sums, and no share per lot is published; those rows read “ceiling above”.
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Adult Stock1 award | |||
| A T Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns BooksSME, Askews and Holts Library Services LtdSME, PETERS LIMITEDSME1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030Extensions: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months, and ESPO may choose to use the extension periods where: • The framework is performing well; • The framework continues to meet customer needs. ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as 2x 12-month periods). The total estimated lot values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above, although ESPO offers no guarantees of value that may pass through any lot. · Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract. | ceiling above | 5 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Children's Stock1 award | |||
| A T Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns BooksSME, Askews and Holts Library Services LtdSME, PETERS LIMITEDSME1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030Extensions: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months, and ESPO may choose to use the extension periods where: • The framework is performing well; • The framework continues to meet customer needs. ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as 2x 12-month periods). The total estimated lot values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above, although ESPO offers no guarantees of value that may pass through any lot. · Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract. | ceiling above | 5 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
All 2 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £22,000,000, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.
Lot 1. Adult Stock · A T Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns BooksSME, Askews and Holts Library Services LtdSME, PETERS LIMITEDSME
- Signed
- 24 Mar 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months, and ESPO may choose to use the extension periods where: • The framework is performing well; • The framework continues to meet customer needs. ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as 2x 12-month periods). The total estimated lot values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above, although ESPO offers no guarantees of value that may pass through any lot.
- Options
- ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the framework.
Lot 2. Children's Stock · A T Little & Sons Ltd T/A Browns BooksSME, Askews and Holts Library Services LtdSME, PETERS LIMITEDSME
- Signed
- 24 Mar 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months, and ESPO may choose to use the extension periods where: • The framework is performing well; • The framework continues to meet customer needs. ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as 2x 12-month periods). The total estimated lot values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above, although ESPO offers no guarantees of value that may pass through any lot.
- Options
- ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the framework.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Adult Stock | 3final-stage tenders · 7 at stage one | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Children's Stock | 3final-stage tenders · 7 at stage one | 3 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonASKEWS AND HOLTS LIBRARY SERVICES LTD.SME · South East England · all lots
- wonA.T. LITTLE & SONS LIMITED (t/aBrowns Books)SME · Yorkshire and the Humber · all lots
- wonPETERS LIMITEDSME · West Midlands · all lots
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
3 commercial parties on the notice- A.T. LITTLE & SONS LIMITED (t/a Browns Books)Framework contractor
- ASKEWS AND HOLTS LIBRARY SERVICES LTDFramework contractor
- PETERS LIMITEDFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (14)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Signed contract 376F_26 Library Stock - Framework Agreement
- 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 '376F_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the East…
- Signed contract 376F_26 Library Stock - Framework Agreement
- Signed contract 376F_26 Library Stock - Form of Contract and Call Off Terms (Framework Schedule 3)
- Signed contract 376F_26 Library Stock - Form of Contract and Call Off Terms (Framework Schedule 3)
- Technical specifications Please refer to the tender documents (see above for further details including summary instructions on how to access these).
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 award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender