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.
We are establishing a catalogue framework for the supply of catering disposables, including paper and plastic cups, napkins and serviettes, food and freezer bags, wooden cutlery, cling film, foil and festive products. All products are for ESPO stock for resale via the ESPO Catalogue.
The Framework is divided into 2 lots.
Please refer to the tender documents for any further details (including further details on each of the lots) - the closing date for submission of Tenders is 12:00 (12 noon / 12pm) on 11 September 2026.
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 175_27 (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); (d) Express an interest; (e) Download the tender documents (from the ProContract Activity summary screen).
Any questions or clarifications relating to this tender opportunity should be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal, once an Expression of interest has been completed.
Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPOWAC-636921
View 3-notice timelineLatest notice released 11 Sept 2026
Local GovernmentTender
Provision of Catering Services for the English and School Education Programme across Morocco
The British Council is seeking to appoint a single supplier to provide catering services in support of its English and School Education programmes more details can be found in the invitation to tender documents
Norfolk Museum Services is seeking to appoint a single supplier for the provision of Ambient, chilled, frozen foods and Vegetables, fruit and salads.
Please note on the 19 November 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness made a written statement [UIN HCWS1071] saying that three proposals for unitary local government in Norfolk had been received – these could entail the creation of one, two or three unitary councils.
The Minister announced a consultation exercise, which ended on 11 January 2026. The Minister stated that “once the consultations have concluded, the Government will assess the proposals against the criteria in the invitation and decide, subject to parliamentary approval, which, if any, proposals are to be implemented, with or without modification”. The Government has confirmed that it is minded to create three unitary Councils, subject to parliamentary approval.
On 4 December 2025, the Secretary of State for Local Government made a written statement [UIN HCWS1128] stating that the government intends to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk as soon as possible, and that it is minded to hold inaugural mayoral elections in May 2028.
Should these processes lead to unitary local government in Norfolk and/or to the establishment of a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering Norfolk (i) the contract may be transferred, assigned or novated to any successor authority(ies) to the council, or to any joint body incorporating or formed by any such successor and/or to any Mayoral Strategic Authority; and/or (ii) the council or a successor authority or joint body may order services on behalf of other local authorities serving any area within Norfolk's current geographical boundaries.
Soft Market Testing Exercise on behalf of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames relating to the potential packaging and tendering of an upcoming contract for a 12-month food and beverage concession contract for Murray Park.
Preliminary Market Engagement for the Provision of Event Catering Services
Preliminary Market Engagement (PME)/soft market test related to the possible provision of event catering services at Beaumanor Hall, Woodhouse, Leicestershire.
Please note this is not an opportunity to tender but is an information gathering exercise to inform the Councils future requirement.
The Council has run the Hall since the 1970's and currently provides all catering services in-house. Catering is provided for a wide range pf daytime and evening events including weddings, christenings, birthday parties and other celebration events as well as corporate events such as away days and training courses.
Types of catering provided ranges from informal hot and cold buffet lunches to formal, sit down evening meals and wedding breakfasts.
The Council is considering outsourcing some of it's event catering services to external providers and the purpose of this preliminary market engagement exercise is to garner views and information from the market to inform the future requirements of the Council.
Adult Social Care Catering Services - Market Engagement
Milton Keynes City Council is seeking to engage with the market to inform the future development of food provision services across its service areas in Adult Social Care. The Council is now reviewing its future requirements to ensure its catering arrangements remain fit for purpose, best value for money and provide quality for our customers.
This market engagement exercise aims to:
• Understand the current market capability
• Explore innovative delivery models
• Assess supplier capacity, sustainability, and resilience
• Inform future procurement strategy
We are keen to hear from providers on the questions published contained within the market engagement document on our e-tendering portal In-Tend . Please respond to the questions latest by 5pm on Thursday 2nd July 2026 via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage.
The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home
The London Borough of Havering operate a diverse estate of 50 school kitchens, supporting daily meal provision for over 10,000 pupils. The HES School Catering Service intends to commence a procurement exercise for the maintenance and repair of catering equipment across the school estate. The Council requires a contractor capable of delivering a high quality, responsive, and compliant service that ensures all catering equipment remains safe, functional, and efficient.
The appointed contractor will be responsible for:
• Reactive repairs
• Planned preventative maintenance (PPM)
• Emergency call outs
• Compliance testing (Gas Safe, electrical, refrigeration)
• Asset management and condition reporting
• Supply and installation of replacement parts
• Technical advice and lifecycle planning
• Breakdown Repairs Response Times;
o Emergency repairs within 4 hours
o Urgent repairs same working day if called before 12pm
The service must support uninterrupted meal service, maintain statutory compliance, and deliver best value outcomes for the Council. All engineers will need to hold enhanced DBS certification.
We are planning a preliminary market engagement session to take place via Teams to support the scoping of this procurement. This session is an integral part of our procurement process and will allow you to have an in-depth discussion on the tender requirements, what we should include or exclude from the service, if there are any innovations in the sector and clarification of any queries related to the procurement process.
Contract information:
3 years + additional 12 months
Estimated Contract value: c. £159,176 per annum, £665,935 total value
The session will take place WB 20th July, for approximately one hour. Please contact [email protected] to express your interest in this session, and the date and time and teams link will be sent.
Pre Market Engagement relating to Catering and/or Bar Services at the new Ice Bowl, Dundonald
***Pre Market Engagement Only.*** Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council is currently preparing to initiate a procurement process to award a tender for catering and/or bar services at the new Ice Bowl, Dundonald. LCCC wishes to engage with the market at this stage to establish the level of market interest and to gather information that will be beneficial in the tendering process. Suppliers who wish to participate in the market engagement exercise should complete the pre-market engagement questionnaire provided. Further information including the questionnaire can be downloaded from the CfT Documents section. The questionnaire must be completed and submitted no later than 12 Noon on the closing date detailed. There are no formal tender documents to be completed other than the questionnaire. Any information gathered will NOT be considered in any future tender evaluation exercise. Participation or non-participation in this pre-procurement market engagement shall not prevent any supplier/provider from participating in a potential procurement process nor is it intended that any information supplied shall place any supplier/ provider at an advantage in any forthcoming procurement process. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and there is no commitment, at this stage to carrying out such a process.
Ice Cream and Catering Vending Concessions for London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Soft Market Testing Exercise on behalf of the London Boroughs of Richmond upon Thames for the potential packaging and tendering of an upcoming contract for Ice Cream and Catering Services.
Expressions of interest for forming and entering into a Joint Venture to deliver a profitable Café and Catering Operation within the Town Hall
The renovation of Lowestoft Town Hall is due for completion early 2027 and will generate a really exciting opportunity for an innovative industry professional to provide catering within the building by means of a daily opening café / coffee shop and provision of catering via an event space which will include Weddings / Private Parties and Corporate Functions on an ad hoc basis. This newly renovated building is expected to make a significant impact upon the economic regeneration of the area and will also be the new home for The Registrar's Office and Lowestoft Town Council with an anticipated first year public footfall of circa 100,000.
Specification - Initial Expressions of Interest should contain the following information and be submitted on no more than 4 sides of A4:
a : Summary of existing business interests or experience.
b : Evidence of delivering similar catering contracts with references from recent clients and or case studies demonstrating service quality and reliability.
c: Evidence of commitment to provide quality exciting and innovative menu options with a commitment to showcasing local ingredients where possible.
d : Ideas on how the Town Hall offer could be differentiated from the offer already. available on the High Street allowing the business to thrive alongside those already in situ.
If invited to submit a formal application following expression of interest further, more detailed, information will be required in respect of the above as well as additional information which will include but not be limited to:
1 : A documented Health and Safety Policy plus current Food Hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency.
2: Risk Assessments for food preparation, storage and service.
3: Evidence of a general commitment to sustainable practices e.g. in relation to reduction of food waste.
4: Ability to demonstrate financial stability and financial controls when operating a business.
5: Evidence of ability to recruit and train qualified chefs and catering staff.
3. Period A contract commencing no earlier than December 2026 with Joint Venture terms tbc.
Notes
Within your documentation, please provide a copy of your company insurance policy.
Expressions of interest will be assessed in terms of business experience and stability, a commitment to quality provision of food and service, the ability to be flexible as the business grows and the ability to work in partnership with the Town Hall for the benefit of its visitors creating a first class truly memorable experience.
It is prohibited for prospective contractors/ business partners to contact Lowestoft Town Councillors or staff to encourage or support their interest outside of the prescribed process outlined below.