Published date: 17 September 2024

This notice was replaced on 23 January 2025

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 23 January 2025)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Ballpoint pens - 30192121

  • Fountain pens - 30192122

  • Fibre pens - 30192123

    • Felt-tipped pens - 30192124

    • Markers - 30192125

    • Technical pens - 30192126

    • Drawing pens - 37822000

    • Writing instruments - 39292400

Location of contract

United Kingdom

Value of contract

£24,000,000

Procurement reference

61_25

Published date

17 September 2024

Closing date

17 October 2024

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 January 2025

Contract end date

31 March 2026

Contract type

Supply contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Framework for the supply of writing instruments for delivery to the ESPO distribution centre and to ESPO customers.

Lot 1 - ESPO smartbuy Writing Instruments
Lot 2 - Writing Instrument Ranges

The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 33 months. The total estimated value stated (which is captured in this notice as a Value excluding VAT) includes the option period.

The minimum financial requirement for the purposes of the current tender exercise is stated in the procurement documents. However in summary, Tenderers are required to have positive net assets / shareholder funds.

If a Tenderer fails to pass the financial assessment and is part of a larger group, provided that the group accounts are provided to ESPO on request and these pass the financial test, a parent company guarantee may be acceptable provided the Tenderer is a 100% wholly owned subsidiary within the group.

In addition, ESPO will use a Credit Reference Agency to provide information on Tenderers. Where the Credit Reference Agency assigns the Tenderer a score indicating higher than moderate financial risk, ESPO will give further consideration to the financial information and financial stability of the Tenderer.

If ESPO has any reasonable cause for concern in relation to this information that cannot be reasonably resolved then this could give rise to the tender being rejected.

This contract will contain a contract monitoring clause which will require suppliers to ensure that there is no material detrimental change in their financial standing and/or their credit rating (as determined by use of a Credit Reference Agency). Bi-annual review meetings will be held.

To tender:
(a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '61_25' (via "View Opportunities" from the 'EastMidsTenders' Portal); (d) Express an interest; (e) Download the tender documents (from the ProContract Activity summary screen, once an Expression of interest has been completed).

More information

Links

  • https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
  • Tender notice
  • (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '61_25' (via "View Opportunities" from the 'EastMidsTenders' Portal); (d) Express an interest; (e) Download the tender documents (from the ProContract Activity summary screen, once an Expression of interest has been completed).

About the buyer

Contact name

Catalogue Procurement Team

Address

Barnsdale Way, Grove Park, Enderby
LEICESTER
LE19 1ES
England

Email

tenders@espo.org

Website

https://www.espo.org/