Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, has opened a pre-market engagement exercise for the upcoming 390_27 Document Management Solutions framework agreement. This four-year framework will cover off-site storage, digitisation, and confidential shredding and secure disposal services – and ESPO is actively seeking supplier input to help shape the final specification before the full tender is released.
For businesses providing document and records management services to the public sector, this is an important opportunity to engage early, influence the framework design, and position ahead of competition. If you are considering whether to get involved, contact Thornton & Lowe – our specialist team can quickly assess whether this framework is the right fit and advise on how to make the most of the engagement process.
Why Engage with the Document Management Solutions Framework?
ESPO is one of the UK's leading public sector buying consortia, with a broad reach across local authorities, education bodies, and other public organisations. Getting onto an ESPO framework opens the door to a significant and sustained pipeline of public sector demand – and a four-year term provides the kind of commercial stability that makes framework agreements so attractive.
Pre-market engagement is a genuine opportunity, not just a formality. The authority is seeking supplier insights to shape the scope, lot structure, and practical requirements of the framework. Businesses that participate thoughtfully at this stage are better placed to respond effectively when the competition opens – and may find the final tender reflects their input.
To understand more about how framework agreements work and whether this route to market suits your business, take a look at our guide to framework agreements.
Scope and Bidding Considerations
The framework will encompass three core service areas: off-site document storage, digitisation of paper records, and confidential shredding or secure disposal. Suppliers may specialise in one area or offer services across multiple – both approaches are likely to find a home in the lot structure, though the final design will emerge through the engagement process.
- Scope: Off-site storage, digitisation, and secure disposal. Specialist providers in any one of these areas, as well as those offering integrated document lifecycle services, should pay close attention.
- Authority: ESPO's consortium model means successful framework suppliers can access demand from a wide range of public sector buyers, not just Leicestershire County Council.
- Term: Four years – a meaningful pipeline for businesses willing to invest in a competitive submission.
- Value: Not stated at this stage. Suppliers should review the full notice and monitor ESPO communications for further detail on scale and scope.
Quick Facts
- Framework type: Pre-market engagement for a framework agreement
- Lead authority: Leicestershire County Council (ESPO)
- Services in scope: Off-site storage, digitisation, secure shredding and disposal
- Term: 4 years
- Estimated value: Not stated
- View the opportunity on Find a Tender
Key Dates
- Market engagement deadline: 17 July 2026
How to Prepare
- Submit your market engagement response before the deadline. Your input can directly influence how the framework is structured.
- Map your services against the three anticipated service categories and consider how you would articulate your strengths in each.
- Review your capacity and scalability. ESPO frameworks can aggregate significant volumes of public sector demand over their lifetime – make sure your business can respond at scale.
- Monitor ESPO and Find a Tender for updates. With values and lot details still to be confirmed, staying informed will ensure you are ready to act quickly when the full tender is published.
Pre-market engagement exercises like this one are relatively rare, and they offer genuine influence over how a framework is designed. For document and records management businesses with public sector ambitions, the ESPO Document Management Solutions Framework represents a well-timed opportunity to shape a significant route to market.
If you would like tailored advice on whether to engage and how to prepare, get in touch with Thornton & Lowe. Our team can help you assess fit, shape your engagement response, and prepare an effective future bid.
