The Association of North East Councils Limited (NEPO) is conducting pre-market engagement for its NEPO219 Building Materials & Managed Stores framework, with an estimated value of up to £360,000,000 including VAT over an eight-year period. This framework is designed to support public sector organisations across the North East (and potentially beyond) in sourcing building materials and managing stores operations, with the scope potentially extending to kitchen and joinery products and civil engineering materials over the framework's lifetime.
If you're considering engaging with NEPO219, Thornton & Lowe can provide rapid feedback on whether this aligns with your business goals. Contact our team for an initial discussion. You may also find our guide to framework agreements without the jargon a useful primer if you're new to public sector frameworks.
About NEPO and the NEPO219 Framework
NEPO is a collaborative procurement organisation jointly owned by the twelve local authorities of the North East of England. Its frameworks are widely used by councils, housing associations, NHS bodies, and other public sector organisations across the region. NEPO219 is designed as a successor to existing building materials arrangements, providing a compliant, aggregated route to market for both the supply of building materials and managed stores services, where NEPO provides on-site stock management, inventory control, and materials distribution rather than just point-of-sale supply.
This distinction matters for potential bidders. Suppliers focused purely on product supply and those who offer full managed stores operations are both likely to have routes in, depending on how the final lot structure is shaped. Engaging now, during the market engagement phase, gives suppliers the opportunity to influence that structure.
What the Pre-Market Engagement Means for You
The engagement deadline is 23 June 2026. This is not a bid submission. Instead, it is an invitation to inform the final specification. Suppliers who respond can highlight delivery models, flag potential specification issues, and demonstrate their interest and capability to NEPO ahead of the formal tender. For smaller or regional suppliers in particular, this is a valuable chance to make your presence known.
- Engage before the deadline: Pre-market engagement responses genuinely influence specifications. If you have relevant expertise or concerns about how the framework is shaped, now is the time to raise them.
- Eight-year term: This is a long-term commitment. NEPO will want suppliers with the stability, supply chain resilience, and operational capacity to sustain performance across a changing market over nearly a decade.
- Expanding scope: The signal towards kitchen, joinery, and civil engineering materials suggests NEPO is open to expanding the framework's coverage. Suppliers in adjacent categories should consider whether they can position to benefit from this.
- Multi-authority reach: Framework appointments give access to a wide range of public sector buyers across the North East: a significant commercial advantage for regional suppliers.
Quick facts
- Framework value: Up to £360,000,000 including VAT
- Led by: The Association of North East Councils Limited (NEPO)
- Scope: Building materials, managed stores, and potential expansion to kitchen/joinery and civil engineering materials
- Duration: Up to 8 years
- Pre-market engagement deadline: 23 June 2026
- Notice: View on Find a Tender
Preparing Your Approach
- Demonstrate regional knowledge: NEPO's member authorities are North East based. Suppliers with an existing presence and track record in the region have a genuine advantage; use it.
- Emphasise managed stores capability: If you offer more than simple product supply (including on-site stock management, order fulfilment, and inventory reporting) make this central to your proposition.
- Evidence supply chain resilience: Given the eight-year term and high value, buyers will want to understand your contingency arrangements and how you manage supply chain risk.
- Stay alert to scope changes: The final ITT may include product categories or service requirements not fully apparent at this stage. Monitor the notice closely for updates.
Talk to Thornton & Lowe today for tailored, actionable advice on engaging with the pre-market consultation and preparing a strong response when the formal tender launches.
