Legal information relating to tenders
Who is eligible to use ESPO’s services?
ESPO may supply goods and provide services to any “public body”, as defined in the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 (as amended). Further information about which organisations are eligible to use our services is available in the following document:
If you are unsure of whether your organisation is eligible to use ESPO, please get in touch with us by emailing registration@espo.org.
Find a Tender framework permissible users
Classification of geographical areas referred to in Find a Tender notices:
UK/United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Administrative Regions of the United Kingdom/UK: All Local Government administered regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Regions in England: Reference may be made to the 9 highest tier of Regions:- East Midlands, West Midlands; East of England; South East; South West; North West; North East; Yorkshire & Humber; London, or to individual administering Councils. Click here to search by postcode or click here to view a list.
Northern Ireland: Administered across 11 Districts of Northern Ireland (formerly 26 Districts until 1 April 2015): Click here for more information
Scotland: Administered across 32 Council areas: Click here for more information
Wales: Administered across 22 Council areas: Click here for more information
ESPO Member Authorities: Click here for more information
NUTS CODES: The European Journal template requires selection of a NUTS code (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) in an OJEU Notice, but regrettably, will not allow selection of more than one. Thus, where a notice refers to delivery/use in more than one specific region, but not throughout the UK, a NUTS code will be selected that best reflects the region of greatest use. Where a notice refers to delivery/use within more than one specific region and also throughout the UK, the NUTS code for 'UK' will be selected.
Classification of user organisations referred to in Find a Tender notices
Local Authorities: County, Unitary, District, Borough, and Metropolitan Councils (Parish and Community Councils are also permissible users) - please refer to the links in the relevant Sections above entitled: Regions in England; Northern Ireland; Scotland; Wales.
Educational Establishments: Nursery School, Primary School, Middle or High School, Secondary School, Academy, Special School, Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), Further Education Colleges, Universities.
Schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts in England https://www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables
Schools in Scotland https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/my-school/school-information-dashboard/
Schools in Wales https://mylocalschool.gov.wales/ (or see also https://www.gov.wales/addresses-schools-and-pupil-referral-units)
Schools in Northern Ireland https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/services/schools-plus
Universities and Colleges awarding degrees in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales https://www.gov.uk/check-university-award-degree
Universitiies and Colleges in Northern Ireland https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/universities-and-colleges-northern-ireland
Colleges in Scotland https://collegesscotland.ac.uk/our-members/colleges-in-scotland (see also https://www.scotland.org/study/the-scottish-education-system)
Colleges in Wales https://www.gov.wales/further-education-institutions-contact-details (or see also https://www.studyinwales.ac.uk/)
Police, Fire & Rescue & Maritime & Coastguard Agency Emergency Services:
https://www.police.uk/pu/contact-us/uk-police-forces/
https://nfcc.org.uk/contacts/fire-and-rescue-services/
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency
NHS Bodies, the HSC (Northern Ireland) and Ambulance Services:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-provider-directory/
https://bso.hscni.net/about-bso/hsc-organisation-websites/
https://www.scot.nhs.uk/organisations/
https://www.nhs.wales/about-us/
https://aace.org.uk/uk-ambulance-service/
Government Departments and Agencies:
A listing of UK government departments can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations
Registered Charities:
https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/
https://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/
Registered Social Landlords: Government-funded, not-for-profit organisations that provide affordable housing. They include housing associations, trusts and cooperatives.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/registered-providers-of-social-housing
https://www.housingregulator.gov.scot/register-of-social-landlords/