A national multiple suppliers work for the supply of a range of milk and dairy products.

As a Central Purchasing Body as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the work Agreement is open for use by Public Bodies (defined at https://www.espo.org/amfile/file/download/file/9608/) that also fall into one of the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: Local Authorities; Educational Establishments (including Academies); Central Government Departments and Agencies; Police, Fire & Rescue and Coastguard Emergency Services; NHS and HSC Bodies, including Ambulance Services; Registered Charities; Registered Social Landlords; The Corporate Office of the House of Lords, The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons; or any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament. Details of the classification of end user establishments and geographical areas are available at: https://www.espo.org/legal

ESPO has established a commercial trading company, ESPO Trading Limited, whose target clients are third sector organisations such as national and local charities, public sector mutual organisations and other organisations involved in the delivery of services to or for the public sector. The successful Supplier may be asked to enter into an additional separate work agreement (the Second work) with ESPO Trading Limited on materially similar terms to that found in the tender pack to be entered into by ESPO itself. Any Second work agreement will be a purely commercial agreement and will, for the avoidance of doubt, not be governed by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. ESPO Trading Limited may enter into the second work agreement with the successful supplier and make it available to third sector clients who themselves are not required to follow the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. Accordingly, this is provided for bidders' information only.

An eAuction process may be used to award subsequent call off contracts following the reopening of competition among the parties to the work Agreement.

The minimum financial requirement for the purposes of the current tender exercise is stated in the procurement documents. This work will operate on-going contract monitoring procedures following award, to ensure financial stability requirements are maintained. Credit rating checks will be carried out on a regular basis, using the credit rating agency, Creditsafe Business Solutions Limited. Any changes will be assessed (compared with a line credit rating score obtained at contract award stage) and significant changes or sustained degradation will be investigated.