Liquid Fuels
Framework Description
Liquid Fuels (reference 301_26) is an ESPO framework for delivered liquid fuels, split into 54 regional lots across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It runs from 18 August 2026 to 17 August 2028, with an option to extend to 17 August 2030. ESPO procured it under the Procurement Act 2023, and applications are closed.
Context & Use Case
Councils, schools and other public bodies use it to order delivered fuel for heating and fleets from distributors in their area. Regional lots mean each buyer reaches distributors with local depots and delivery routes. That matters for rural schools and depots that depend on regular heating oil deliveries. Orders can be placed by direct call-off or after a further competitive selection process.
Scope of Services
Lots 1-11: North East, North West and Yorkshire Lots 12-20: East Midlands and West Midlands Lots 21-25: East of England Lots 26-37: London and South East Lots 38-42: South West Lots 43-44: Wales Lots 45-49: Scotland Lots 50-54: Northern Ireland
Lots
Lot 1 Tees Valley and Durham; Lot 2 Northumberland and Tyne and Wear; Lot 3 Cumbria; Lot 4 Greater Manchester; Lot 5 Lancashire; Lot 6 Cheshire; Lot 7 Merseyside; Lot 8 East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire; Lot 9 North Yorkshire; Lot 10 South Yorkshire; Lot 11 West Yorkshire; Lot 12 Derbyshire; Lot 13 Nottinghamshire; Lot 14 Leicestershire and Rutland; Lot 15 Northamptonshire; Lot 16 Lincolnshire; Lot 17 Herefordshire and Worcestershire; Lot 18 Warwickshire; Lot 19 Shropshire and Staffordshire; Lot 20 West Midlands; Lot 21 Norfolk; Lot 22 Suffolk; Lot 23 Cambridgeshire; Lot 24 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire; Lot 25 Essex; Lot 26 Inner London - West; Lot 27 Inner London - East; Lot 28 Outer London - East and North East; Lot 29 Outer London - South; Lot 30 Outer London - West and North West; Lot 31 Berkshire; Lot 32 Buckinghamshire; Lot 33 Oxfordshire; Lot 34 Surrey; Lot 35 East and West Sussex; Lot 36 Hampshire and Isle of Wight; Lot 37 Kent; Lot 38 Gloucestershire; Lot 39 Wiltshire and Bath/Bristol; Lot 40 Dorset and Somerset; Lot 41 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly; Lot 42 Devon; Lot 43 West Wales and The Valleys; Lot 44 East Wales; Lot 45 North Eastern Scotland; Lot 46 Highlands and Islands; Lot 47 Eastern Scotland; Lot 48 West Central Scotland; Lot 49 Southern Scotland; Lot 50 Northern Ireland - Belfast Area; Lot 51 Northern Ireland - Outer Belfast Area; Lot 52 Northern Ireland - Eastern NI; Lot 53 Northern Ireland - Northern NI; Lot 54 Northern Ireland - West and South NI
Who Can Apply
Suits fuel distributors with local depots and delivery fleets. The framework started on 18 August 2026 and applications are closed, so distributors not appointed cannot join until ESPO re-tenders it, around 17 August 2028 or 2030 if extended.
Buyer Benefits
Buyers get local delivery at agreed pricing without a tender, which matters for heating oil in winter. Regional lots support local distributors. Buyers value delivery reliability, transparent pricing linked to market indices, emergency deliveries in cold weather and accurate invoicing.
Next Steps
Read the 301_26 page on ESPO's website for appointed suppliers by lot. If appointed, make sure public sector buyers in your lots know your delivery terms. Everyone else should build their bid for the re-tender with depot locations, fleet capacity and delivery performance evidence.
How Athena Can Help
Regional fuel lots reward distributors who can prove local delivery. If you are on 301_26, Athena's fuel bid support can help you win further competitions with clear delivery commitments. If you are not, our regional lot planning will plan which regional lots to target in ESPO's re-tender and gather depot and delivery evidence. Our fuel margin pricing helps you price pence-per-litre margins that win and still pay, and supports bid/no-bid decisions lot by lot.
