Outdoor Playground Equipment, Fitness & Sports Facilities and Equipment
Framework Description
ESPO's Outdoor Playground Equipment, Fitness & Sports Facilities and Equipment framework (reference 115_25) covers the design, supply, installation, maintenance and inspection of play equipment, outdoor fitness kit, sports surfaces, MUGAs, skateparks, tennis courts and splash parks. 18 lots make up the agreement, which ESPO tendered under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015; it is not a dynamic purchasing system. It runs from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2027, with an option to extend to 31 May 2029.
Context & Use Case
Local authorities, schools and parish councils use 115_25 to build, refurbish and maintain play areas and outdoor sports facilities, from a new playground or 3G pitch to resurfacing an existing court or commissioning annual safety inspections. Buyers sign ESPO's Access & Confidentiality Agreement to see the framework documents and supplier list for each lot.
Scope of Services
Lots 1–2: Playground equipment; bespoke play equipment and play areas Lots 3.1–3.4: MUGAs (steel or timber on steel frame; macadam or sand-filled synthetic grass) Lots 4–5: In-situ concrete skate and BMX parks; asphalt wheeled sports areas Lot 6: Outdoor fitness equipment Lots 7, 8.1, 8.2: Wet pour rubber, sport and play synthetic grass, needle punched carpet Lot 9: 3G football pitches; Lots 10.1–10.2: tennis courts (porous macadam or synthetic grass) Lots 11–12: Indoor sensory and soft play; splash and water parks Lot 13: Inspection reports for play equipment, surfacing and outdoor sports
Lots
Lot 1 - Playground Equipment; Lot 2 - Bespoke Design Play Equipment/Play Areas; Lot 3.1 - Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) - Steel - Macadam Surface; Lot 3.2 - Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) - Steel - Synthetic Grass Surface (Sand Filled); Lot 3.3 - Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) - Timber on Steel Frame - Macadam Surface; Lot 3.4 - Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) - Timber on Steel Frame - Synthetic Grass Surface (Sand Filled); Lot 4 - Skateparks/BMX Parks - In-Situ Concrete; Lot 5 - Other Wheeled Sports Areas - Asphalt; Lot 6 - Outdoor Fitness Equipment; Lot 7 - Wet Pour Rubber Surfacing; Lot 8.1 - Sport & Play Synthetic Grass; Lot 8.2 - Sport and Play Needle Punched Carpet; Lot 9 - Football - 3rd Generation Synthetic Grass (3G) Pitch; Lot 10.1 - Tennis Courts - Porous Macadam; Lot 10.2 Tennis Courts - Synthetic Grass; Lot 11 - Indoor Sensory and Soft Play Equipment; Lot 12 - Splash/Water Parks; Lot 13 - Inspection Reports - Play Equipment (including Surfacing) and Outdoor Sports
Who Can Apply
Suits play equipment manufacturers, sports surface contractors, skatepark builders and play inspectors. Applications for 115_25 are closed: suppliers not appointed in 2025 cannot join until ESPO re-tenders, likely around 31 May 2027 or, if the extension is used, 31 May 2029.
Buyer Benefits
The narrow lots let a buyer go straight to specialists in exactly what they need, such as a timber-framed MUGA with synthetic grass or an in-situ concrete skatepark, rather than a generalist contractor. Having inspection reports in their own lot means councils can commission independent safety checks under the same agreement they used to buy the equipment.
Next Steps
The initial term ends on 31 May 2027. Watch ESPO's 115_25 page for news of the extension to 31 May 2029 or a re-tender. Appointed suppliers should be ready with design proposals, surfacing specifications and installation programmes for competitions. Others should collect evidence of completed council and school schemes, safety certification and maintenance records now.
How Athena Can Help
Play and sports facility competitions are often won on design and site-specific detail. If you hold one of the 18 lots, Athena's bid writing and pricing support can shape your design narrative, test it against likely competitor scores and price each scheme to win.
If you are outside 115_25, we can help you win council and school schemes tendered directly through our public sector bid service, and our framework registrations team can choose the right lots and prepare your application for the re-tender.
