Rock Salt
Framework Description
NEPO203 Rock Salt is NEPO's framework for supplying bulk and bagged rock salt for winter maintenance. It has four lots: bulk and bagged salt for the North East, and bulk and bagged salt for the UK, so it serves buyers beyond the region. It is a standard framework, not a DPS, running to 30 June 2028 with an option to extend to 30 June 2030.
Context & Use Case
Councils and other public bodies use NEPO203 to stock up for winter gritting of roads and footways. Bulk salt supplies depots for gritter fleets, while bagged salt suits schools, car parks and smaller sites. The UK lots make the framework available to authorities outside the North East. Buyers can order either form under the same agreement.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Bulk Salt (North East) Lot 2: Bagged Salt (North East) Lot 3: Bulk Salt (UK) Lot 4: Bagged Salt (UK)
Lots
Lot 1: Bulk Salt (North East); Lot 2: Bagged Salt (North East); Lot 3: Bulk Salt (UK); Lot 4: Bagged Salt (UK)
Who Can Apply
Suits rock salt producers and distributors able to deliver bulk or bagged salt reliably. Applications for NEPO203 are closed, so suppliers not appointed cannot join until it is re-tendered, around June 2028 or, if extended, June 2030.
Buyer Benefits
Running out of salt in a cold snap is a public safety problem. Buyers value secured supply ahead of winter, agreed prices and suppliers who can restock quickly during prolonged bad weather. UK-wide lots also let authorities outside the region use the same terms.
Next Steps
Appointed suppliers should agree stock and delivery plans with authorities before each winter. Others should look for direct council salt tenders and plan for the NEPO203 re-tender, gathering evidence of delivery capacity during peak demand and resilience planning. Watch for a notice near the end date.
How Athena Can Help
NEPO203 is closed to new applications until at least 2028. For suppliers outside it, Athena's framework search service identifies other winter maintenance and materials frameworks that are open now or due to open, and prepares the applications.
For direct council salt tenders and any call-offs under NEPO203, our tender selection advice helps you decide which to bid, and our end-to-end bid writing sets out supply resilience and pricing clearly. We can also build a pricing model that reflects haulage costs and winter demand peaks, and run a Bid Health Check before submission.
