Expression of interest (EOI)
An expression of interest (EOI) is a buyer’s request for suppliers to indicate interest and provide initial information. It may support market research or shortlisting, but it is not automatically a tender, a bid invitation or a commitment that the procurement will proceed.
Reviewed
A buyer may use an expression of interest (EOI) to learn who might respond to a future opportunity and gather initial information. UK buyers use the label in different ways: an EOI may support early market engagement, collect basic capability information or form part of a shortlist. It is not a single statutory procedure under the Procurement Act 2023.
Read what the EOI is for
Check whether the buyer is seeking market information, asking for a request to participate, or inviting a formal tender. Look for the scope, response format, closing date, selection method, confidentiality wording and any statement about whether the buyer will proceed. The EOI may ask for a short capability statement, relevant experience, service categories, locations or questions about the proposed requirement.
What happens next
An EOI response normally does not become the tender. Keep a record of what you submitted and do not assume the buyer has accepted your solution or reserved you a place. Monitor the stated portal and public notices for the formal process. If the authority later publishes a tender, use the final documents as the source of truth.
For example, a council may ask suppliers to register interest in a future repairs service so it can understand market capacity. That response might help plan lots or an engagement event, but it does not award work and may not guarantee an invitation to tender.
EOI wording should therefore be interpreted in context, alongside the procurement route and jurisdiction.