Tender

CBC-1851-T-TH HAF - Holiday Activities and Food Programme

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

13 Oct 2025 at 10:27

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the "HAF - Holiday Activities and Food Programme" tender is managed by Central Bedfordshire Council. This tender, classified under "Children's holiday-camp services," is part of a broader government initiative to provide over £200 million per year for three financial years, starting in April 2025, to support children eligible for free school meals. The programme will run during Easter, Summer, and Christmas holidays across various locations in Central Bedfordshire. The tender is currently at the tender stage, with an open procurement method specified as "open procedure (below threshold)." The tender period ends on 10th November 2025, and the contract period extends from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses in the sectors of multi-sport, creative, and enriching holiday club services, especially those experienced in providing inclusive activities for children and young people, including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The target is to support over 7,000 eligible children per year. Organisations capable of leveraging local partnerships and offering consistent and enriching activities are well-suited to compete. This tender is not geared specifically towards SMEs or the voluntary and community sector enterprises, making it suitable for established service providers with the capability to handle substantial programme logistics and delivery.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CBC-1851-T-TH HAF - Holiday Activities and Food Programme

Notice Description

On August 28th, 2025, the government announced a further investment of over PS200 million per year over the next 3 financial years for the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF). The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that it will be providing funding to local authorities to coordinate a programme that provides healthy food and enriching activities to eligible children during the Easter, Summer and Christmas Holidays for the next three years starting April 2025. Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated funding to support over 7,000 children per year who receive free school meals. Full details of the HAF programme can be found on the Gov.uk website. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/holiday-activities-and-food-programme Research has shown that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families. For some children this can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from low-income households being: * less likely to access organised out-of-school activities. * more likely to experience 'unhealthy holidays' in terms of nutrition and physical health. * more likely to experience social isolation. The HAF programme is a response to this issue, with evidence showing that free holiday clubs can have a positive impact on children and young people, and that they work best when they: * provide consistent and easily accessible enrichment activities. * cover more than just breakfast or lunch. * involve children (and parents) in food preparation. * use local partnerships and connections, particularly with the voluntary and community organisation sector. This specification is for activities to run during the designated school holidays as indicated by the DfE for the three financial years starting from April 2025. All children who are in school year R (Reception) up to year 11 who attend a school in Central Bedfordshire and who receive benefits related Free School Meals will be eligible to attend a holiday programme in Central Bedfordshire. To provide the high-quality enriching activities to our pupils, Central Bedfordshire Council are seeking to engage with suitably qualified and experienced organisations to provide well organised fully inclusive multi-sport, creative, and enriching holiday club activity camps in various locations across the authority for eligible children and young people within this age range. Clubs should be accessible for all children and young people that meet the criteria including those with additional special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) Overall, local authorities are expected to offer the equivalent of 6 weeks' holiday provision to eligible children as indicated by the DfE in the core offer guidance as detailed below and on the DfE HAF webpage. Additional information: Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-eb92bf0d-5c96-4e2a-9243-673cba8bccee
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d32a043e-1cda-4730-a33a-ac50948be979
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

55240000 - Holiday centre and holiday home services

55241000 - Holiday centre services

55242000 - Holiday home services

55243000 - Children's holiday-camp services

85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people

85312120 - Daycare services for handicapped children and young people

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
10 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL
Contact Name
Tracey Horner
Contact Email
tracey.horner2@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Contact Phone
0300 300 8000

Buyer Location

Locality
SHEFFORD
Postcode
SG17 5TQ
Post Town
Stevenage
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH25 Central Bedfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Central Bedfordshire
Electoral Ward
Shefford
Westminster Constituency
Hitchin

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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