This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

14 Jul 2025 at 16:08

Tender

15 Nov 2024 at 15:12

Summary of the contracting process

Acer Trust, located in Oxford, is seeking to award contracts for the provision of school catering services across multiple schools within the Trust. The procurement process is in the award stage, with contracts having been signed with the successful suppliers on 13th June 2025. The overall procurement is classified under the CPV code 55524000, focusing on school catering services within the education sector. Notably, this is a restricted procedure, inviting bids through a selective method. The awarded lots primarily cover region UKJ14, indicating service provision within specific parts of the United Kingdom. The contract, initially for three years, includes options for two additional one-year extensions, potentially elongating the contract period to a total of five years.

This procurement presents a significant business opportunity for suppliers in the school catering services industry, particularly those specialising in comprehensive meal provision for educational institutions. With thousands of pupils to cater for daily, the awarded contracts, valued at several million pounds collectively, can foster substantial business growth for successful suppliers, such as SMEs like Dolce Ltd and large companies like Aspens Services Ltd. The scale and diversity of the services required make it an appealing prospect for businesses capable of delivering high-quality catering solutions within the outlined contractual framework. Moreover, the inclusion of options for contract extensions offers the potential for long-term business engagement and strategic growth for capable providers willing to enter the competitive space of educational catering.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Acer Trust - Catering Services (2024)

Notice Description

Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals.

Lot Information

Lot 1 - Botley School, Chalgrove Community Primary School, Stadhampton Primary School and Watlington Primary School

Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals. Additional information: The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.

Options: The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.

Lot 2 - Icknield Community College

Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals. Additional information: The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.

Options: The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.

Lot 3 - Matthew Arnold School

Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals. Additional information: The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.

Options: The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.

Lot 4 - The Cooper School and Glory Farm Primary School

Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals. Additional information: The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.

Options: The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.

Lot 5 - Wood Green School

Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals. Additional information: The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.

Options: The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04b6f8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039726-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services


CPV Codes

55524000 - School catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,595,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,595,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£7,780,979 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Jul 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
16 Dec 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Jun 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Further notices will be published in 2027, 2028 or 2029 dependent on the exercising of contract extension options.

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active, Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Acer Trust
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
OXFORD
Postcode
OX2 9JE
Postcode Area
Oxford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC

Local Authority
Vale of White Horse
Electoral Ward
Cumnor
Westminster Constituency
Oxford West and Abingdon

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
3
Supplier Names

Aspens Services Ltd

Culinera Limited

Dolce Ltd

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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