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Primary Phase Catering 2026 - Schools with Finishing Kitchens

West Sussex County Council

This public procurement record has 9 releases in its history.

Award

28 Jul 2026 at 10:33

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
AwardUpdate

24 Dec 2025 at 10:27

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
AwardUpdate

24 Dec 2025 at 09:14

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

12 Dec 2025 at 17:34

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

18 Jul 2025 at 14:56

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

16 May 2025 at 15:00

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
PlanningUpdate

14 Apr 2025 at 12:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

14 Apr 2025 at 11:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

31 Mar 2025 at 11:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Sussex County Council procured a primary-school catering service for schools with finishing kitchens. The requirement covers preparing and providing meals and related catering operations for the council’s primary-phase schools. It is a public-sector service contract classified as school catering services (CPV 55524000). Delivery is across West Sussex, within the council’s area. The buyer is West Sussex County Council, based in Chichester. The opportunity is relevant to catering operators able to manage food provision across multiple primary schools, work within school operating environments and deliver consistent meal services through schools with finishing kitchens. The requirement is focused on education catering rather than general hospitality, retail food supply or construction work.

The procurement has been awarded to ISS Mediclean Limited following an open procedure. Three tenders were received and one supplier reached the final stage. The award was made on 5 December 2025, with the contract signed on 22 May 2026. The contract runs from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2033, with a possible three-year extension to 31 July 2036. Its estimated value is £140 million excluding VAT, or £168 million including VAT. Tender responses were due by 26 September 2025 at noon, and enquiries by 19 September 2025 at 5pm. The single lot was evaluated on 60% quality and 40% commercial price. A standstill period ended on 9 January 2026.

This award demonstrates substantial, recurring demand from West Sussex County Council for large-scale primary-school catering delivered through schools with finishing kitchens. A credible competitor would need established food production and school catering capability, reliable supply-chain and meal-service arrangements, and the operational capacity to serve multiple schools consistently. The evaluation placed greater weight on quality than commercial price, so bidders would need to show robust service standards, menu and nutrition management, food safety controls, staffing, mobilisation and performance assurance, alongside competitive pricing. The requirement was marked suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises, although the successful supplier is a large organisation. Experience working with schools, safeguarding-sensitive environments and public-sector service requirements would strengthen a future response.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Primary Phase Catering 2026 - Schools with Finishing Kitchens

Notice Description

To provide a catering service to the primary phase schools with finishing kitchens

Planning Information

Market Engagement with the school meal provider market to give opportunity to both parties to explore food solutions within our Primary phase schools in the future. Published Wed 04 September 2024, Closed Friday 27 September 2024.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fa86
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071092-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

CPV Codes

55524000 - School catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£140,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£140,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
£140,000,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
£140,000,000 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
27 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
5 Dec 202510 months ago
Contract Period
1 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2025-11-03

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West Sussex County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHICHESTER
Postcode
PO19 1RG
Postcode Area
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ27 West Sussex (South West)
Delivery Location
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Local Authority
Chichester
Electoral Ward
Chichester Central
Westminster Constituency
Chichester

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ISS Mediclean Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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