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704_26 Outsourced Catering Services and Procurement Support

Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

17 Aug 2026 at 16:37

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

27 Apr 2026 at 12:39

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

22 Oct 2025 at 13:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 May 2025 at 16:30

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, has established a UK-wide framework for outsourced catering and procurement support. Lots 1 to 3 cover catering services for education establishments, social care and health settings, and all other public-sector customers. Services may include school and workplace catering, canteens, dining rooms, grab-and-go, breakfast and after-school provision, hospitality, events, meals-on-wheels, trolley catering and food delivery. Preparation, service and consumption may take place on or off site. Lot 4 covers procurement consultancy and contract management for outsourced catering, including requirements gathering, evaluation support, supplier visits and demonstrations, tender and contract drafting, legal and TUPE guidance, mobilisation, performance monitoring, audits, supplier relationship management and efficiency advice. Delivery is across the United Kingdom.

The open procedure is complete and awards were made on 13 August 2026, with the framework pending signature. It has four lots and a framework value of £200 million excluding VAT, £240 million including VAT; the same overall value is recorded against each lot and must not be added together. Lot 1 was awarded to 36 suppliers, Lot 2 to 11, Lot 3 to 16 and Lot 4 to 20. The framework period is 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2028, with an extension option to 31 August 2030. Price carries 40% and non-price quality 60% in every lot. Suppliers could bid for up to three lots; Lot 4 could not be combined with Lots 1 to 3. A framework fee applies: 0.5% on Lots 1 to 3 and 4% on Lot 4, capped at £250 per customer contract.

This procurement shows sustained UK-wide demand for public-sector catering and specialist support to outsource and manage it. Catering suppliers need the operational capacity to deliver varied models across schools, colleges, care homes, health settings, workplaces, venues, emergency services and other public bodies, including onsite and offsite production, delivery, hospitality, events and meals meeting school meal standards. Credible operators should demonstrate strong economic and technical capability, reliable mobilisation, service quality, performance management and the ability to work across different customer locations. Consultancy suppliers need practical procurement expertise under the Procurement Act 2023, including evaluation, competition management, contract drafting, legal and TUPE advice, mobilisation, KPI monitoring, audits and supplier relationship management. SMEs were identified as suitable for all four lots, and Lot 1 also identified VCSE suitability.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

704_26 Outsourced Catering Services and Procurement Support

Notice Description

The procurement has been undertaken as per UK4 Tender notice identifier: 2026/S 000-038007 (000-038007); Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-051159. ESPO is a public sector-owned professional buying organisation offering a comprehensive range of procurement services, including access to over 100 free-to-access framework solutions for the wider public sector. This procurement establishes a framework to assist customers in education, social care and all other public sectors with outsourcing their catering services, including providing access to procurement consultants who can assist customers with this (in outsourcing their catering services). The Framework is divided into 4 lots.

Lot Information

Lot 1. Education

This Lot is for the provision of Catering Services to education establishments including primary schools, secondary schools, multi-academy trusts, special schools, nurseries, colleges, universities, technical schools/colleges and/or any other public sector learning institutions. It is also envisaged that Customers looking for 'holiday food programmes will use this Lot to provide meals meeting the School Meal Standards in the holiday periods. It is expected that customers will require a wide range of catering provisions to include but not limited to dining room and canteen style services to grab and go, breakfast, after school clubs, hospitality and special events. In addition, the Lot will cover a range of service models including onsite or offsite preparation, service and consumption.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the scope of the framework.

Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. ESPO may choose to use the extension period(s) where: * The framework is performing well * It continues to broadly meet customer needs ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as x2 12-month periods). The total estimated framework value captured in this notice includes the option to extend in full as noted above. Note: The overall framework value has been automatically assigned to each lot in this notice as ESPO offers no guarantees or estimates of value that may pass through each individual lot (but the overall usage across all lots is not expected to exceed this overall framework value).

Lot 2. Social Care

This Lot includes the provision of Catering Services to all types of social care and health establishments which may include but is not limited to care homes, charities and home delivery meal services. The Lot will cover a range of catering provision including but not limited to 'meals on wheels' delivery provisions, dining room and canteen style services, hospitality and special events. It is also expected that a range of service models will be required including onsite or offsite preparation, service and consumption.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the scope of the framework.

Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. ESPO may choose to use the extension period(s) where: * The framework is performing well * It continues to broadly meet customer needs ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as x2 12-month periods). The total estimated framework value captured in this notice includes the option to extend in full as noted above. Note: The overall framework value has been automatically assigned to each lot in this notice as ESPO offers no guarantees or estimates of value that may pass through each individual lot (but the overall usage across all lots is not expected to exceed this overall framework value).

Lot 3. All Other Public Sector

This Lot includes the provision of Catering Services to all other areas of the Public Sector. It will cover a range of different customer types including Public Sector workplaces and managed buildings/spaces, art galleries, museums, leisure centres, country parks, historic buildings, concert halls, conference venues, training centres, exhibition centres, theatres, stadia, emergency services establishments, NHS hospital trusts (to include but not limited to patient care, staff and visitor food service), prisons and other Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Defence establishments. Any other Public Sector customers who do not fall into Lot 1 or Lot 2 will fall into Lot 3. It is expected that a wide range of catering provision will be required including but not limited to canteen, grab and go, trolley catering provision, hospitality and event catering. In addition, this Lot will cover a range of service models including onsite or offsite preparation, service and consumption.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the scope of the framework.

Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. ESPO may choose to use the extension period(s) where: * The framework is performing well * It continues to broadly meet customer needs ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as x2 12-month periods). The total estimated framework value captured in this notice includes the option to extend in full as noted above. Note: The overall framework value has been automatically assigned to each lot in this notice as ESPO offers no guarantees or estimates of value that may pass through each individual lot (but the overall usage across all lots is not expected to exceed this overall framework value).

Lot 4. Procurement Consultancy and Contract Management Support for Outsourced Catering Services

This Lot includes Suppliers who can offer Procurement Support carried out in line with the Procurement Act 2023. Typical services are likely to include gathering of information and documenting customer requirements, providing advice on evaluation methodologies, arranging and supporting Supplier site visits, Supplier demonstrations and interviews, conduct or assist with the Further Competitive Selection Process (preparation, evaluation and award, including managing the de-brief of Suppliers and Contract document drafting), fielding and supporting the customer to respond to any clarification questions raised in the Further Competitive Selection Process, legal support to include guidance on how to complete the Form of Contract and Call-Off Terms, guidance on service levels, TUPE and contract mobilisation. Suppliers awarded onto this lot are expected to assist customers with drafting and publishing notices as and when required throughout the procurement and award process. This lot will also include contract management, where typical services are likely to include the monitoring of Suppliers performance and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Supplier relationship management, the auditing of Supplier sites, Cost and efficiency savings being identified and ad-hoc advice on Outsourced Catering Services.

Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the scope of the framework.

Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. ESPO may choose to use the extension period(s) where: * The framework is performing well * It continues to broadly meet customer needs ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as x2 12-month periods). The total estimated framework value captured in this notice includes the option to extend in full as noted above. Note: The overall framework value has been automatically assigned to each lot in this notice as ESPO offers no guarantees or estimates of value that may pass through each individual lot (but the overall usage across all lots is not expected to exceed this overall framework value).

Planning Information

Suppliers are required to register and complete the relevant stages on the Central Digital Platform if they wish to participate or bid for this framework. Request for Information: Engagement is being undertaken via two Request for Information (RFI) questionnaires hosted on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org). The deadline for responding to the RFI questionnaires is 17:00 (5pm) on 17 December 2025. Suppliers wishing to participate in the RFI MUST first express an interest as follows: (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for opportunity '704_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest. Suppliers can access and respond to the RFI questionnaires in the Messages section of the eProcurement Portal (via the Activity dashboard once an expression of interest has been registered). Any questions or clarifications should similarly be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal. ESPO may contact suppliers to seek clarification or understanding of the information provided in their RFI response or to discuss their RFI responses in further detail.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051159
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078271-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

55500000 - Canteen and catering services

79418000 - Procurement consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£200,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
£200,000,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
16 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
13 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
13 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE19 1ES
Postcode Area
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Blaby
Electoral Ward
Enderby
Westminster Constituency
South Leicestershire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
58
Supplier Names

ACCENT CATERING SERVICES LIMITED (04298350)

AGOREA LIMITED (16881302)

ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED (03577003)

ARAMARK DEFENCE SERVICES LIMITED (10633160)

ASHMOLE TRADED SERVICES LTD (17059808)

ASPENS-SERVICES LIMITED (06561073)

BAXTERSTOREY LIMITED (01962583)

BAYLISS & GROVE LTD (16827149)

CATER LINK LIMITED (03732298)

CATERING CONSULTANCY BUREAU LIMITED (04374224)

COHESION CONSULTING LTD (13682273)

COMPASS CONTRACT SERVICES (U.K.) LIMITED (02114954)

CULINERA LIMITED (12382186)

DOLCE LIMITED (02470662)

Derbyshire County Council Catering Service (Local Government Authority)

EDSENTIAL COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY (09550258)

EDUCATERERS LIMITED (10814702)

EDUCO LIMITED (04533942)

EDWARDS & WARD LIMITED (03714522)

ELIOR UK PLC (01106729)

EMC CONSULTANCY SERVICES LLP (OC457593) - t/a EMC Associates

FARE CONSULTING LIMITED (SC470094)

FM Services (City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council)

FORERUNNER PERSONAL CATERING LIMITED (03913390)

HARRISON CATERING SERVICES LIMITED (02856316)

HERTFORDSHIRE CATERING LIMITED (08409608)

INNOVATE SERVICES LIMITED (06420662)

INPROVA LTD (07371389)

INVICTUS PARTNERSHIP LTD (13647652)

ISS MEDICLEAN LIMITED (01659837)

JUNIPER PURSUITS LIMITED (11227559)

LARCH CONSULTING LIMITED (03037995)

LC SCA LTD (11871886) - t/a Showcase, in partnership with H H FOODS (LEIC) LTD (14522444)

LUNCHTIME COMPANY LTD (03452446)

MIDSHIRE SIGNATURE SERVICES LIMITED (04167186)

MINERVA PROCUREMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED (07144956)

MIQUILL CATERING LIMITED (06886456)

Merritt-Harrison Catering Consultancy (Partnership)

NANSEN GREEN LIMITED (11283437)

NORSE GROUP SERVICES LIMITED (09094748)

NOURISH CONTRACT CATERING LIMITED (04953033)

Nottingham City Council (Local Government Authority)

OCS GROUP UK LIMITED (03056469)

OLIVEOAKS CONSULTING LTD (SC845212)

PALMER & HOWELLS LTD (03690842)

PANACHE CREATIVE LIMITED (07723278) - t/a Panache Consultancy

PHP LAW LLP (OC429243)

PRESTIGE COMMERCIAL CONSULTING LIMITED (17059746)

RED BOX CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED (05126781)

RIVA PARTNERSHIP LTD (08308143)

ROYAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE (02520413)

SANDWELL INSPIRED PARTNERSHIP SERVICES EDUCATION LIMITED (IP031729) - t/a SIPS Education

SCHOOL CATERING SUPPORT LIMITED (06772759)

STIR FOOD LTD (13570876)

Shire Services (Local Authority organisation)

The North Yorkshire Council (Local Government Authority)

VERTAS GROUP LIMITED (07728211)

WLP CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD (05373708)

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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