Planning

704_26 Outsourced Catering Services and Procurement Support

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

22 Oct 2025 at 12:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 May 2025 at 15:30

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the contracting opportunity titled "704_26 Outsourced Catering Services and Procurement Support" is currently at the planning stage. Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, is the buying organisation for this contract. The procurement involves services in the categories of canteen and catering services, as well as procurement consultancy. This tender process will engage businesses through a framework agreement, expecting to renew the framework by summer 2026. The preliminary market engagement is ongoing, with important initial deadlines such as the completion of Request for Information (RFI) questionnaires by 17 December 2025. The engagement will eventually lead to a formal tender anticipated to start in September 2026, covering multiple sectors across the UK.

This procurement offers significant opportunities for businesses to expand their operations into public sector catering services. With a framework gross value estimated at £240 million, the opportunity is well-suited for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those with expertise in education, social care, and public sector catering services. The framework also includes provisions for procurement and contract management support, opening doors for consultancy firms. Businesses looking to compete should have the capability to provide comprehensive catering solutions and management services across various public sector domains in the UK.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

704_26 Outsourced Catering Services and Procurement Support

Notice Description

ESPO are conducting preliminary market engagement with the intention of renewing its outsourced catering services framework, with the inclusion of a procurement and contract management support for outsourcing catering services. It is anticipated the new framework will be awarded during summer 2026. The new Framework is expected to include the following Lots: Lot 1. Education Outsourced Catering Services Lot 2. Social Care Outsourced Catering Services Lot 3. Public Sector Outsourced Catering Services Lot 4. Procurement and Contract Management Support for Outsourced Catering Services Prior to retendering, ESPO is seeking to engage with the market to help shape the new framework to ensure it meets the needs of both suppliers and customers. Please note this is not a call for competition, the tender documentation is not yet available.

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/067484-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£240,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO
Contact Name
Food, Communities and Technology Procurement Team
Contact Email
tenders@espo.org
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE19 1ES
Post Town
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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