Award

CBC-1797-T-TS Catering Services - Shefford Lower School

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

22 Aug 2025 at 10:29

TenderUpdate

29 May 2025 at 09:19

TenderUpdate

23 May 2025 at 09:53

Tender

22 May 2025 at 14:37

Summary of the contracting process

Central Bedfordshire Council, a sub-central government authority located in Shefford, United Kingdom, has recently awarded a contract for catering services at Shefford Lower School. The procurement process, which was below threshold and followed an open competition method, involved Aspens Catering Services being selected as the supplier. The tender, identified as CBC-1797-T-TS, falls under the services industry category, specifically catering and school catering services. The contract was awarded on 22nd August 2025, with the commencement date set for 1st September 2025, and the contract period is three years, with options for two one-year extensions, potentially extending until 31st August 2030. The tender invitations collected by 20th June 2025 resulted in five submissions, leading to the final selection.

This contract presents significant opportunities for SMEs specialising in catering, particularly those focusing on educational institutions. The prospective growth is influenced by the light touch procurement regime, encouraging broad participation. Businesses adept at providing high-quality catering services, and those with a robust operational framework in a school environment, are well-positioned to pursue similar opportunities. As the contract explicitly encourages SME participation, it stands as a lucrative avenue for small and medium enterprises to expand within the public sector.

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Notice Title

CBC-1797-T-TS Catering Services - Shefford Lower School

Notice Description

Shefford Lower School Catering Services Please read and follow the information and guidance supplied below and within the Tender documents, this will help with your tender submission. Word count limits apply, any information going over will not be considered. Respond to ALL questions. Additional documents or information not required will be disregarded. Please note timeline with regards to questions and submission dates. All communications, correspondences and clarifications must be sent via the In-tend portal. Do not contact the Service area for information, please use the correspondence facility Regularly view the Clarification tab for updates or responses to questions received by bidders. Questions asked together with the response, will be made available to all bidders (if not Private and Confidential), this to ensure a fair and consistent approach to all. Avoid uploading your return just prior to closing deadline as you may incur IT issues and we will not accept Tender Returns via e-mail. The Council will provide as much support and information as it can to help guide you through the Tender process. If there is anything you are not sure of or need clarification on, please contact the Procurement lead using the correspondence facility within the In-tend electronic tendering system. Opting In To inform us of your decision to participate and to be able to submit a tender you will be required to Opt In. Opting In will confirm to us of your involvement and your intention to submit a tender return. Opting Out Will confirm that you are no longer interested in submitting a tender return. You will be able to provide a reason as to your decision if you wish. This will cease any system-generated communications. You will be able to opt back in at any point. Target contract commencement date: 1st September 2025 Contract term: 3 years +1+1 optional

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051eb0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050814-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services


CPV Codes

55520000 - Catering services

55524000 - School catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£575,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£575,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£745,118 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jun 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
31 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2028 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL
Contact Name
Tina Sanders
Contact Email
procurement@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Contact Phone
03003005997

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
TLH East (England)

Local Authority
Central Bedfordshire
Electoral Ward
Shefford
Westminster Constituency
Hitchin

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ASPENS CATERING SERVICES

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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