Award

Howard Primary School Catering Tender

HOWARD PRIMARY SCHOOL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

12 Nov 2025 at 15:51

Tender

13 Jun 2025 at 13:38

Summary of the contracting process

Howard Primary School in Croydon is conducting a procurement process to enhance its catering services, with the contract managed by Cohesion Consulting Ltd. This tender is within the school catering services industry and located in Croydon, United Kingdom, under the Light Touch Regime. The process follows a 'Competitive Flexible' procurement method and has progressed to the award stage. The awarded contract will commence on 26th November 2025, ending on 25th November 2028, with a possible renewal of two additional years. The total projected turnover for the contract, initially set for three years, is anticipated to be around £680,000, with a gross amount of £673,200 awarded. Compass Contract Services (UK) Limited trading as Pabulum Ltd has been awarded the contract.

This tender offers significant business growth opportunities, especially for companies in the catering sector that can provide innovative and high-quality service solutions. It is suitable for organisations capable of ensuring high meal uptake and consistently maintaining food quality. Firms with a strategic mindset who can demonstrate proactive management and fiscal responsibility will likely thrive in securing and executing this contract. The tender's flexible and value-driven procurement approach facilitates engagement with both large-scale operators and bespoke catering businesses committed to sustainable and adaptive service delivery.

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Notice Title

Howard Primary School Catering Tender

Notice Description

Howard Primary School is a primary school in Croydon in the London Borough of Croydon with a student population of approximately 405 aged between 4 and 11 years of age. There is one busy main restaurant, equipped with a modern, well-maintained kitchen, serving as the hub of its catering provision. The School Office Manager, in collaboration with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), is committed to enhancing the school's catering services. As part of this commitment, the school is tendering its catering contract to secure a provider that can deliver the very best service for every student at the school. The new contract will commence on 1st of August 2025 for an initial three-year term, with an option to extend for a further two years, subject to satisfactory performance and client agreement on budgets and service levels. The projected turnover for the three-year contract is expected to be circa PS680,000. This contract is designed to reward proactive management, ensuring high meal uptake, consistently high food quality and tangible contract support. The School, alongside CCL, expects the successful Contractor to reasonably guarantee their financial proposal and maintain excellent service standards. The procurement process follows a two stage 'Competitive Flexible' approach, beginning with a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) stage followed by an Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage after shortlisting. This process is managed under the Light Touch Regime, and the School reserves the right to refine the award criteria throughout. The School Office Manager and SLT has outlined key priorities for this tender, including: A TUPE-compliant bid with recommendations for service equipment, serving points, staffing levels and a bespoke food concept to drive sales and uptake. In short, the School seeks a trusted catering partner who can deliver their promises, achieve their sales targets, deliver their service enhancements in full. If bidders fail to demonstrate their ability to meet expectations, the school reserves the right to revert to an 'insourced' solution or post no award. Any investment proposals will need to be consistent with ESFA guidelines.

Lot Information

Lot LOT-0001

Renewal: The contract can be extended for 2 x 1 years or 1 x 2 years based on satisfactory performance and mutual agreement.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05489f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073282-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
£660,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£660,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£561,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
16 Jul 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Nov 20253 months ago
Contract Period
26 Nov 2025 - 25 Nov 2028 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HOWARD PRIMARY SCHOOL
Additional Buyers

COHESION CONSULTING LTD

Contact Name
Procurement Team, Team Procurement Cohesion
Contact Email
info@cohesionconsulting.co.uk
Contact Phone
+441892251001, 01892251001

Buyer Location

Locality
CROYDON
Postcode
CR0 1DT
Post Town
Croydon
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ46 West Kent
Delivery Location
TLI6 Outer London - South

Local Authority
Tunbridge Wells
Electoral Ward
Park
Westminster Constituency
Tunbridge Wells

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

COMPASS CONTRACT SERVICES (UK) LIMITED TRADING AS PABULUM

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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