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St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust - Catering Tender

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust - Catering Tender

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

21 Sep 2026 at 12:16

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

26 Aug 2026 at 17:11

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

26 Jun 2026 at 09:30

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

16 Dec 2025 at 16:06

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust procured school catering services for nine schools: eight primary schools and St Mary’s Catholic School, a secondary school. The schools are Sacred Heart, St Augustine’s, St Cross, St Joseph’s in Bishop’s Stortford, St Joseph’s in Hertford, St Joseph’s in Waltham Cross, St Thomas of Canterbury, St Paul’s and St Mary’s. The requirement covers breakfast, morning break, lunchtime and after-school catering throughout the academic year, together with hospitality services when requested. The Trust may add schools that join it during the contract term. The service is intended to provide fresh, locally sourced ingredients prepared on site, flexible menus for each school’s pupils and strong day-to-day management. The buyer is St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust, supported by RIVA Partnership Ltd.

This procurement has been awarded and the contract has been signed. Caterlink Ltd was selected on 26 June 2026 following a two-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure. Four bids were received, with one reaching the final stage. The initial selection required a minimum score of 60%, with between five and ten candidates progressing where sufficient candidates met the criteria. Final tenders were evaluated 40% on price and 60% on quality. The contract was signed on 30 July 2026 and runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029, with an option to extend for up to two further years to 31 August 2031. The awarded value is £5,564,540 excluding VAT, or £6,677,448 including VAT. Hospitality is billed separately. The contract is a single lot and is suitable for SMEs and VCSEs.

This award demonstrates substantial, multi-school demand for professionally managed education catering across Bishop’s Stortford, Hertford and Waltham Cross. A credible future competitor would need the operational capacity to serve eight primary schools and one secondary school, with consistent delivery across different settings and the ability to accommodate additional schools joining the Trust. Relevant strengths include fresh food prepared on site, locally sourced ingredients, adaptable menus for different pupil needs, and reliable provision across breakfast, break, lunch and after-school services. Hospitality capability would also be relevant. The requirement favours a supplier able to work in partnership with a Catholic academy trust, maintain an engaged management presence at school and Trust level, develop catering staff, provide accurate regular management information, improve uptake and demonstrate food quality, service, communication and financial control. Employers’ and public liability insurance of £5 million, annual turnover of at least £2 million and experience managing catering staff affected by the Local Government Pension Scheme would be important competitive credentials.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust - Catering Tender

Notice Description

We are a family of Catholic schools in the Roman Catholic Deanery of the Lea Valley and whilst each school retains its own distinctive ethos and mission, we are united in our endeavours to deliver a Catholic education excelling in the academic, pastoral and spiritual life, and which produces fully flourishing pupils. We are currently 8 primary schools and 1 secondary school, and we have active plans for imminent growth which will result in more schools joining the Trust within the next 12-18months. We take much inspiration from by the charism of St. Francis - To be caring towards everyone in the community; Being compassionate - standing up especially for the poor and oppressed; Acting with reverence towards all creation; Being peacemakers, reconcilers, and healers to all those in need. Further information regarding the Trust can be obtained here: https://www.stfrancistrust.net/ Tender information: Our Schools: 1.Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School 2.St Augustine's Catholic Primary School 3.St Cross Catholic Primary School 4.St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Bishop's Stortford) 5.St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Hertford) 6.St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Waltham Cross) 7.St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School 8.St Paul's Catholic Primary School 9.St Mary's Catholic School (secondary) All 9 schools listed above (8 primary and 1 secondary) - are participating in this tender. Please note this is a growing trust where additional schools may join during the new contract term. Additional schools that join may, at the Trust's discretion, be added to this contract. The successful tenderer will be required to provide excellent catering services to the schools. The contract term being tendered is for three years, 1st September 2026 - 31st August 2029. There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31st August 2031. The contract offers an excellent opportunity to review and propose enhancements to the current catering services at all of the Schools within the Trust. This includes but is not limited to; breakfast, morning break, lunchtime and after school services, over the academic year, plus hospitality services upon request. The Trust is keen to secure a high quality catering service including fresh locally sourced ingredients prepared on site, with a menu design that is flexible to suit the requirements of each of the Trust's specific students. The Trust is proud of its 'family ethos' and expects both a tightly managed service and a management style delivered by the successful contractor that supports, encourages and develops the catering staff. Management must be present and engaged, actively building relationships at both school and Trust level and driving the contract forwards at all times. Monthly management information is expected to be timely, accurate and easy to interpret. The Trust is not obliged to accept the lowest price submitted for this tender, rather each school is keen to secure 'best value' from this contract and to deliver 'best value' to its students. Innovative and creative ideas as to how the services can be developed and value added, will be welcomed. The Trust seeks a contractor that is keen to work in partnership and who will deliver to its highest abilities, at all times. Competitive Flexible Procedure This procurement will be run under the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This will follow a two stage approach, with stage 1 being the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). Here a minimum of 5 candidates (or less, in the event less than 5 meet the minimum criteria) and a maximum of 10 candidates, will progress to stage 2. Any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement and a minimum score of 60% must be achieved. Selected tenderers will then be invited to stage 2, the Invitation To Tender (ITT). Here, the evaluation of tender response will be set as 40% price and 60% quality. Value of contract: The annual value of the current contract is PS950,000 Therefore, the value of this contract is PS4,750,000 The contract shall be a guaranteed performance contract with any hospitality requirements billed separately. The tender process will be run under a two stage Competitive Flexible procedure. Additional requirements and information: *The Trust has a minimum requirement for a contractor's employers' liability and public liability insurances of PS5 million. *The minimum annual turnover that your company must have achieved to be considered for this opportunity is PS2 million. *There are incumbent catering staff currently within the Local Government Pension Scheme. *The catering services are currently contracted to Aspens Services and HCL. *As above, please note this is a growing Trust and any other schools that may join the Trust during the tenure of this new catering contract may, at the Trust's discretion, be added to this contract. *Please note that the successful tenderer will be required to pay the RIVA tender fee for this project directly to RIVA, upon their contract award.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31st August 2031.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f713
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089094-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible 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
£4,750,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,750,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£5,564,540 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£5,564,540 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
26 Jun 20264 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust - Catering Tender
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BISHOP'S STORTFORD
Postcode
CM23 2NQ
Postcode Area
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
TLH23 Hertfordshire CC
Local Authority
East Hertfordshire
Electoral Ward
Bishop's Stortford Thorley Manor
Westminster Constituency
Hertford and Stortford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Caterlink

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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