Tender

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust - Catering Tender

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST - CATERING TENDER

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

16 Dec 2025 at 16:06

Summary of the contracting process

The St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust is seeking tenders for a comprehensive catering service to be provided across its schools located in Bishop's Stortford and other regions within the United Kingdom. This tender falls under the education sector, specifically school catering services, addressing the needs of 8 primary schools and 1 secondary school in the trust, with potential for additional schools to join during the contract term. With an expression of interest deadline set for 20 January 2026, and the tender evaluation process culminating in May 2026, the contract aims to commence on 1 September 2026, running until 31 August 2029, with an option for extension till 2031. The procurement is currently at the tender stage, employing a Competitive Flexible Procedure where selection criteria involve a two-stage process focusing on both price and quality.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for catering businesses to expand their footprint in the educational sector, leveraging a contract valued at £4,750,000. Enterprises specialising in catering services with innovative ideas on menu design and service enhancement, particularly those that focus on fresh and locally sourced produce, will find this tender appealing. The contract seeks not just cost-effective solutions but also value-added service delivery that aligns with the Trust’s ethos of community support and excellence. Ideal contenders are businesses with a demonstrated turnover of at least £2 million and robust liability insurances, capable of managing employer engagements and maintaining high operational standards. The Trust encourages collaboration to deliver an optimal service, and businesses adept in nurturing talent and managing resources effectively are likely to thrive in this partnership. The RIVA Partnership Ltd will act as the procuring entity, aiding the contracting process.

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. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Bishop%27s-Stortford:-School-catering-services./B4M629U25Y To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/B4M629U25Y

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/083513-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Dec 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
20 Jan 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST - CATERING TENDER
Additional Buyers

RIVA PARTNERSHIP LTD

Contact Name
Rachel OGrady
Contact Email
tenders@rivapartnership.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1252 977017

Buyer Location

Locality
BISHOP'S STORTFORD
Postcode
CM23 2NQ
Post Town
Chelmsford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ25 West Surrey
Delivery Location
TLH23 Hertfordshire CC

Local Authority
Waverley
Electoral Ward
Farnham Moor Park
Westminster Constituency
Farnham and Bordon

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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