Tender

Mersey View Learning Trust Catering Framework Tender 2026

RPJ3 GROUP

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

09 Jan 2026 at 13:41

Summary of the contracting process

The RPJ3 Group, a sub-central government public authority based in Wirral, United Kingdom, is currently in the tender stage of a procurement process for the "Mersey View Learning Trust Catering Framework Tender 2026". This initiative aims to establish a multi-supplier framework to provide catering services to the Trust's schools initially covering six schools, with potential for additional schools to participate later. The procurement is being conducted through a competitive flexible procedure, with a procurement method characterised as selective. Key dates include a tender response deadline in late March 2026, with anticipated contract commencement in August 2026. The contract will span three years, with an option to extend for up to two additional years, potentially reaching a total of five years.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses within the catering services industry, particularly those with robust local infrastructure capable of meeting high service standards. Businesses specialising in school catering services, classified under CPV code 55524000, would be well-positioned to participate. The process is suited to SMEs aiming to expand within the UK, given the selection criteria that cater to such enterprises. The framework agreement allows for up to three participants, offering a chance for new market entrants to compete and demonstrate value through a combination of financial viability and quality offerings. Additionally, businesses must demonstrate flexibility and a capability for reliable labour resource management, underscoring the importance of addressing both qualitative and quantitative aspects in submissions.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Mersey View Learning Trust Catering Framework Tender 2026

Notice Description

The Mersey View Learning Trust are seeking to procure a number of providers for a multi-supplier framework for catering services. The main objective of this procurement exercise is to deliver the procurement of a framework that will enable the Trust to source catering services for its schools. There are initially 6 schools in this framework, however, other schools may call off later. It should be noted that it is not mandatory for schools to use this framework. Schools will only call off from this agreement if they have a requirement to do so. It is envisaged the number of contractors on the framework will be between 1 and 3 The provision of the service must demonstrate the best value approach and be flexible in its delivery and operation to ensure that the needs and ethos of individual schools are supported. This framework process is targeted to have a catering contract in place to commence in August 2026 for the initial direct award schools. Please note that this process covers all catering services within the Trust schools with full tender costings and proposals for the schools for a contract start in in August 2026 for the initial direct award schools. These details will be further explained in the ITT documents. The process will be through a competitive flexible procedure commencing with a participation stage to create a select bidder list following analysis of a PSQ document (within which the scoring criteria will be included). The nature of the contract demands a good local infrastructure to provide and maintain the level and standard of catering services and support required by the Trust. Labour resource/relief cover is very important. We have set a minimum Employer's (compulsory) liability insurance of 10,000,000 GBP). Following the analysis of PSQ's the selected bidders will be invited to attend site surveys and tender briefing initially planned for early March 2026. Tender response deadline is planned as late March 2026 and it is envisaged that interviews will take place in late April 2026. The contract will be for a 3 +1 +1 period (5 years in total including the option to extend for 1 + 1years after the initial 3 year term).

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The contract is for 3 years with the option to extend for a further 1 +1 years therefore 5 years in total

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0602dd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001878-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
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
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jan 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 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
RPJ3 GROUP
Contact Name
Neil Mayers
Contact Email
neil@rpj3group.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WIRRAL
Postcode
CH46 3SA
Post Town
Chester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD74 Wirral
Delivery Location
TLD7 Merseyside

Local Authority
Wirral
Electoral Ward
Leasowe and Moreton East
Westminster Constituency
Wallasey

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0602dd-2026-01-09T13:41:46Z",
    "date": "2026-01-09T13:41:46Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0602dd",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PRYY-6263-NQHG",
            "name": "RPJ3 Group",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PRYY-6263-NQHG"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Leasowe Lodge",
                "locality": "Wirral",
                "postalCode": "CH46 3SA",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKD74"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Neil Mayers",
                "email": "neil@rpj3group.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PRYY-6263-NQHG",
        "name": "RPJ3 Group"
    },
    "planning": {
        "noEngagementNoticeRationale": "Time constraints of the procurement process and to ensure a level playing field so no supplier has an unfair advantage or to distort competition."
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0602dd",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Mersey View Learning Trust Catering Framework Tender 2026",
        "description": "The Mersey View Learning Trust are seeking to procure a number of providers for a multi-supplier framework for catering services. The main objective of this procurement exercise is to deliver the procurement of a framework that will enable the Trust to source catering services for its schools. There are initially 6 schools in this framework, however, other schools may call off later. It should be noted that it is not mandatory for schools to use this framework. Schools will only call off from this agreement if they have a requirement to do so. It is envisaged the number of contractors on the framework will be between 1 and 3 The provision of the service must demonstrate the best value approach and be flexible in its delivery and operation to ensure that the needs and ethos of individual schools are supported. This framework process is targeted to have a catering contract in place to commence in August 2026 for the initial direct award schools. Please note that this process covers all catering services within the Trust schools with full tender costings and proposals for the schools for a contract start in in August 2026 for the initial direct award schools. These details will be further explained in the ITT documents. The process will be through a competitive flexible procedure commencing with a participation stage to create a select bidder list following analysis of a PSQ document (within which the scoring criteria will be included). The nature of the contract demands a good local infrastructure to provide and maintain the level and standard of catering services and support required by the Trust. Labour resource/relief cover is very important. We have set a minimum Employer's (compulsory) liability insurance of 10,000,000 GBP). Following the analysis of PSQ's the selected bidders will be invited to attend site surveys and tender briefing initially planned for early March 2026. Tender response deadline is planned as late March 2026 and it is envisaged that interviews will take place in late April 2026. The contract will be for a 3 +1 +1 period (5 years in total including the option to extend for 1 + 1years after the initial 3 year term).",
        "status": "active",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "55524000",
                        "description": "School catering services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKD7",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 6000000,
            "amount": 5000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "selective",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "procedure": {
            "features": "The competitive flexible procedure will commence with a participation stage whereby a PSQ will be completed by interested suppliers. This will be scored and successful suppliers will be invited to submit a full tender. The tender submissions will be analysed and scored and selected suppliers will be invited to final interview/presentation stage. The contracting Authority will then select the successful framework supplier/s and award the contract."
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "techniques": {
            "hasFrameworkAgreement": true,
            "frameworkAgreement": {
                "maximumParticipants": 3,
                "method": "withReopeningCompetition",
                "periodRationale": "The contract is for 3 years with the option to extend for a further 1 +1 years therefore 5 years in total",
                "type": "closed",
                "description": "Framework suppliers are selected based on their financial and qualitative submissions and responses to a set brief at the interview/negotiation stage. Any new schools joining the contract will go through a mini tender with the framework bidders ensuring they join on no less favourable terms than the initial schools."
            }
        },
        "submissionMethodDetails": "www.mytenders.co.uk",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "expressionOfInterestDeadline": "2026-02-03T12:00:00+00:00",
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-04-30T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 6000000,
                    "amount": 5000000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "name": "Financial",
                            "description": "6/7 financial schedules require completion, providing a fixed price annual cost",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 50,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Quality",
                            "description": "9 qualitative schedules require responding to.",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 50,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "secondStage": {
                    "minimumCandidates": 5,
                    "maximumCandidates": 10
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "economic",
                            "description": "As per the PSQ document"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "technical",
                            "description": "As per the PSQ document"
                        },
                        {
                            "description": "A Procurement Specific Questionnaire is completed by suppliers with the highest scoring suppliers being invited to tender.",
                            "forReduction": true
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-08-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-07-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2031-07-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "The contract is for 3 years with the option to extend for a further 1 +1 years therefore 5 years in total"
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "L-1",
                "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
                "description": "PSQ Document for the Mersey View Learning Trust Catering Framework Tender 2026",
                "url": "https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=627836"
            },
            {
                "id": "future",
                "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
                "accessDetails": "Tender documents will be emailed out to each successful PSQ bidder"
            },
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "001878-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001878-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-09T13:41:46Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}