Notice Information
Notice Title
Invitation to Tender for the provision of Catering Services at Bishop Stopford School
Notice Description
Bishop Stopford School has decided to tender their catering services to investigate the financial and qualitative benefits they could be offered through this process. The contract will be awarded for a three-year duration with the option of two additional, one-year extensions. This is subject to the satisfactory performance of the work. Their preferred arrangement is for a guaranteed return of nil subsidy catering service, which operates a special agreement for VAT, but the School are open to suggestions. The quality of the service and the proposed budget for the second year 2027-28 will be reviewed three months before the expiry of the first twelve months. The School at this time reserves the right to terminate the contract should either the quality or future costs be unacceptable. Aims of the Service Bishop Stopford School wish to be at the forefront of educational catering and as such require a modern, branded offer that reflects the leading trends in the industry. At this time, the School's wish is to commence a catering contract, with a partner who shares their vision for a customer-focused service that attracts the maximum number of students. The meals that are to be provided must be appealing to customers, imaginative, provide good value for money and be nutritionally balanced to encourage all students to make an educated choice. The service is currently managed by a contractor, where the catering team have delivered a good service to the students for many years. The School now feel that it is time to refresh the current contract, to allow the service to be taken to the next level, which will deliver the latest catering concepts and an even better service for its students. The School's objectives for the new contract are as follows: - * A catering service that is well managed and requires minimal involvement from the School's management team. * A strong Contractor Area Manager who will develop and lead the team to deliver exceptional customer service, a consistently high-quality food offer and spend a substantial amount of time on site at the outset to undertake this. * A Contractor who is proactive in their relationship management with the School. * Investment in the School's Catering service through increased marketing in return for a tenure of contract. * A higher number of students and staff using the facilities by providing a high quality, affordable and nutritious meal. * A catering service that encourages students to take a heathy and balanced meal. * Food and drinks that look appetising and are attractively presented. * A hospitality service that will help showcase the School through events to parents and visitors. * A Contractor that adopts a flexible and proactive approach to all School activities. * A service that is professionally merchandised and marketed with discretion and to the mutual benefit of the School and the Contractor. * A Contractor that operates using the optimum level of staffing. Catering Tender Schedule: Contract Start Date - 1st September 2026 Tender issued - 9th January 2026 Site Visits by Contractors - Monday 26th January 2026 Contractor Clarification Deadline - 20th February 2026 Tender Return Deadline - 27th February 2026 Evaluation - Early March 2026 Presentations - 24th March 2026 Reference Site Visits - WC 13th April 2026 Contract Award by - 1st May 2026 Mobilisation Meeting - 10 days after contract award
Lot Information
Lot 1
Renewal: The contract will be awarded for a three-year duration with the option of two additional, one-year extensions. This is subject to the satisfactory performance of the work.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-060351
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002079-2026
- 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
- Open procedure
- Tender Suitability
- SME
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products
55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services
-
- CPV Codes
15894210 - School meals
55524000 - School catering services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £1,156,382 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- £1,156,382 £1M-£10M
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 10 Jan 20261 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- 27 Feb 20262 months 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
- BISHOP STOPFORD SCHOOL
- Contact Name
- Dean Douthwaite / Neil Meadows
- Contact Email
- admin@redboxcs.com
- Contact Phone
- Not specified
Buyer Location
- Locality
- KETTERING
- Postcode
- NN15 6BJ
- Post Town
- Northampton
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLF East Midlands (England)
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLF25 North Northamptonshire
- Delivery Location
- TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
-
- Local Authority
- North Northamptonshire
- Electoral Ward
- Wicksteed
- Westminster Constituency
- Kettering
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002079-2026
10th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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