Planning

Preliminary Market Engagement for Mobile Catering Units

DACORUM BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

16 Jan 2026 at 14:57

Summary of the contracting process

Dacorum Borough Council is currently in the planning stage of a preliminary market engagement (PME) regarding the placement of mobile catering units in various parks across the borough. This initiative, titled "Preliminary Market Engagement for Mobile Catering Units," falls under the services category, specifically focusing on restaurant, food-serving, and beverage-serving services. The engagement aims to gather information to help structure future tender opportunities and seek innovations to enhance park user experience and income generation. The engagement period is scheduled until 6th February 2026, with submissions due by noon on that date. The parks identified for potential catering units include Coronation Fields, Bunkers Park, Canal Fields, Grovehill Playing Fields, and Jellicoe Water Gardens in Hemel Hempstead, UK.

This procurement process offers substantial business growth opportunities, particularly for SMEs specialising in catering, food services, and event management. Businesses adept at innovation in customer engagement and service delivery in outdoor settings will find this opportunity well-suited to their capacities. The council is interested in different commercial models such as fixed rent or turnover share, inviting dynamic enterprises to propose sustainable, profitable strategies. This is an ideal entry point for businesses eager to establish or expand their presence in Dacorum Borough's community spaces, with a potential contract period starting from 1st September 2026, allowing growth and development into the local catering market until potentially 2030.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Preliminary Market Engagement for Mobile Catering Units

Notice Description

Preliminary Market Engagement - Mobile Catering Units (Dacorum Borough Council) This is a request for information and NOT a tender opportunity. Overview The Council own several parks across the Borough. The following sites have been identified as areas that would benefit from having Mobile Catering Units located in them:- * Coronation Fields * Bunkers Park * Canal Fields * Grovehill Playing Fields * Jellicoe Water Gardens Key Aims We are seeking input to understand: * What kind of food and beverage offer would best meet the expectations of park users * How to maximise income generation while delivering a quality and inclusive experience * The preferred commercial model (e.g. fixed rent, turnover share, hybrid) * The level of interest and capacity among potential operators * Innovations that could increase footfall, customer satisfaction, and community engagement To access further information about this catering concession and to submit a questionnaire, interested parties will need to download these from the Council's e-tendering portal 'Supply Hertfordshire'. Suppliers must register to use the portal - this is free of charge. Documents can be downloaded from the portal and via this link https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home Completed questions can be submitted up to 12 noon on 6th February 2026.

Planning Information

Please refer to PME documentation for further detail. This is NOT a tender exercise.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0607d4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003976-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services


CPV Codes

55300000 - Restaurant and food-serving services

55400000 - Beverage-serving services

55500000 - Canteen and catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jan 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Mar 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DACORUM BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@dacorum.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
Postcode
HP1 1DN
Post Town
Hemel Hempstead
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH27 South West Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Dacorum
Electoral Ward
Hemel Hempstead Town
Westminster Constituency
Hemel Hempstead

Further Information

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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