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Fun and Food Programme for Children in Receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals (Easter 2026)

Durham County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

13 Apr 2026 at 13:38

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Tender

22 Jan 2026 at 10:22

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council has completed the procurement of the "Fun and Food Programme for Children in Receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals" for Easter 2026. This initiative, set in County Durham, falls under the health and social work services industry category, identified by CPV code 85000000. The procurement process adopted an open method under light-touch regime rules, focusing on awarding services below the threshold through open competition. The procurement, completed by 13 April 2026, has a contract period from 7 April to 17 April 2026. This programme leverages Department for Education funding to provide enriching and physical activities, alongside food provision and safeguarding, to benefit children in receipt of free school meals.

This tender provides substantial opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) to contribute to social welfare initiatives, thereby promoting business growth in the community services sector. Ideal participants include providers capable of delivering educational and recreational services, such as health and social work services, that enhance children's well-being. The contract's potential extension for additional holiday periods can offer businesses sustained engagement opportunities, with contracts potentially covering the summer and Christmas holidays, subject to performance and council discretion. Bidders must demonstrate the capability to deliver structured programmes that align with DfE standards, making it essential for suitable businesses to showcase their proficiency in managing such comprehensive service contracts.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Fun and Food Programme for Children in Receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals (Easter 2026)

Notice Description

The Council wishes to seek multiple Providers to deliver the Fun and Food programme to Children in Receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals within the boundaries of County Durham. This project utilises Department for Education (DfE) funding which is for school aged children in receipt of benefits related free school meals. All providers must meet DfE framework of standards as below: * Food Provision * Enrichment Activities * Physical Activities * Increasing Awareness of Healthy Eating, healthy lifestyles, and positive behaviours * Signposting and referrals and supporting families * Safeguarding * Policies and Procedures Please note - sessions do not need to be exclusively for children in receipt benefits related Free School Meals, alternative funding may be sourced by the organisation to fund children ineligible for DfE funding i.e parents/carers may be charged for sessions by the activity organisation.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Successful Providers' contracts, as delivered under the Easter 2026 holiday provision, may be extended/varied to cover delivery in the Summer and or Christmas school holiday period. At the sole discretion of the Council, providers will be identified and approached for Summer and or Christmas delivery, this is likely to be dependent on successful achievement from Easter 2026 delivery under this contract and Commissioners professional judgement. If Successful Providers meet the threshold that the Commissioner deems as successful delivery, they will be emailed a proposal form for completion for the next school holiday period. The same evaluation criteria will be applied to the subsequent proposals. There is also a possibility that DCC may acquire funding from different sources that may be used for main school holidays, half term holidays or funding for participants to attend that are not in receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals. Where this is the case successful providers will be updated regarding the scope of delivery.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060be3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033281-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

85000000 - Health and social work services

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£552,950 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£552,950 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£552,950 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Apr 20264 months ago
Submission Deadline
20 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Mar 20265 months ago
Contract Period
7 Apr 2026 - 17 Apr 2026 30 days
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Durham County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Postcode Area
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC14 Durham
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate & Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
14
Supplier Names

AJ Stage Schools

BELLA MARIE TRAINING ACADEMY LTD

DURHAM CATHEDRAL SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

FAST FEET FOOTBALL ACADEMY LTD

GENIUS! TUITION LIMITED

HOME ON THE RANGE LIMITED

Kalma Life Gateshead & North Durham

Karbon Homes

Michael Coghlan Football Coaching

NMC SPORTS LTD (trading as ) Active Future Durham

SHAPE PERFORMANCE LTD

SIMPLY SPORT LIMITED

SJ SSC LIMITED T/A SportsCool Durham

STEAM AHEAD CIC

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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