Tender

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

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

23 Jan 2026 at 09:48

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council is actively seeking providers for its "SEND Specific Fun and Food Programme for Children in Receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals" for Easter 2026. This initiative, falling under the education, training, recreational, cultural, and personal services categories, aims to deliver enriching and nutritious experiences to eligible children in County Durham. The procurement process is in the tender stage, utilising an open competition method designed for below-threshold procurements. Interested suppliers must submit their proposals by 10:00 am on 20th February 2026, with the enquiry period ending on 13th February 2026. Contracts under this programme may be extended for the Summer and Christmas holidays based on successful Easter delivery and conditions set by the Council.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in educational and recreational services, particularly those experienced in working with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are especially encouraged to apply, as they may be well-suited to craft innovative solutions meeting the Council’s requirements. Providers capable of delivering a diverse array of enriching activities, nutritional education, and physical activities, while ensuring value for money, are likely to benefit from this contract and potential future extensions. Successful bidders may also contribute towards community engagement and development by addressing gaps in service delivery within the geographical area.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

SEND Specific 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 with SEND 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. Further details of the requirements are set out in Document 3A Specification.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060cf6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006040-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
20 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
6 Apr 2026 - 17 Apr 2026 30 days
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
DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
corporate.procurement@durham.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Post Town
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 and Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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