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Catering Services

Bournemouth University

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

17 Jul 2026 at 12:05

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

16 Jun 2026 at 16:28

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

03 Feb 2026 at 13:19

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Feb 2026 at 11:01

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bournemouth University is procuring catering and hospitality services for its Talbot Campus and Lansdowne Campus in Bournemouth and Poole. The requirement covers a flexible service for students, staff and visitors across the university’s catering outlets. The appointed contractor must provide a student-focused, high-quality and innovative food and beverage offer, with accessible low-price options, discounts and loyalty schemes. The service is expected to be contemporary, authentic and responsive to changing student tastes. It must also support a campus-first experience, improve student satisfaction, operate sustainably and use technology to improve convenience, engagement and repeat custom. The commercial model is nil-cost guaranteed with profit share, meaning the service should operate at no cost to the university while generating a share of profit for reinvestment in the student experience. The procurement is for services, classified as catering services (CPV 55520000).

The process reached tender: Bournemouth University invited offers through an above-threshold open procedure. Electronic submission is allowed in English through the university’s procurement portal. The tender deadline is 10 August 2026 at 12:00 BST, and the planned award decision is due by 1 October 2026 at 23:59 BST. The contract is scheduled to run from 10 January 2027 to 9 January 2034, with an option to extend by two years, up to 9 January 2036, subject to agreement. One lot covers the requirement. The published estimated procurement value is £0 gross; the lot value is also recorded as 0 AED gross. Evaluation is weighted 50% quality questions, 10% environmental, sustainability and social value, 10% presentation and 30% price. The procurement is recurrent.

This opportunity suits an established catering operator with experience delivering high-volume, customer-facing hospitality in university, education, workplace or similar multi-site environments. Suppliers need the operational capacity to run outlets across two principal campuses and serve a diverse student, staff and visitor population reliably throughout the contract. Strong food and beverage development capability is important, including contemporary, authentic and affordable offers that can evolve with customer preferences. The requirement also favours contractors able to demonstrate robust environmental management and data-driven reduce, reuse and recycle waste practices, alongside practical social value delivery. Digital ordering, payment, engagement or loyalty solutions will support the service model. Bidders should be able to provide structured staff training, personal development and education, and demonstrate the commercial and financial capability to operate a nil-cost guaranteed service with profit sharing. Quality, sustainability, social value and presentation together carry greater weight than price.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Catering Services

Notice Description

The University is seeking to appoint a professional and experienced catering contractor capable of delivering a student-focused, high-quality and innovative catering and hospitality service. The student experience is central to the University's mission, and the successful contractor will be expected to provide a sector-leading service that promotes and prioritises a campus-first experience and improves overall student satisfaction. The successful supplier will be required to operate on a Nil-Cost Guaranteed with Profit Share basis.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Subject to agreement, the Contract may be extended for 2 Years.

Planning Information

A Preliminary Market Engagement document is available to potential participants as part of this notice. The documents sets out the high-level requirements of the engagement process including the scope of the exercise and how organisations may register their interest. Here is an overview of the requirements: The University carrying out a Preliminary Market Engagement exercise for Catering Services. This will inform the tender process to appoint a professional and experienced catering contractor capable of delivering a student-focused, high-quality and innovative catering and hospitality service. The student experience is central to the University's mission, and the successful contractor will be expected to provide a sector-leading service that promotes and prioritises a campus-first experience and improves overall student satisfaction. Campus Locations Catering services are required across the University's two principal campus locations: • Talbot Campus • Lansdowne Campus Each campus serves a diverse student, staff, and visitor population, requiring a flexible, responsive catering and hospitality service. Key requirements include: • Cost neutral with a surplus, a service model that both delivers at no cost to the University, yet provides profit sharing for the University to reinvest back into its student experience • A student centred, high-quality, contemporary and authentic food and beverage offer across all catering outlets • Excellent value for money, including accessible low-price entry points, discounts and loyalty schemes • A continually evolving and innovative service model, providing a contemporary offer that aligns with student's tastes and trends • A sustainable and environmentally responsible operation, incorporating a robust and data driven "reduce, reuse, recycle" waste management strategy • A technologically advanced service, providing digital solutions that enhance convenience, drive engagement and repeat custom • A strong commitment to staff training, personal development, and education Format of the Preliminary Market Engagement Exercise The exercise will consist of: • Written responses to the areas of the PME document identified as required. • One-to-one meetings with suppliers that have responded to this exercise (hereafter referred to as Participants) via face to face on site at one of the University campus locations. Meeting duration will be a maximum of 1.5 hours. The University will reduce the number of Participants from written responses to one-to-one discussions via the following method: Management of Engagement Activity • At least one SME will be included; • At least one large enterprise will be included; • At least one non-incumbent supplier will be included; • At least one Participant with a registered address within Bournemouth will be included; • At least one Participant with a registered address outside of Bournemouth will be included; The above elements can/will only apply if at least one Participant meets that description. If you wish to participate in this pre-market engagement exercise you must express your interest in the exercise and download the document from In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/bournemouthuniversity/aspx/Home

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0613f1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067734-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

CPV Codes

55520000 - 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
17 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
10 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
10 Jan 2027 - 9 Jan 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2034-01-10

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Bournemouth University
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
POOLE
Postcode
BH12 5BB
Postcode Area
Bournemouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK63 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Delivery Location
TLK24 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Local Authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Electoral Ward
Talbot & Branksome Woods
Westminster Constituency
Bournemouth West

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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