Tender

267800 Catering - Hot Food

DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

20 Mar 2026 at 18:01

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

De Montfort University is actively seeking bids for an open competition tender titled "267800 Catering - Hot Food", with a focus on services within the food and catering industry category. The procurement is taking place in Leicester, United Kingdom, specifically at the Vijay Patel Building on the university campus. The tender is currently in the 'Tender' stage, and interested parties must submit their bids by 17th April 2026. The contract is expected to commence on 1st August 2026 and will run until 31st July 2029, with a potential 24-month renewal option. The university is removing financial barriers for operators by covering fixed costs, aiming to offer students affordable hot food options amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

This tender presents a lucrative opportunity for catering companies and food service providers who are looking to establish a presence in the educational sector. By covering key expenses typically associated with setting up a food outlet, De Montfort University is facilitating immediate business growth, with limited capital investment, right from the start. Businesses specialising in catering services for high-volume and quick turnaround requirements will be particularly well-suited to meet the university’s demand, especially for events and large group catering. With the integration of the dining space into a dynamic study and social area, operators can expect consistent foot traffic, potentially driving up daily sales and broader exposure to the university community.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

267800 Catering - Hot Food

Notice Description

DMU is seeking a well-priced hot food offer that plays a vital role in supporting students on campus, particularly at a time when cost-of-living pressures are having a real impact on daily choices. The University has therefore taken a deliberate decision to remove the main financial barriers to entry for the operator. By covering fixed costs such as rent, rates, and utilities, and by fully equipping the kitchen, DMU is enabling a food business to trade successfully from day one with very limited capital investment required. The University expects to see this reflected in accessible pricing and menu choice which will result in strong participation during term time. The typical student demographic on the Leicester campus consists largely of commuter and first-generation students, with a strong sensitivity to price and value. Academic and a core group of professional service staff work on campus throughout the week, with some professional services staff adopting a hybrid approach, with a minimum of two days per week on campus. In addition to daily service, there is a requirement to cater for large groups of visitors, often as part of key recruitment activities and summer schools. The ability to serve large volumes of visitors in a small timeframe is key. For this, use of vouchers would be required along with a detailed breakdown of charges and an invoice sent to the University at the end of each month. The hot food offer is located within the Vijay Patel Building, one of the busiest buildings on campus. At time of writing the space is due to undergo refurbishment however opens directly onto a large, integrated 1,000 sqm study and social space, which will include: Comfortable, informal seating More traditional sit-up and dine seating Power for phones and laptops Dedicated study areas The dining area is not a separate food court and is fully integrated into this shared study/social environment, designed to drive maximum footfall. By bringing eating, studying, meeting as well as access to power for laptops/phones DMU expects to encourage students and staff to spend more time on campus throughout the day.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0670d5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025995-2026
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
Not specified
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

15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

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
20 Mar 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
17 Apr 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 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
DE MONTFORT 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
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE1 9BH
Post Town
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF21 Leicester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Leicester
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Leicester South

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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