This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

23 Jun 2026 at 13:36

Tender

24 Mar 2026 at 19:41

Summary of the contracting process

Rickmansworth School, a successful secondary school located in Hertfordshire, has recently awarded a contract for its catering services. The contract was awarded to Culinera Limited as of 23rd June 2026, with service commencement scheduled for 22nd July 2026. The initial contract term is three years, ending on 21st July 2029, but there is an option to extend the contract for up to two additional years based on performance and mutual agreement. The procurement was conducted through a Competitive Flexible, Two Stage Light Touch Regime process, and the total projected turnover for the five-year period is anticipated to be approximately £2.5 million. The awarding of the contract is part of the procurement's completion stage.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses in the catering industry, particularly those capable of delivering high-quality food and innovative service enhancements aligned with the school’s expectations. Companies with a strong track record of meeting sales targets and providing substantial support to educational institutions would be well-positioned in such competitive environments. The procurement approach, which prioritised both cost and quality, opens the door for seasoned caterers looking to expand their presence in the educational sector. Engaging with this contract could potentially elevate a company's profile and lead to further expansion opportunities within similar institutional frameworks.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Rickmansworth School Catering Tender

Notice Description

Rickmansworth School is a successful secondary school in Hertfordshire. The School is tendering its catering services with a contract start date of 1st August 2026. The initial term will run for three years, ending on 31st July 2029, with a requirement for termly and annual reviews and a break clause to support both parties should the relationship not prosper. There will be an option to extend for up to two further years (1+1) by mutual agreement, based on qualitative and financial performance. The current contract with Culinera has reached the maximum tenure of five years. The School is seeking a professional catering contractor who can deliver an excellent level of service, high-quality food and service enhancements, realistic and achievable sales targets and ongoing support to the School community throughout the contract. The projected turnover for the five-year contract is expected to be circa PS2.5 million. The School is running this procurement as a Competitive Flexible, Two Stage, Light Touch Regime, Tender Process. To declare your interest in the tender and download contract documents (available free of charge), please register on https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cohesionconsulting/aspx/Home Once registered, please declare interest in the opportunity to access and download the full document set. In short, the School needs to be convinced that bidders can deliver their promises in full, achieve their sales projections, and meet their service enhancements. If the School is not convinced of this, it reserves the right to consider an insourced solution or make no award. Any investment proposals must align with DFE guidelines.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There is an option to extend for a further two years (1+1), subject to satisfactory performance and client agreement on budgets and service levels.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067355
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059009-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services


CPV Codes

55524000 - School catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,800,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,800,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£111,574 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jun 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Jun 20261 months ago
Contract Period
21 Jul 2026 - 21 Jul 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
RICKMANSWORTH SCHOOL
Additional Buyers

COHESION CONSULTING LIMITED

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
RICKMANSWORTH
Postcode
WD3 3AQ
Post Town
Watford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ46 West Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex

Local Authority
Tunbridge Wells
Electoral Ward
Park
Westminster Constituency
Tunbridge Wells

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CULINERA

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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