Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Pre Market Engagement

West Northamptonshire Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

24 Aug 2026 at 17:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

05 May 2026 at 12:21

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Northamptonshire Council is preparing to recommission the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, a children’s holiday services contract covering West Northamptonshire. The programme is intended to provide eligible children and young people with nutritious meals, enriching activities, physical activity and food education during school holidays, in line with Department for Education guidance. The council is also considering a HAF Coordination Service. It is seeking innovative, inclusive delivery models that respond to local needs and support children and young people to thrive. The work falls within education and training services (CPV 80000000), with related provision spanning primary, secondary, and technical or vocational education. Potential delivery organisations include community and voluntary groups, youth organisations, sports, leisure and cultural providers, SEND providers, faith groups and other HAF providers.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the council has announced an intention to procure, but has not yet invited tenders. It expects to use a light-touch services procedure, with the formal procurement process anticipated for 29 September 2026. The planned contract is one lot, initially running from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, with renewal provision potentially extending delivery to 31 March 2031. The estimated value is £2,000,000 excluding VAT, or £2,400,000 including VAT. The council is holding an online market-engagement information session on Microsoft Teams from 12:30 to 14:00 on 15 September 2026. Organisations wishing to attend must register by 14 September 2026 by emailing educationcommissioning@westnorthants.gov.uk. The session will cover commissioning intentions, the procurement process, In-Tend, the information pack and questions.

The planned service is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. It should suit providers able to organise safe, inclusive holiday programmes for eligible children and young people, combining food provision with enrichment, physical activity and food education. Relevant organisations may include established HAF providers, youth and community organisations, sports, leisure and cultural operators, SEND specialists, faith groups and providers interested in coordination services. The council is seeking evidence of capacity and readiness for future procurement, as well as innovative delivery models that reflect local needs. Providers should be prepared to explain how they would recruit and retain an appropriate workforce, coordinate delivery across West Northamptonshire and maintain quality in line with Department for Education guidance. The engagement is also an opportunity to influence the future service specification and coordination model.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Pre Market Engagement

Notice Description

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is hosting an online Market Engagement Information Session for organisations interested in the forthcoming recommissioning of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme. Following our initial Market Engagement Event held in June 2026, we are aware that further interest has been generated from organisations wishing to understand the upcoming commissioning opportunity. As a result, WNC is offering an additional information session to provide prospective providers with further details ahead of the formal procurement process. The Council intends to commission the HAF Programme for an initial two-year period, continuing our commitment to delivering high-quality holiday provision for eligible children and young people across West Northamptonshire. About the HAF Programme -West Northamptonshire Council has delivered the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme for the past five years in line with Department for Education guidance. The programme provides eligible children and young people with access to nutritious meals, enriching activities, physical activity opportunities, and food education during school holidays. -As part of our Best Start in Life ambition, we are seeking innovative and inclusive delivery models that respond to local needs and help ensure children and young people can thrive. Purpose of the Information Session -This session will provide potential providers with an overview of the forthcoming HAF procurement opportunity and an opportunity to engage directly with Council officers. The session will include: * Presentation on the future HAF Programme and commissioning intentions. * Overview of the procurement process. * Guidance on using the In-Tend procurement platform. * Review of the market engagement information pack. * Dedicated Q&A session. Market Engagement Objectives The Council is seeking to: * Understand market readiness to deliver the HAF Programme. * Explore options for future delivery models and commissioning approaches. * Gather feedback on workforce recruitment and retention challenges. * Raise awareness of the forthcoming tender opportunity. * Support organisations to assess their capacity and readiness for procurement. * Inform the development of the future service specification and HAF Coordination Service model. The session is open to: * Existing and prospective HAF providers * Community and voluntary organisations * Youth organisations * Sports, leisure and cultural providers * SEND providers * Faith and community groups * Organisations interested in delivering the HAF Coordination Service To register your interest, please email educationcommissioning@westnorthants.gov.uk by 14 September 2026.

Planning Information

Information Session Details: Date: Tuesday 15 September 2026 Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm Location: Microsoft Teams Registration deadline: 14 September 2026 To register your interest and receive the Microsoft Teams joining link, please email: educationcommissioning@westnorthants.gov.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069134
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080565-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

80100000 - Primary education services

80200000 - Secondary education services

80210000 - Technical and vocational secondary education services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West Northamptonshire 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
NORTHAMPTON
Postcode
NN1 1ED
Postcode Area
Northampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF24 West Northamptonshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
West Northamptonshire
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Northampton North

Further Information

Notice Documents

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.

Loading OCDS record...