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Provision of School Catering Services for Nascot Wood Schools

Nascot Wood Junior School

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

16 Jul 2026 at 19:56

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

16 Jul 2026 at 19:53

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

13 Jul 2026 at 19:56

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Nascot Wood Schools, including Nascot Wood Junior School in Watford, are procuring a single school catering service. The appointed provider will deliver full lunch services, breakfast provision and after-school club catering for pupils and staff, serving approximately 420 children. The requirement covers nutritious, varied meals, food quality and menu planning, customer service, pupil engagement, reporting and a positive dining experience. The service will operate across the schools in Watford and requires unified operational management, shared kitchen infrastructure and one cohesive staffing structure. TUPE is anticipated to apply, with anonymised staffing information available to shortlisted bidders after signing a non-disclosure agreement. This is a school catering services contract, with the schools seeking quality meals, reliable delivery, sustainability and value for money.

The process has reached tender: Nascot Wood Schools invited offers through an open procedure. This is a single-lot procurement with an estimated gross value of £1,004,000. Enquiries were due by 20 July 2026 at 5:00pm, and tenders were due by 11 September 2026 at 5:00pm. The planned award decision date is 19 October 2026. The initial contract runs from 5 January 2027 to 31 December 2029, with an option to extend by up to 24 months, either as two 12-month extensions or one 24-month extension, to 31 December 2031. Evaluation is based on service quality 35%, food quality and menu 20%, price 30%, and staffing, TUPE and mobilisation 15%.

The opportunity suits catering providers experienced in primary schools or similar educational settings, including SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises. Bidders need to demonstrate compliance with food hygiene and food safety legislation, relevant qualifications and training for key staff, and at least two recent references for comparable contracts. Providers must be able to mobilise the service by commencement, manage TUPE transfers, and show suitable staffing, recruitment, retention, training and contingency arrangements. Financial stability is required, alongside employers’ liability, public liability and product liability insurance of at least £10 million for each category. The successful supplier will need strong menu planning, allergen management, special dietary provision, sustainability, customer service, communication, reporting and pupil engagement capabilities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of School Catering Services for Nascot Wood Schools

Notice Description

Nascot Wood Schools invite tenders from suitably qualified catering providers for the provision of school catering services. The schools are seeking a catering partner that can provide high-quality, nutritious meals, excellent customer service, value for money, and a positive dining experience for pupils and staff. The proposed contract term is three years commencing on 5th January 2027, with the option to extend for a further period of two years by mutual agreement. Total number of children is approximately 420 and the service will include full lunch service plus breakfast and afterschool club provsions. TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) is anticipated to apply to this contract, and relevant anonymised staffing data will be made available to shortlisted bidders upon signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The contract includes an option to extend the initial three (3) year term by up to a further twenty-four (24) months, creating a maximum total contract lifespan of five (5) years (60 months). Any extensions will be offered at the sole discretion of Nascot Wood Schools and will be subject to satisfactory supplier performance, adherence to key performance indicators (KPIs), continued value for money, and mutual written agreement. Extensions may be awarded as two (2) separate 12-month periods or as a single 24-month block, depending on the operational requirements of the schools.

Renewal: The contract includes an option to extend the initial three (3) year term by up to a further twenty-four (24) months, creating a maximum total contract lifespan of five (5) years (60 months). Any extensions will be offered at the sole discretion of Nascot Wood Schools and will be subject to satisfactory supplier performance, adherence to key performance indicators (KPIs), continued value for money, and mutual written agreement. Extensions may be awarded as two (2) separate 12-month periods or as a single 24-month block, depending on the operational requirements of the schools.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ca05
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067469-2026
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
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

CPV Codes

55524000 - School catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,004,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,004,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
11 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
5 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
2031-07-13

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Nascot Wood Junior School
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WATFORD
Postcode
WD17 4YS
Postcode Area
Watford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH27 South West Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Watford
Electoral Ward
Nascot
Westminster Constituency
Watford

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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