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Shire Services Food & Related Contracts

Shropshire Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

03 Aug 2026 at 13:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Shropshire Council is planning to consolidate food and related supply arrangements used by Shire Services, its in-house catering and cleaning provider. The requirements would support around 140 schools and other establishments across Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, North Wales and the wider West Midlands. The core scope under consideration includes drinks and vending, kitchen disposables and light equipment, cleaning materials, grocery provisions, greengroceries, and Red Tractor-assured marinated chicken. The Council is also considering an optional supply of certified nut-free biscuits and other bakery products. This is primarily a goods supply opportunity covering food, non-alcoholic drinks, catering and kitchen supplies, cleaning and dishwashing products, and related consumables, delivered across the stated service area.

This procurement is at the preliminary market-engagement and planning stage; it is not an invitation to tender. The Council is seeking views before deciding how to package and take the requirements to market. Options under consideration include a multi-lot framework, a single prime supplier using SME subcontractors, or a split into two contracts. It is also asking suppliers about the preferred route to market and their supply-chain and delivery models. The market-engagement questionnaire is scheduled for completion by 24 August 2026. The current estimated value is £17,220,000 excluding VAT, or £20,664,000 including VAT. The planned contract period is 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2031. The final scope, structure and competition remain subject to change.

The engagement is relevant to foodservice distributors, wholesalers, manufacturers and specialist suppliers able to provide several of the proposed categories, as well as businesses focused on vending, catering disposables, kitchen equipment, cleaning products, grocery or fresh produce. Suppliers with Red Tractor-assured chicken capability or certified nut-free bakery production may be well placed for the relevant requirements. The work will suit organisations able to coordinate reliable deliveries across multiple counties and establishments, with robust supply chains, logistics capacity and consistent product assurance. SMEs are identified as suitable for the planned lot, and the Council is actively considering structures that could support SME participation, including multiple lots or subcontracting through a prime supplier. Businesses should prepare their delivery model and views on contract packaging for the engagement stage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Shire Services Food & Related Contracts

Notice Description

Shropshire Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform a proposed consolidation of a number of standalone food and related supply contracts currently held by Shire Services, the Council's in-house catering and cleaning provider, serving approximately 140 schools and other establishments across Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, North Wales and the wider West Midlands. The core scope under consideration covers: drinks and vending; kitchen disposables and light equipment; cleaning materials; grocery provisions; greengroceries; and Red Tractor assured marinated chicken. The Council is also testing market capability to deliver a certified nut-free bakery supply (biscuits and bakery products) as an optional addition to this scope, conditional on the outcome of this engagement. The Council is seeking market feedback on packaging (multi-lot framework, single prime with SME sub-let, or a two-contract split), preferred route to market, and suppliers' own supply-chain and delivery models, ahead of a planned procurement. Participation is voluntary and this notice does not commit the Council to proceeding with any procurement. Full details are set out in the accompanying Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) document, available from the contact given below.

Planning Information

Interested suppliers are invited to review the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) document, available on request from Lianne.Dow@shropshire.gov.uk, and to complete the market engagement questionnaire via the Microsoft Forms link below: Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ETDBti03i0O8gmfkx5ZuiYDedTzJQrxCpJllkEkmL09UMlc1WlJQQlBZQzlRQlhFOFhSSUYxVjFWNC4u This notice is for information only. The information contained in this notice, including the nature and scope of requirements, estimated value, service classification and CPV codes, is indicative of current thinking only, is neither exhaustive nor binding, and the Council reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time. Publication of this notice does not oblige the Council to commence any competitive tender process. The Council is not liable for any costs incurred by those participating in this engagement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d9e3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073159-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

CPV Codes

15100000 - Animal products, meat and meat products

15200000 - Prepared and preserved fish

15300000 - Fruit, vegetables and related products

15400000 - Animal or vegetable oils and fats

15500000 - Dairy products

15600000 - Grain mill products, starches and starch products

15700000 - Animal feedstuffs

15800000 - Miscellaneous food products

15980000 - Non-alcoholic beverages

39220000 - Kitchen equipment, household and domestic items and catering supplies

39831000 - Washing preparations

39832000 - Dishwashing products

39833000 - Anti-dust products

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£17,220,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 May 2027 - 30 Apr 2031 4-5 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
Shropshire 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
SHREWSBURY
Postcode
SY3 8HQ
Postcode Area
Shrewsbury
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG22 Shropshire
Delivery Location
TLG West Midlands (England)
Local Authority
Shropshire
Electoral Ward
Porthill
Westminster Constituency
Shrewsbury

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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