This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

06 Aug 2026 at 14:56

Summary of the contracting process

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School is procuring school catering services for its Catholic state secondary school in Reading, Berkshire. The requirement covers catering for approximately 1,050 pupils and around 125 teaching and non-teaching staff. The successful contractor will provide and continue developing the school’s catering services, while supporting and complementing the school’s values and principles. The work will be delivered at the school in Reading. This is a services opportunity for a catering operator able to run school food provision and engage with the needs of both students and staff. The requirement is classified as school catering services and is presented as a single catering service rather than separate packages.

The procurement has reached tender: the school invited offers through an open competitive flexible procedure, with electronic submission allowed in English. Enquiries had to be submitted by 18 September 2026 at 12:00 noon. The tender submission deadline was 18 December 2026 at 12:00 noon. The award decision was due by 8 February 2027. The contract is valued at £967,540 gross. It is scheduled to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with an option to renew for a further two years, potentially until 31 March 2032. There is one lot, suitable for SMEs. Evaluation gives quality 70% and price 30%, so the governing body is not required to accept the lowest-priced offer.

This opportunity suits established school catering companies, education catering specialists and smaller catering operators with the capacity to serve a secondary-school community of this size. Bidders should be able to manage day-to-day catering for pupils and staff, demonstrate how they will develop and improve the service, and show that their approach supports the school’s Catholic values and principles. The requirement is suited to suppliers combining operational reliability with ideas for improving the catering offer, facilities and overall experience for students and staff. Because quality carries greater weight than price, businesses should be prepared to evidence service quality, development plans, value for money and alignment with the school’s ethos in their tender response.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School ~ Catering tender

Notice Description

Blessed Hugh Faringdon is a Catholic state secondary school in Reading in Berkshire, England. The school has approximately 1050 pupils on roll and around 125 teaching and non-teaching staff. The contract being tendered is for three plus two years in duration from April 2027 Whilst the School prioritises value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, the Governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price. Blessed Hugh Faringdon expects the successful contractor to enable the continued development of the catering services. The school expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of the school. As a school who are continually seeking ways to improve and develop the ethos and environment for students and staff, to give them the facilities they deserve and need to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 -year basis. Whilst the School prioritises value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, the Governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price. The value of the current contract is: - 2025/ 2026 Student Break Cash salesPS61,115 Student Lunch Cash Sales PS94,255 Free School Meals PS29,386 Free Staff mealsPS4,640 Staff Cash SalesPS4,212 TotalPS193,608 Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 year basis. Please see PSQ Document for more information. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://litmustms.co.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Reading:-School-catering-services./3MV6C49QN4 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/3MV6C49QN4

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: 3+2 Please see PSQ Document for more information.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06de03
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074828-2026
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
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
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
£967,540 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£967,540 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
18 Dec 20263 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 2030 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
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic 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
READING
Postcode
RG30 3EP
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
TLJ11 Berkshire

Local Authority
Reading
Electoral Ward
Southcote
Westminster Constituency
Reading Central

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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