Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

DMAT - Catering Tender

Educo

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

15 Sep 2026 at 19:48

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Educo is procuring school catering services on behalf of Durrington Multi Academy Trust, covering Durrington High School and The Laurels Primary School in Worthing, West Sussex. The requirement is for a contract catering company to provide catering operations and operational support to teams at the schools, with bidders expected to address how they would manage and support delivery on site. Educo Consultancy & Facilities Management is managing the procurement for the Trust. The work is categorised as school catering services and is suitable for businesses specialising in outsourced education catering, contract food services and the management of catering operations across school sites. The opportunity concerns one combined requirement covering both schools rather than separate school-specific packages.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited suppliers to submit expressions of interest through a two-stage competitive flexible procedure. Stage one assesses the Selection Questionnaire, with the highest-scoring four or five bidders invited to stage two. The enquiry deadline was 14 October 2026 at 17:00, and the expression-of-interest submission deadline was 21 October 2026 at 12:00. Stage two includes an online briefing, school site visits, a financial proposal and answers to technical questions; the highest-scoring suppliers are shortlisted, with three invited to present. The estimated value is £2,768,000 excluding VAT, or £3,321,600 including VAT. The initial contract runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with renewal potentially extending it to 31 March 2032. Award decisions are due by 29 January 2027. Evaluation weights financial status at 20% and operational questions at 80%.

This opportunity suits experienced contract catering companies able to run and manage school catering services across two education sites. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate sound organisational financial status and strong operational support and management arrangements, including how their teams would support staff working at the schools. The process requires bidders to complete a Selection Questionnaire, respond to technical and operational questions, develop a financial proposal, attend an online briefing and take part in school site visits. The strongest suppliers will need the capability to present their proposed approach to representatives of the schools and Educo. Small and medium-sized enterprises are identified as suitable, making this relevant to established regional caterers as well as larger education-catering providers, provided they can demonstrate the required experience, financial standing and delivery capacity.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DMAT - Catering Tender

Notice Description

Educo on behalf of the Trust will manage a 2-stage process through the mytenders portal that links to the Find a Tender Central Digital Platform. 2.1 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST The 1st Stage of this tender is to assess the most appropriate Contractors from their expression of interest applied and on information and responses provided and submitted on the mytenders portal as requested in this Selection Questionnaire. Please see Section 4.0 for requirements for submission. The highest scoring 4 - 5 bidders will be invited to progress to Stage 2 2.2 PROPOSAL AND FORM OF TENDER STAGE The 2nd Stage will comprise of: * Initial on-line Briefing session to outline key requirements, expand on completing forms of tender and answer any questions. * Site visits to the School(s). * Submission by Tenderers of their Forms of Tender outlining their financial proposal and responses to Technical Questions within the ITT that describe the operational support to the teams on site, and the Schools * Submissions will be evaluated with the highest scoring being shortlisted. * The shortlist of 3 Tenderers will be asked to present to representatives of the Schools and Educo.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: completion of initial contract term of 3 years and successful attainment of the agreed kpi's

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06fa99
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087524-2026
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
£2,768,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,768,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
21 Oct 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 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
Educo
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE1 7LT
Postcode Area
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF21 Leicester
Delivery Location
TLJ27 West Sussex (South West)
Local Authority
Leicester
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Leicester South

Further Information

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...