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Dartford Science and Technology College ~ Catering Tender

Dartford Science and Technology College

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

17 Sep 2026 at 13:39

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Dartford Science and Technology College is seeking a contractor to provide all catering services within its existing school facilities in Dartford, Kent. The service covers morning break, lunch, hospitality and free-issue requirements, including free school meals charged according to consumption and net food cost. The school has 860 students and 101 teaching and support staff, with a requirement to serve a broad range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The appointed contractor will be expected to review the current service and recommend improvements, including exciting new food concepts. This is a school catering services contract for a local authority maintained 11–18 girls’ school with co-educational post-16 provision.

The procurement has reached tender: the school invited offers through an open competitive flexible procedure, with electronic submission allowed in English. Enquiries were due by 30 October 2026 at 12:00, and tenders were due by 5 February 2027 at 12:00. The contract period is 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2030, with renewal provisions described as 3+2 and a maximum extent date of 31 July 2032. The gross estimated value is £1,373,260. The requirement is one lot and is evaluated on quality weighted at 70% and price at 30%. The award decision period was scheduled to end on 29 March 2027. It is a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the contractor offering a guaranteed annual return or cost per annum; the school retains control of cash tariffs.

This opportunity suits school catering operators able to run a full service in existing facilities across a 190-day school year, covering breaks, lunches, hospitality, free school meals and other free-issue provision. Strong bidders will be able to design appealing food concepts, respond to varied pupil tastes and dietary requirements, and review an established service with practical recommendations for improvement. Suppliers need the operational capacity to serve 860 students alongside 101 teaching and support staff, while managing consumption-based charging for free school meals and hospitality. The contract is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. It will suit experienced education caterers comfortable with a Guaranteed Performance Contract, guaranteed annual returns or costs, and working within school-controlled cash tariffs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Dartford Science and Technology College ~ Catering Tender

Notice Description

DSTC is a nurturing, engaging local authority maintained 11-18 school where students achieve well and flourish. DSTC is unique in Dartford as the only non-selective school for girls.In addition we have a coeducational Post 16. We pride ourselves on the excellent relationships between staff, students and parents. We are committed to providing enriched opportunities and experiences that promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM), while actively cultivating an ethos that values learning and ensures our students are safe, happy, and empowered to achieve. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 860 students on roll and 101 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The School would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1/8/2027 to 31/7/2030 and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the School a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with Dartford Science and Technology College for the duration of this contract. The School year is based on a calendar of 195 days. Five days are to be used for staff professional development which means that School will be open to receive students for the legal minimum of 190 days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the School, which currently includes morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. 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. 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-Kent:-School-catering-services./FXPT3F6NM9 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/FXPT3F6NM9

Lot Information

Lot 1

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

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07746a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088222-2026
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
£1,373,260 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,373,260 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Sep 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
5 Feb 20275 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Aug 2027 - 31 Jul 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
Dartford Science and Technology College
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
KENT
Postcode
DA1 2LY
Postcode Area
Dartford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ43 Kent Thames Gateway
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent
Local Authority
Dartford
Electoral Ward
Princes
Westminster Constituency
Dartford

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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