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Framework Agreement for Catering Services at Blackdown Education Partnership Schools

Blackdown Education Partnership

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Sep 2026 at 18:17

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Blackdown Education Partnership, a multi-academy trust with 13 schools in Devon and Somerset, plans to procure catering services for six secondary schools; three of those schools also provide services to primary sites. The schools currently use a mix of contracted catering and externally supported in-house services. The work is school catering, delivered across the trust’s participating school sites in Devon and Somerset. The procurement is planned as a framework agreement. Red Box Consultancy Services is supporting the process, including market engagement and preparation of the tender materials.

The process is at the planning stage: the trust has set out its intention to procure, but has not yet issued an invitation to tender. It expects to release the tender documents and open bookings for site visits from the week commencing 5 October 2026. Site visits are expected in November 2026, with exact dates to be confirmed. The buyer expects bids by 5 January 2027, shortlist decisions on 13 January and presentations for shortlisted bidders on 21 January. The new contract is planned to start on 12 April 2027, for an initial three-year term, with two optional 12-month extensions. No procurement method, evaluation basis or contract value is stated in the available planning information.

The procurement is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, so smaller catering businesses may be eligible to compete. It is likely to interest suppliers able to provide catering across multiple secondary-school sites, including schools that also serve primary pupils. The mix of existing contracted and externally supported in-house arrangements may be relevant to suppliers experienced in taking on different service models. The planned site visits are intended to let contractors see the service and meet the client, providing an early chance to understand the operating environment and prepare for the tender. The available planning information does not set out specific accreditations, staffing requirements, capacity thresholds or experience criteria, so suppliers should look for these in the tender materials when released.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Framework Agreement for Catering Services at Blackdown Education Partnership Schools

Notice Description

Blackdown Education Partnership are a Multi Academy Trust of 13 Schools based in Devon & Somerset. This tender will include six secondary schools, three of which deliver to Primary sites. The schools currently have a mixture of contracted services (4 Secondaries) and externally supported in-house services (2 Secondaries). The new contract will commence from Mon 12th April 2027, following the Easter break. Key Dates: Market Engagement - Aug & Sept 2026 Red Box Data Gathering- Aug & Sept 2026 ITT release date- Est. Early October 2026 Contractor Site visits- November across several days, exact dates TBC Bid Deadline- 5th Jan 2027 Shortlisting announced- 13th Jan 2027 Presentations- 21st Jan between 9.30 - 3.30 pm Contract start date- Mon 12th April (after Easter break)

Planning Information

Contractors are invited to register interest in this procurement through Red Box Tender Portal, where all communication, documents and bids will be managed. If you are not already registered with Red Box, please email admin@redboxcs.com to request registration. We expect the ITT and supporting documents to be released and site visit bookings to open from W/C 5th October. Site visits will be held in November, giving contractors the opportunity to see service and meet the client. You must book onto these visits via the Red Box Portal. The deadline for bids will be 3pm January 5th 2027, with shortlisting on the 13th January 2027 and presentations for the shortlisted bidders on the 21st January 2027. New contract start date will be 12th April 2027, for a 3 year initial term and 2 x 12 month optional extensions.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077907
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090342-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Apr 2027 - 12 Apr 2030 3-4 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
Blackdown Education Partnership
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DEVON
Postcode
EX15 3AG
Postcode Area
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
TLK23 Somerset CC, TLK4 Devon
Local Authority
Mid Devon
Electoral Ward
Lower Culm
Westminster Constituency
Tiverton and Minehead

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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