This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

30 Oct 2026 at 12:00

Summary of the contracting process

Anglian Learning is seeking a provider for catering across its 23 schools in East Anglia: 10 secondary schools and 13 primary schools, including two pre-schools. Services cover breakfast, morning break, lunch and after-school provision throughout the academic year, with hospitality supplied on request. The trust wants fresh, locally sourced ingredients prepared on site and menus tailored to the needs of each school’s pupils. The contract is trust-wide rather than divided into lots, to maintain consistent service and management and achieve economies of scale. The schools are in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, including Cambridge, Bottisham, Linton, Soham, Clare, Newport and Wimbish. This is a school catering services contract.

Anglian Learning invited offers through a two-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure. The first stage is a Procurement Specific Questionnaire; between five and 10 candidates who meet the requirements will be selected for the Invitation to Tender, with a minimum score of 60% required but no guarantee of selection. At the tender stage, responses are weighted 65% for quality and 35% for price. Expressions of interest and enquiries were due by 27 November 2026 at 12 noon. The buyer set 15 March 2027 as the award decision deadline. The contract runs from 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2030, with an option to extend for up to two years, to 31 July 2032. The stated contract value is £18.65 million; hospitality is billed separately. The trust reserves the right not to appoint.

This opportunity suits an established school caterer able to manage a consistent, multi-site service across a large and growing academy trust. The provider will need to deliver fresh, locally sourced food prepared on site, with flexible menus that support pupils’ nutritional, brain-health and physical-health needs. The trust is looking for a partner that can improve existing services, bring creative ideas and add value, while working collaboratively and developing and supporting catering staff in a family-oriented environment. Applicants must have achieved at least £5 million annual turnover and hold employers’ liability and public liability insurance of at least £10 million. The successful provider will take on catering staff who are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme, and may be asked to serve additional schools joining the trust during the contract. SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises are identified as suitable.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Anglian Learning - Catering Tender

Notice Description

Anglian Learning is a successful multi-academy trust in East Anglia. We provide inclusive education and equal opportunities, celebrating our differences and supporting learners of all abilities and backgrounds. Our academies consist of 14 primary, 8 secondary schools and 2 sixth forms, each retaining their unique identity and ethos. We value a culture of supportive, respectful relationships. Our people are empowered to embrace new ideas and think creatively as we Transform Together. Further information regarding Anglian Learning can be obtained here: https://anglianlearning.org/ Tender information: The successful tenderer will be required to provide excellent catering services to Anglian Learning, which includes the following locations: Secondary Bassingbourne Village College Bottisham Village College Howard Community Academy Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport Linton Village College Sawston Village College Soham Village College Stour Valley Community School The Netherhall School The Oakes College Cambridge Primary Bottisham Community Primary School Clare Community Primary School Fen Ditton Community Primary School Kennett Primary School Linton Heights Junior School Marleigh Primary School Stapleford Community Primary School The Icknield Primary School and Pippins Pre-School The Meadow Primary School The Pines Primary School and Pine Cones Pre-School The Shade Primary School The Weatheralls Primary School Wimbish Primary Academy The contract term being tendered is for three years, 1st August 2027 - 31st July 2030. There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31st July 2032. The contract offers an excellent opportunity to review and propose enhancements to the current catering services. This includes but is not limited to; breakfast, morning break, lunchtime and after school services, over the academic year, plus hospitality services upon request. The Client is keen to secure a high quality catering service including fresh locally sourced ingredients prepared on site, with a menu design that is flexible to suit the requirements of the specific students. The Client is proud of their 'family ethos' and expects both a tightly managed service and a management style delivered by the successful contractor that supports, encourages and develops the catering staff. The client is committed to providing a nutritious menu that has a focus on foods that promote both brain health and physical health. The client are looking for a contractor that is committed to being a fundamental partner in their holistic mental health and wellbeing strategy. The Client is not obliged to accept the lowest price submitted for this tender, rather they are keen to secure 'best value' from this contract and to deliver 'best value' to the students. Innovative and creative ideas as to how the services can be developed and value added, will be welcomed. The Client seeks a contractor that is keen to work in partnership and who will deliver to its highest abilities, at all times. Competitive Flexible Procedure This procurement will be run under the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This will follow a two stage approach, with stage 1 being the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). Here a minimum of 5 candidates (or less, in the event less than 5 meet the minimum criteria) and a maximum of 10 candidates, will progress to stage 2. Any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement and a minimum score of 60% must be achieved. A score of 60% will not guarantee selection, rather, the highest scores will be successful. Selected tenderers will then be invited to stage 2, the Invitation To Tender (ITT). Here, the evaluation of tender response will be set as 35% price and 65% quality. Value of contract: The annual value of the current contract is PS3,730,000 Therefore the value of this contract is PS18,650,000 The contract shall be a guaranteed performance contract with any hospitality requirements billed separately. Additional requirements and information: *The Client has a minimum requirement for a contractor's employers' liability and public liability insurances of PS10 million *The minimum annual turnover that your company must have achieved to be considered for this opportunity is PS5 million *There are incumbent catering staff currently within the Local Government Pension Scheme *The catering services are currently contracted to Impact Food Group (IFG) *Please note this is a growing Trust and any other schools that may join the Trust during the tenure of this new catering contract may, at the Trust's discretion, be added to this contract. *Please note that the successful tenderer will be required to pay 50% of the RIVA tender fee for this project directly to RIVA, upon their contract award. *Lots have been considered for this tender but the Trust very much seeks consistency of service and management and economies of scale across all schools and therefore this tender is let Trust wide (not in lot's) *The client reserves the right not to appoint in conclusion of this project. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Cambridge:-School-catering-services./7Y8E435Y73 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/7Y8E435Y73

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31st July 2032.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-079489
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/103142-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
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
£18,650,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£18,650,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
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
Anglian Learning
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CAMBRIDGE
Postcode
CB25 9DL
Postcode Area
Cambridge
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH1 East Anglia

Local Authority
East Cambridgeshire
Electoral Ward
Bottisham
Westminster Constituency
Ely and East Cambridgeshire

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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