--- title: "CBC-1851-T-TH HAF - Holiday Activities and Food Programme" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-eb92bf0d-5c96-4e2a-9243-673cba8bccee" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-eb92bf0d-5c96-4e2a-9243-673cba8bccee" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eb92bf0d-5c96-4e2a-9243-673cba8bccee.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eb92bf0d-5c96-4e2a-9243-673cba8bccee.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL" published: "2025-10-13" --- # CBC-1851-T-TH HAF - Holiday Activities and Food Programme Buyer: CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-eb92bf0d-5c96-4e2a-9243-673cba8bccee [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-eb92bf0d-5c96-4e2a-9243-673cba8bccee) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-eb92bf0d-5c96-4e2a-9243-673cba8bccee.json) ## Summary The procurement process for the "HAF - Holiday Activities and Food Programme" tender is managed by Central Bedfordshire Council. This tender, classified under "Children's holiday-camp services," is part of a broader government initiative to provide over £200 million per year for three financial years, starting in April 2025, to support children eligible for free school meals. The programme will run during Easter, Summer, and Christmas holidays across various locations in Central Bedfordshire. The tender is currently at the tender stage, with an open procurement method specified as "open procedure (below threshold)." The tender period ends on 10th November 2025, and the contract period extends from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029. This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses in the sectors of multi-sport, creative, and enriching holiday club services, especially those experienced in providing inclusive activities for children and young people, including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The target is to support over 7,000 eligible children per year. Organisations capable of leveraging local partnerships and offering consistent and enriching activities are well-suited to compete. This tender is not geared specifically towards SMEs or the voluntary and community sector enterprises, making it suitable for established service providers with the capability to handle substantial programme logistics and delivery. ## Notice On August 28th, 2025, the government announced a further investment of over PS200 million per year over the next 3 financial years for the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF). The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that it will be providing funding to local authorities to coordinate a programme that provides healthy food and enriching activities to eligible children during the Easter, Summer and Christmas Holidays for the next three years starting April 2025. Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated funding to support over 7,000 children per year who receive free school meals. Full details of the HAF programme can be found on the Gov.uk website. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/holiday-activities-and-food-programme Research has shown that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families. For some children this can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from low-income households being: * less likely to access organised out-of-school activities. * more likely to experience 'unhealthy holidays' in terms of nutrition and physical health. * more likely to experience social isolation. The HAF programme is a response to this issue, with evidence showing that free holiday clubs can have a positive impact on children and young people, and that they work best when they: * provide consistent and easily accessible enrichment activities. * cover more than just breakfast or lunch. * involve children (and parents) in food preparation. * use local partnerships and connections, particularly with the voluntary and community organisation sector. This specification is for activities to run during the designated school holidays as indicated by the DfE for the three financial years starting from April 2025. All children who are in school year R (Reception) up to year 11 who attend a school in Central Bedfordshire and who receive benefits related Free School Meals will be eligible to attend a holiday programme in Central Bedfordshire. To provide the high-quality enriching activities to our pupils, Central Bedfordshire Council are seeking to engage with suitably qualified and experienced organisations to provide well organised fully inclusive multi-sport, creative, and enriching holiday club activity camps in various locations across the authority for eligible children and young people within this age range. Clubs should be accessible for all children and young people that meet the criteria including those with additional special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) Overall, local authorities are expected to offer the equivalent of 6 weeks' holiday provision to eligible children as indicated by the DfE in the core offer guidance as detailed below and on the DfE HAF webpage. Additional information: Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d32a043e-1cda-4730-a33a-ac50948be979 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 13 Oct 2025 | | Submission deadline | 10 Nov 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL | | Locality | SHEFFORD | | Post town | Stevenage | | Postcode | SG17 5TQ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLH25 Central Bedfordshire | | Local authority | Central Bedfordshire | | Electoral ward | Shefford | | Westminster constituency | Hitchin | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 55240000 - Holiday centre and holiday home services - 55241000 - Holiday centre services - 55242000 - Holiday home services - 55243000 - Children's holiday-camp services - 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people - 85312120 - Daycare services for handicapped children and young people ## Release History - 13 Oct 2025 at 10:27 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d32a043e-1cda-4730-a33a-ac50948be979 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d32a043e-1cda-4730-a33a-ac50948be979 13th October 2025 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/centralbedfordshire/aspx/ Additional information on how to apply for this contract ## Notice URLs - http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/holiday-activities-and-food-programme ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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