---
title: "Preliminary Market Engagement - Outsourced Meal prep and Transported In Catering Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04eecf"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04eecf"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04eecf.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04eecf.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Missing"
published: "2025-03-18"
---

# Preliminary Market Engagement - Outsourced Meal prep and Transported In Catering Service

Buyer: Missing  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04eecf

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## Summary

ACE (Academies for Character & Excellence) is inviting contractors to participate in a tender for providing an Outsourced "Meal Preparation Delivered In" Catering Service for six schools in Somerset. The contract is currently in the planning stage, and a preliminary market engagement is scheduled, with the tender to be published on 4th April 2025. The tender involves delivering high-quality, efficient meal preparation and transportation services, with the engagement period concluding on the same date. Key dates include the contract start on 1st September 2025 and ending on 31st August 2026, with a potential extension until 31st August 2027. The procurement is overseen by PHP Law LLP in Totnes, United Kingdom, and spans the UKK23 region within the services category.

This tender provides significant growth opportunities for businesses, particularly those specialising in catering and transportation services with an ability to align with the Trust's ethos and service efficiency requirements. The opportunity suits small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) capable of delivering a streamlined service that minimises journey times and ensures compliance with food quality standards. The requirement includes managing the transfer (TUPE) of existing staff linked to meal transportation, providing management information, partnership working, and continuous improvement, especially for Free School Meals (FSM) pupils. Businesses adept in innovative solutions and effective delivery scheduling will be well-positioned to compete for this contract.

## Notice

The Trust is seeking a Contractor that will deliver an Outsourced "Meal Preparation Delivered In" Catering Service for this contract. There are 6 schools in Somerset. The current contract ends in August 2025 and the production kitchens currently preparing and serving the meals are part of another Trust and will no longer be available for a new contract. the Contractor shall: 1. offer a service that is aligned to the vision, value and ethos of the Trust who deliver 'excellence' in their own in-house catering service. 2. formulate a service delivery schedule that accounts for each site's geographical location, is streamlined, efficient and ensures journey times are below 30 mins. 3. deliver a high-quality service, ensuring food quality, selecting suitable menu choices that can be transported and served effectively whilst delivering value for money for schools, parents and pupils using the services. 4. provide management information and partnership working to improve take-up of meals, and continuous improvement particularly for FSM pupils. 5. be responsible for TUPE of existing staff who are associated with the transporting of the meals the schools are: School Address Ashill Primary School Road, Ashill, Ilminster, TA19 9ND Buckland St Mary Buckland St Mary, Chard, TA20 3SJ Hatch Beauchamp Station Road, Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton, TA3 6SQ Holy Trinity South Street, Taunton, TA1 3AF Stockland Primary Stockland, Honiton, EX14 9EF Winsham Primary Church Street, Winsham, Near Chard, TA20 4HU

### Planning Information

The Trust Director of Operations Sam Ward is seeking potential solutions ahead of the catering service tender being published on the 4th April. 
The Trust are open to innovative solutions and options around splitting the service to the schools between different solutions or production kitchens. 
Please email tenders@phplaw.co.uk if you would like to participate in the preliminary market engagement by having a meeting with the Director of Opertions. 
All meetings will be minuted with any implications on our requirements or tender approach transparently updated. No prospective supplier would be put at a disadvantage.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010041-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 Mar 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 4 Apr 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2026 |
| 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 | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Missing |
| Additional buyers | ACE (ACADEMIES FOR CHARACTER & EXCELLENCE); PHP LAW LLP |
| Locality | TOTNES |
| Post town | Torquay |
| Postcode | N/A |
| Country | Not specified |
| ITL 1 | Not specified |
| ITL 2 | Not specified |
| ITL 3 | Not specified |
| Local authority | Not specified |
| Electoral ward | Not specified |
| Westminster constituency | Not specified |
| Delivery location | TLK23 Somerset CC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

### Codes

- 55500000 - Canteen and catering services

## Release History

- 18 Mar 2025 at 21:12 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010041-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010041-2025
  18th March 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.acexcellence.co.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.phplaw.co.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04eecf. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04eecf.json.