--- title: "704_26 Outsourced Catering Services and Procurement Support" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-051159" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051159" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051159.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051159.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO" published: "2026-04-27" --- # 704_26 Outsourced Catering Services and Procurement Support Buyer: LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051159 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051159) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051159.json) ## Summary Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, is initiating an open tender process for contract '704_26 Outsourced Catering Services and Procurement Support,' focusing on catering and procurement consultancy within the UK. The procurement is at the tender stage with a submission deadline of 12:00 on 16 June 2026. The procurement is valued at £240 million and encompasses a framework agreement divided into four lots: Education, Social Care, All Other Public Sector, and Procurement Consultancy and Contract Management Support. The framework agreement is designed for public authorities, covering all UK regions, and is anticipated to start on 1 September 2026, running until 31 August 2028, with options for a 24-month extension. This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in catering services for various public sector entities, including education, social care, and diverse public sector organisations such as NHS trusts, cultural sites, and emergency services. Additionally, firms offering procurement consultancy services can participate, providing contract management and support for outsourced catering services. SMEs are encouraged to bid under the conditions of increased competition and potential market expansion. With a comprehensive framework structure, businesses experienced in both catering and consultancy services have a strategic opportunity to broaden their client base across the public sector nationwide. ## Notice ESPO is a public sector-owned professional buying organisation offering a comprehensive range of procurement services, including access to over 100 free-to-access framework solutions for the wider public sector. This procurement aims to establish a multi supplier framework to assist customers with outsourcing their catering services and provide customers with procurement consultancy support to assist customers in outsourcing their catering services. The framework is open for use by any "public body" as defined in Section 1 of the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 that also falls within one of the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: * Local Authorities, and certain: o Central government agencies and ministries o NHS and emergency (blue light) services o Schools, academies, colleges and universities o Registered charities o Registered social landlords Organisations likely to be appointed are those with experience of providing outsourced catering services to customers in education, social care and all other public sector sectors, alongside procurement consultants who can assist customers in outsourcing their catering service requirement. The Framework is divided into 4 lots: Lot 1. Education Lot 2. Social Care Lot 3. All Other Public Sector Lot 4. Procurement Consultancy and Contract Management Support for Outsourced Catering Services The objectives and outcomes this framework are intended to achieve are: * Attract market leading suppliers, alongside SMEs, driving competition across the framework. * Offer customers a compliant route to market * To ensure customers have access to a range of support with the inclusion of procurement consultants who can assist with their outsourced catering services requirements. Please refer to the tender documents for further details (including further details on each of the lots) - the closing date for submission of Tenders is 12:00 (12 noon / 12pm) on 16 June 2026. To tender (please proceed to step (e) if an expression of interest has already been completed): (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '704_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); (d) Express an interest; (e) Download the tender documents (from the ProContract Activity summary screen). Any questions or clarifications relating to this tender opportunity should be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal, once an Expression of interest has been completed. ### Lot Information Lot 1. Education This Lot is for the provision of Catering Services to education establishments including primary schools, secondary schools, multi-academy trusts, special schools, nurseries, colleges, universities, technical schools/colleges and/or any other public sector learning institutions. It is also envisaged that Customers looking for 'holiday food programmes will use this Lot to provide meals meeting the School Meal Standards in the holiday periods. It is expected that customers will require a wide range of catering provisions to include but not limited to dining room and canteen style services to grab and go, breakfast, after school clubs, hospitality and special events. In addition, the Lot will cover a range of service models including onsite or offsite preparation, service and consumption. Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the scope of the framework. Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. ESPO may choose to use the extension period(s) where: * The framework is performing well * It continues to broadly meet customer needs ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as x2 12-month periods). The total estimated framework value captured in this notice includes the option to extend in full as noted above. Note: The overall framework value has been automatically assigned to each lot in this notice as ESPO offers no guarantees or estimates of value that may pass through each individual lot (but the overall usage across all lots is not expected to exceed this overall framework value). Lot 2. Social Care This Lot includes the provision of Catering Services to all types of social care and health establishments which may include but is not limited to care homes, charities and home delivery meal services. The Lot will cover a range of catering provision including but not limited to 'meals on wheels' delivery provisions, dining room and canteen style services, hospitality and special events. It is also expected that a range of service models will be required including onsite or offsite preparation, service and consumption. Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the scope of the framework. Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. ESPO may choose to use the extension period(s) where: * The framework is performing well * It continues to broadly meet customer needs ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as x2 12-month periods). The total estimated framework value captured in this notice includes the option to extend in full as noted above. Note: The overall framework value has been automatically assigned to each lot in this notice as ESPO offers no guarantees or estimates of value that may pass through each individual lot (but the overall usage across all lots is not expected to exceed this overall framework value). Lot 3. All Other Public Sector This Lot includes the provision of Catering Services to all other areas of the Public Sector. It will cover a range of different customer types including Public Sector workplaces and managed buildings/spaces, art galleries, museums, leisure centres, country parks, historic buildings, concert halls, conference venues, training centres, exhibition centres, theatres, stadia, emergency services establishments, NHS hospital trusts (to include but not limited to patient care, staff and visitor food service), prisons and other Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Defence establishments. Any other Public Sector customers who do not fall into Lot 1 or Lot 2 will fall into Lot 3. It is expected that a wide range of catering provision will be required including but not limited to canteen, grab and go, trolley catering provision, hospitality and event catering. In addition, this Lot will cover a range of service models including onsite or offsite preparation, service and consumption. Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the scope of the framework. Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. ESPO may choose to use the extension period(s) where: * The framework is performing well * It continues to broadly meet customer needs ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as x2 12-month periods). The total estimated framework value captured in this notice includes the option to extend in full as noted above. Note: The overall framework value has been automatically assigned to each lot in this notice as ESPO offers no guarantees or estimates of value that may pass through each individual lot (but the overall usage across all lots is not expected to exceed this overall framework value). Lot 4. Procurement Consultancy and Contract Management Support for Outsourced Catering Services This Lot includes Suppliers who can offer Procurement Support carried out in line with the Procurement Act 2023. Typical services are likely to include gathering of information and documenting customer requirements, providing advice on evaluation methodologies, arranging and supporting Supplier site visits, Supplier demonstrations and interviews, conduct or assist with the Further Competitive Selection Process (preparation, evaluation and award, including managing the de-brief of Suppliers and Contract document drafting), fielding and supporting the customer to respond to any clarification questions raised in the Further Competitive Selection Process, legal support to include guidance on how to complete the Form of Contract and Call-Off Terms, guidance on service levels, TUPE and contract mobilisation. Suppliers awarded onto this lot are expected to assist customers with drafting and publishing notices as and when required throughout the procurement and award process. This lot will also include contract management, where typical services are likely to include the monitoring of Suppliers performance and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Supplier relationship management, the auditing of Supplier sites, Cost and efficiency savings being identified and ad-hoc advice on Outsourced Catering Services. Options: ESPO reserves the right to add or remove requirements throughout the life of the contract in line with the scope of the framework. Renewal: The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. ESPO may choose to use the extension period(s) where: * The framework is performing well * It continues to broadly meet customer needs ESPO reserves the right to implement the extension period in part, full, or in increments (such as x2 12-month periods). The total estimated framework value captured in this notice includes the option to extend in full as noted above. Note: The overall framework value has been automatically assigned to each lot in this notice as ESPO offers no guarantees or estimates of value that may pass through each individual lot (but the overall usage across all lots is not expected to exceed this overall framework value). ### Planning Information Suppliers are required to register and complete the relevant stages on the Central Digital Platform if they wish to participate or bid for this framework. Request for Information: Engagement is being undertaken via two Request for Information (RFI) questionnaires hosted on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org). The deadline for responding to the RFI questionnaires is 17:00 (5pm) on 17 December 2025. Suppliers wishing to participate in the RFI MUST first express an interest as follows: (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for opportunity '704_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest. Suppliers can access and respond to the RFI questionnaires in the Messages section of the eProcurement Portal (via the Activity dashboard once an expression of interest has been registered). Any questions or clarifications should similarly be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal. ESPO may contact suppliers to seek clarification or understanding of the information provided in their RFI response or to discuss their RFI responses in further detail. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038007-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 27 Apr 2026 | | Submission deadline | 16 Jun 2026 | | Future notice date | 13 Feb 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £200,000,000 | | Lots value | £200,000,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO | | Locality | LEICESTER | | Post town | Leicester | | Postcode | LE19 1ES | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire | | ITL 3 | TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland | | Local authority | Blaby | | Electoral ward | Enderby | | Westminster constituency | South Leicestershire | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 55500000 - Canteen and catering services - 79418000 - Procurement consultancy services ## Release History - 27 Apr 2026 at 11:39 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038007-2026 - 22 Oct 2025 at 12:38 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067484-2025 - 12 May 2025 at 15:30 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020620-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038007-2026 27th April 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067484-2025 22nd October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020620-2025 12th May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender - https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ To tender (please proceed to step (e) if an expression of interest has already been completed): (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '704_26' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); (d) Express an interest; (e) Download the tender documents (from the ProContract Activity summary screen). ## Notice URLs - https://www.espo.org/ - https://www.espo.org/amfile/file/download/file/9608/ - https://www.espo.org/legal - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-051159. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051159.json.