--- title: "CBC-1797-T-TS Catering Services - Shefford Lower School" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-051eb0" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051eb0" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051eb0.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051eb0.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL" published: "2025-08-22" --- # CBC-1797-T-TS Catering Services - Shefford Lower School Buyer: CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051eb0 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051eb0) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051eb0.json) ## Summary Central Bedfordshire Council, a sub-central government authority located in Shefford, United Kingdom, has recently awarded a contract for catering services at Shefford Lower School. The procurement process, which was below threshold and followed an open competition method, involved Aspens Catering Services being selected as the supplier. The tender, identified as CBC-1797-T-TS, falls under the services industry category, specifically catering and school catering services. The contract was awarded on 22nd August 2025, with the commencement date set for 1st September 2025, and the contract period is three years, with options for two one-year extensions, potentially extending until 31st August 2030. The tender invitations collected by 20th June 2025 resulted in five submissions, leading to the final selection. This contract presents significant opportunities for SMEs specialising in catering, particularly those focusing on educational institutions. The prospective growth is influenced by the light touch procurement regime, encouraging broad participation. Businesses adept at providing high-quality catering services, and those with a robust operational framework in a school environment, are well-positioned to pursue similar opportunities. As the contract explicitly encourages SME participation, it stands as a lucrative avenue for small and medium enterprises to expand within the public sector. ## Notice Shefford Lower School Catering Services Please read and follow the information and guidance supplied below and within the Tender documents, this will help with your tender submission. Word count limits apply, any information going over will not be considered. Respond to ALL questions. Additional documents or information not required will be disregarded. Please note timeline with regards to questions and submission dates. All communications, correspondences and clarifications must be sent via the In-tend portal. Do not contact the Service area for information, please use the correspondence facility Regularly view the Clarification tab for updates or responses to questions received by bidders. Questions asked together with the response, will be made available to all bidders (if not Private and Confidential), this to ensure a fair and consistent approach to all. Avoid uploading your return just prior to closing deadline as you may incur IT issues and we will not accept Tender Returns via e-mail. The Council will provide as much support and information as it can to help guide you through the Tender process. If there is anything you are not sure of or need clarification on, please contact the Procurement lead using the correspondence facility within the In-tend electronic tendering system. Opting In To inform us of your decision to participate and to be able to submit a tender you will be required to Opt In. Opting In will confirm to us of your involvement and your intention to submit a tender return. Opting Out Will confirm that you are no longer interested in submitting a tender return. You will be able to provide a reason as to your decision if you wish. This will cease any system-generated communications. You will be able to opt back in at any point. Target contract commencement date: 1st September 2025 Contract term: 3 years +1+1 optional ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050814-2025 | | Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Aug 2025 | | Submission deadline | 17 Jun 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 3 Jul 2025 | | Contract period | 31 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £575,000 | | Lots value | £575,000 | | Awards value | £745,118 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Active | | 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 | TLH East (England) | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | ASPENS CATERING SERVICES | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services ### Codes - 55520000 - Catering services - 55524000 - School catering services ## Release History - 22 Aug 2025 at 10:29 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050814-2025 - 29 May 2025 at 09:19 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028350-2025 - 23 May 2025 at 09:53 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025913-2025 - 22 May 2025 at 14:37 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025135-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050814-2025 22nd August 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028350-2025 29th May 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025913-2025 23rd May 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025135-2025 22nd May 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/centralbedfordshire/aspx/Home Tender documents and details can be found on the In-tend Supplier portal and details on FTS. ## Notice URLs - https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/ - 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-051eb0. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051eb0.json.