--- title: "Invitation to Tender for the provision of Catering Services at Bishop Stopford School" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-060351" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060351" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060351.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060351.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "BISHOP STOPFORD SCHOOL" published: "2026-01-10" --- # Invitation to Tender for the provision of Catering Services at Bishop Stopford School Buyer: BISHOP STOPFORD SCHOOL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-060351 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060351) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060351.json) ## Summary Bishop Stopford School, located in Kettering, United Kingdom, is inviting tenders for the provision of catering services. This opportunity, aimed at refining and enhancing their current catering arrangements, presents a three-year contract starting 1st September 2026, with a provision for two additional one-year extensions contingent upon satisfactory service performance. The process is in the tender stage, with key milestones including site visits on 26th January 2026, a clarification deadline on 20th February 2026, and tender submission deadline on 27th February 2026. Presentations and evaluations will occur in March, with a contract award expected by 1st May 2026. The tender calls for an open procurement method within the industry category of school meals and services, underlining a commitment to a high-quality, student-focused catering provision. This tender presents robust business growth opportunities for companies specialising in school catering, particularly those experienced in providing high-quality, cost-effective, and health-conscious meal services. The successful business will require a strong management capability to ensure minimal school oversight, alongside the ability to introduce innovative catering concepts that attract and encourage healthy eating habits among students. Companies that can offer a proactive approach, backed by a reliable area manager, and invest in marketing and maintaining a strong relationship with the school will find this an ideal contract to bid for. The opportunity caters to small and medium enterprises, particularly those focused on branded catering solutions with a customer-centric ethos, aligning with the school’s goals of enhanced service quality and greater student participation. ## Notice Bishop Stopford School has decided to tender their catering services to investigate the financial and qualitative benefits they could be offered through this process. The contract will be awarded for a three-year duration with the option of two additional, one-year extensions. This is subject to the satisfactory performance of the work. Their preferred arrangement is for a guaranteed return of nil subsidy catering service, which operates a special agreement for VAT, but the School are open to suggestions. The quality of the service and the proposed budget for the second year 2027-28 will be reviewed three months before the expiry of the first twelve months. The School at this time reserves the right to terminate the contract should either the quality or future costs be unacceptable. Aims of the Service Bishop Stopford School wish to be at the forefront of educational catering and as such require a modern, branded offer that reflects the leading trends in the industry. At this time, the School's wish is to commence a catering contract, with a partner who shares their vision for a customer-focused service that attracts the maximum number of students. The meals that are to be provided must be appealing to customers, imaginative, provide good value for money and be nutritionally balanced to encourage all students to make an educated choice. The service is currently managed by a contractor, where the catering team have delivered a good service to the students for many years. The School now feel that it is time to refresh the current contract, to allow the service to be taken to the next level, which will deliver the latest catering concepts and an even better service for its students. The School's objectives for the new contract are as follows: - * A catering service that is well managed and requires minimal involvement from the School's management team. * A strong Contractor Area Manager who will develop and lead the team to deliver exceptional customer service, a consistently high-quality food offer and spend a substantial amount of time on site at the outset to undertake this. * A Contractor who is proactive in their relationship management with the School. * Investment in the School's Catering service through increased marketing in return for a tenure of contract. * A higher number of students and staff using the facilities by providing a high quality, affordable and nutritious meal. * A catering service that encourages students to take a heathy and balanced meal. * Food and drinks that look appetising and are attractively presented. * A hospitality service that will help showcase the School through events to parents and visitors. * A Contractor that adopts a flexible and proactive approach to all School activities. * A service that is professionally merchandised and marketed with discretion and to the mutual benefit of the School and the Contractor. * A Contractor that operates using the optimum level of staffing. Catering Tender Schedule: Contract Start Date - 1st September 2026 Tender issued - 9th January 2026 Site Visits by Contractors - Monday 26th January 2026 Contractor Clarification Deadline - 20th February 2026 Tender Return Deadline - 27th February 2026 Evaluation - Early March 2026 Presentations - 24th March 2026 Reference Site Visits - WC 13th April 2026 Contract Award by - 1st May 2026 Mobilisation Meeting - 10 days after contract award ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: The contract will be awarded for a three-year duration with the option of two additional, one-year extensions. This is subject to the satisfactory performance of the work. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002079-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 10 Jan 2026 | | Submission deadline | 27 Feb 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,156,382 | | Lots value | £1,156,382 | | 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 | BISHOP STOPFORD SCHOOL | | Locality | KETTERING | | Post town | Northampton | | Postcode | NN15 6BJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLF East Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire | | ITL 3 | TLF25 North Northamptonshire | | Local authority | North Northamptonshire | | Electoral ward | Wicksteed | | Westminster constituency | Kettering | | Delivery location | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products - 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services ### Codes - 15894210 - School meals - 55524000 - School catering services ## Release History - 10 Jan 2026 at 08:11 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002079-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002079-2026 10th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - 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-060351. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060351.json.