--- title: "Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust Framework Catering Tender 2026" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-069553" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069553" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069553.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069553.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "RPJ3 GROUP" published: "2026-05-11" --- # Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust Framework Catering Tender 2026 Buyer: RPJ3 GROUP Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069553 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069553) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069553.json) ## Summary RPJ3 Group, a public authority sub-central government entity located in Wirral, United Kingdom, is overseeing the procurement process for the "Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust Framework Catering Tender 2026." This tender falls under the industry category of school catering services, with a delivery location specified as UKD4 in the United Kingdom. The procurement is currently in the tender stage, with significant dates including a deadline for expressing interest on 1st June 2026, a planned tender response deadline in mid-October 2026, and a contract commencement date for the initial direct award schools scheduled for April 2027. The tender is conducted through a competitive flexible procedure allowing for selective procurement, aiming to have a catering contract finalised for a 3+1+1 year period. This tender provides substantial opportunities for businesses in the catering sector, particularly those with a strong local infrastructure capable of delivering high-quality and flexible catering services. With an estimated contract value of £9.6 million gross and a framework for up to three suppliers, businesses can significantly enhance their market presence and growth within the educational services sector. SMEs are considered suitable for participation, especially those that can meet the requirement of providing comprehensive qualitative and financial submissions. This framework allows for schools within the Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust to call off services as needed, offering ongoing opportunities for tender participation as new schools may join through mini tenders. Businesses with the capacity to offer competitive labour resources and maintain exemplary catering standards are well-placed to compete for this tender. ## Notice The Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust (MECMAT) are seeking to procure a number of providers for a multi-supplier framework for catering services. The main objective of this procurement exercise is to deliver the procurement of a framework that will enable the Trust to source catering services for its schools. There are initially 17 schools in this framework, however, other schools may call off later. It should be noted that it is not mandatory for schools to use this framework. Schools will only call off from this agreement if they have a requirement to do so. It is envisaged the number of contractors on the framework will be between 1 and 3 The provision of the service must demonstrate the best value approach and be flexible in its delivery and operation to ensure that the needs and ethos of individual schools are supported. This framework process is targeted to have a catering contract in place to commence in April 2027 for the initial direct award schools. Please note that this process covers all catering services within the Trust schools with full tender costings and proposals for the schools for a contract start in in April 2027 for the initial direct award schools. These details will be further explained in the ITT documents. The process will be through a competitive flexible procedure commencing with a participation stage to create a select bidder list following analysis of a PSQ document (within which the scoring criteria will be included). The nature of the contract demands a good local infrastructure to provide and maintain the level and standard of catering services and support required by the Trust. Labour resource/relief cover is very important. We have set a minimum Employer's (compulsory) liability insurance of 10,000,000 GBP). Following the analysis of PSQ's the selected bidders will be invited to attend site surveys and tender briefing initially planned for mid-September 2026. Tender response deadline is planned as Mid-October 2026 and it is envisaged that interviews will take place in mid-November 2026. The contract will be for a 3 +1 +1 period (5 years in total including the option to extend for 1 + 1years after the initial 3 year term). ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: The contract is for 3 years with the option to extend for a further 1 +1 years therefore 5 years in total ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042839-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 11 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £8,000,000 | | Lots value | £8,000,000 | | 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 | RPJ3 GROUP | | Locality | WIRRAL | | Post town | Chester | | Postcode | CH46 3SA | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD7 Merseyside | | ITL 3 | TLD74 Wirral | | Local authority | Wirral | | Electoral ward | Leasowe and Moreton East | | Westminster constituency | Wallasey | | Delivery location | TLD4 Lancashire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services ### Codes - 55524000 - School catering services ## Release History - 11 May 2026 at 09:12 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042839-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042839-2026 11th May 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=639531 PSQ Document for the MEC MAT framework catering tender 2026 ## 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-069553. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069553.json.