---
title: "UK2 Market Engagement Notice - Light Catering Equipment"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06969e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06969e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06969e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06969e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF JUSTICE"
published: "2026-07-01"
---

# UK2 Market Engagement Notice - Light Catering Equipment

Buyer: MINISTRY OF JUSTICE  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06969e

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## Summary

The Ministry of Justice is embarking on a planning phase for a procurement process related to light catering equipment, with the main procurement category being goods. The process involves the procurement of items such as catering equipment, utensils, and cookware, which will be distributed to custodial establishments under the management of His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) across England and Wales. Key upcoming deadlines include the registration for market engagement by 17th July 2026. The planning stage entails gathering supplier input and conducting a possible virtual supplier engagement event in August 2026, culminating in a questionnaire response deadline on 31st July 2026. The anticipated contract will commence on 1st November 2027 and run until 31st October 2032, highlighting a structured pipeline aimed at guaranteeing sustainable procurement solutions.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises, that specialise in the supply of light catering equipment. By contributing to the supply of high-quality kitchen equipment to the HMPPS, businesses can strengthen their market presence within the public sector. The focus on sustainable and innovative product solutions promises additional opportunities for companies leading in eco-friendly practices and product innovation. Furthermore, the open procedure procurement method ensures a transparent and competitive tender process, encouraging a variety of suppliers to partake and potentially secure a lucrative contract to assure steady revenue streams and long-term partnerships with a central government authority.

## Notice

This contract covers all light catering equipment used in food preparation across HMPPS establishments, with 385 items currently listed on the catalogue. Forecasting is based on approximately 78,000 individual items and mixed-size packs (e.g. packs of 12 spoons). Goods must be delivered directly to each establishment in line with agreed delivery schedules, security requirements, and vehicle restrictions associated with historic prison archways.

### Planning Information

1. Description of Service Requirement
His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), an Agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), currently operates a national Light Catering Equipment (LCE) contract that provides catering equipment, utensils, cookware, food preparation equipment and associated products to custodial establishments across England and Wales.
The future requirement is expected to include:
• Supply of a broad range of light catering equipment products to prisons and other MoJ establishments.
• Maintenance of a comprehensive and regularly updated product catalogue.
• Provision of a reliable ordering and fulfilment service.
• Delivery of products to multiple locations across England and Wales.
• Management of product warranties, defects, returns and replacements.
• Access to sustainable and environmentally responsible product options where available.
• Customer support and account management services.
• Capacity to respond to changing operational requirements and demand levels.
The requirement will prioritise:
• Value for money.
• Quality, durability and fitness for purpose.
• Supply chain resilience and continuity of supply.
• Sustainability and environmental considerations.
• Efficient ordering and delivery arrangements.
• Flexibility to support changing operational needs across the prison estate.
The information set out above is preliminary and subject to change. Nothing in this notice should be taken as an indication of the final scope, specification, procurement procedure, or commercial structure.
________________________________________
2. Scope of Market Engagement
HMPPS is seeking supplier input into areas including, but not limited to, the following:
• Product ranges and market capability.
• Sustainable and innovative product solutions.
• Delivery models and logistics arrangements.
• Catalogue management and digital ordering solutions.
• Capacity, resilience and supply chain considerations.
• Pricing approaches and commercial structures.
• Mobilisation and implementation considerations.
• Risks, challenges and barriers to market participation.
________________________________________
3. Engagement Approach
3.1 Questionnaire
Suppliers will be invited to complete a structured Early Market Engagement Questionnaire (EMEQ) to provide market insight.
Responses will not be evaluated or used to assess supplier capability or suitability for this or any future procurement.
3.2 Supplier Engagement Event (Indicative)
HMPPS may hold a virtual supplier engagement event providing:
• An overview of the anticipated requirement.
• An opportunity for suppliers to seek clarification.
• Discussion of key market themes and opportunities.
• Information regarding the proposed procurement timeline and objectives.
This will be confirmed following receipt of the EMEQ responses, and details will be provided to registered suppliers as appropriate. Any supplier event will be open to all suppliers who register in accordance with this notice.
HMPPS may publish a summary of key themes, questions and responses following the event.
________________________________________
4. How to Participate
Suppliers wishing to participate should register their interest by email no later than 17:00 on 16 July 2026.
Email: Mojprocurementfood@justice.gov.uk 
Subject Line: LCE Market Engagement Registration – [Organisation Name]
Please include:
• Organisation name.
• Contact name and role.
• Contact email address.
• Brief description of your organisation's relevant experience within the catering equipment sector.
Registered suppliers will initially receive:
• Questionnaire documentation.
• Submission guidance.
• An invitation to any subsequent supplier engagement event if held.
Registration for, and participation in, this preliminary market engagement is not a prerequisite for participation in this or any future procurement.
________________________________________
5. Key Dates (Indicative)
Activity Date
Registration deadline 17:00 on 16/07/2026
Questionnaire issued 17/07/2026
Questionnaire response deadline 17:00 on 31/07/2026
Supplier engagement event (if held) TBC – August 2026
________________________________________
6. Important Information
• This is not a call for competition.
• Participation is voluntary and non-evaluative.
• Participation will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement process.
• HMPPS/MoJ is not obliged to commence a procurement as a result of this engagement exercise.
• Any future procurement will be conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
________________________________________
7. Equal Treatment and Transparency
HMPPS will ensure that:
• No supplier gains an unfair competitive advantage.
• Relevant information is shared appropriately at any future procurement stage.
• Engagement is conducted transparently, proportionately and in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
Any material information provided during the preliminary market engagement that may be relevant to a future procurement will be appropriately recorded and, where required, made available to all potential suppliers at an appropriate stage to ensure a level playing field.
________________________________________
8. Next Steps
Following market engagement, HMPPS will:
• Analyse supplier feedback and market intelligence.
• Refine the requirement and specification.
• Consider opportunities for innovation and sustainability.
• Develop the commercial model and contract structure.
• Finalise the procurement strategy and route to market.
A future opportunity may be advertised through the UK e-notification service in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061903-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 11 Jan 2027 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Nov 2027 - 31 Oct 2032 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £5,692,979 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MINISTRY OF JUSTICE |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1H 9AJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

### Codes

- 39311000 - Light catering equipment

## Release History

- 1 Jul 2026 at 14:54 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061903-2026
- 12 May 2026 at 12:10 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043437-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061903-2026
  1st July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043437-2026
  12th May 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/procurement
- 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-06969e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06969e.json.