--- title: "Preliminary Market Engagement for the Provision of Event Catering Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06ba6c" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ba6c" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ba6c.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ba6c.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2026-06-22" --- # Preliminary Market Engagement for the Provision of Event Catering Services Buyer: LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ba6c [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ba6c) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ba6c.json) ## Summary Leicestershire County Council is currently in the planning stage of a public procurement process for preliminary market engagement (PME) concerning the provision of event catering services. This procurement process falls within the services category, focusing specifically on catering services for events held at Beaumanor Hall, Woodhouse, Leicestershire. The procurement involves engaging with the market to inform future outsourcing decisions for these services. Key dates include the deadline for submitting PME documents by 12:00 Noon on 8th July 2026 and for raising clarification questions by 12:00 Noon on 2nd July 2026. The process is facilitated via the East Midlands Tenders platform, under the tender ID DN819688, and is supported by legislation identified under the UKPGA 2023/54. This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in the catering industry to collaborate with a public authority and potentially secure non-house catering services for a variety of events. Ideal candidates are businesses experienced in providing diverse and flexible catering solutions, ranging from informal buffets to formal sit-down meals. The engagement phase will allow businesses to directly communicate their capabilities and help shape future council requirements, potentially leading to long-term contracts once the services are outsourced. This creates growth opportunities particularly for catering firms that can provide competitive, high-quality services in the Leicestershire region. ## Notice Preliminary Market Engagement (PME)/soft market test related to the possible provision of event catering services at Beaumanor Hall, Woodhouse, Leicestershire. Please note this is not an opportunity to tender but is an information gathering exercise to inform the Councils future requirement. The Council has run the Hall since the 1970's and currently provides all catering services in-house. Catering is provided for a wide range pf daytime and evening events including weddings, christenings, birthday parties and other celebration events as well as corporate events such as away days and training courses. Types of catering provided ranges from informal hot and cold buffet lunches to formal, sit down evening meals and wedding breakfasts. The Council is considering outsourcing some of it's event catering services to external providers and the purpose of this preliminary market engagement exercise is to garner views and information from the market to inform the future requirements of the Council. ### Planning Information The PME will take place via the Councils electronic procurement platform East Midlands Tenders. The PME survey document is available for download and completion via the platform accessed via the following link: https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ Providers wishing to take part in the PME exercise should register/log-in to the East Midlands Tenders portal via the above link and search for the PME using the reference DN819688. Providers are required to download the PME document, complete it offline and then attach the completed document to the portal by the deadline time and date of 12:00 Noon on 08 July 2026. Providers are able to raise clarification questions via the messaging facility of the portal. The deadline for raising clarification questions is 12:00 Noon on 02 July 2026. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058660-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Jun 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 8 Jul 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | LEICESTER | | Post town | Leicester | | Postcode | LE3 8RA | | 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 | Glenfield Faire | | Westminster constituency | Mid Leicestershire | | Delivery location | TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services ### Codes - 55520000 - Catering services ## Release History - 22 Jun 2026 at 15:24 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058660-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058660-2026 22nd June 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.leics.gov.uk - https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ - 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-06ba6c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ba6c.json.