--- title: "The True Learning Partnership Framework Catering Tender 2026/27" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f223" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f223" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f223.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f223.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "RPJ3 Group" published: "2026-09-04" --- # The True Learning Partnership Framework Catering Tender 2026/27 Buyer: RPJ3 Group Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f223 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f223) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f223.json) ## Summary RPJ3 Group is procuring a multi-supplier framework for school catering services for The True Learning Partnership, enabling its schools to source catering provision when needed. The initial arrangement covers five schools, with other schools potentially joining later. Services must be flexible in delivery and operation, support each school’s needs and ethos, and provide good value. The requirement covers catering services across Trust schools, including full proposals for individual schools. Later schools joining the arrangement will use a mini-competition among framework suppliers. The procurement is for services rather than goods or construction, and is classified as school catering services under CPV 55524000. The opportunity suits catering operators able to support multiple schools and adapt provision to different local requirements. The process has reached tender: RPJ3 Group invited suppliers to participate through a selective competitive flexible procedure. Interested suppliers first complete a scored Procurement Specific Questionnaire; the highest-scoring candidates are then invited to submit a full tender, followed by interviews or presentations before framework suppliers are selected. Expressions of interest are due by 28 September 2026 at 12:00 UK time. Site surveys and tender briefings are planned for late October 2026, tender responses for mid-November 2026, and interviews for early December 2026. The award period ends on 10 December 2026. There is one lot, with an estimated value of £6,000,000 excluding VAT (£7,200,000 including VAT). The contract runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with two one-year extensions available until 31 March 2032. Quality and financial criteria each carry 50%. This opportunity suits established school catering providers and other catering businesses able to demonstrate strong local infrastructure, reliable operational support and flexibility across several sites. Suppliers need the labour capacity to maintain service levels, including relief cover, and must be able to respond to the differing needs and ethos of individual schools. The selection process tests both economic and technical capability through the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, followed by qualitative schedules, financial schedules, a set brief and an interview or negotiation stage. Full tender responses require 11 qualitative schedules and six or seven financial schedules, including a fixed annual price. A minimum employer’s liability insurance level of £10 million is required. Small and medium-sized enterprises are identified as suitable participants, and the framework is expected to appoint between one and three suppliers. ## Notice The True Learning Partnership (TTLP) 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 5 schools in this framework, however, other schools may call off later. It should be noted that it is not mandatory for Trust 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 late October 2026. Tender response deadline is planned as Mid November 2026 and it is envisaged that interviews will take place in early December 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/083852-2026 | | 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 | 4 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £6,000,000 | | Lots value | £6,000,000 | | 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 | | Postcode area | 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 | TLD6 Cheshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services ### Codes - 55524000 - School catering services ## Release History - 4 Sep 2026 at 12:05 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083852-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083852-2026 4th September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=652306 PSQ document for The True Learning Partnership Framework Catering Tender 2026/27 ## 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-06f223. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f223.json.