---
title: "Catering Technologies and Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077a3d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077a3d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077a3d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077a3d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION LIMITED"
published: "2026-09-25"
---

# Catering Technologies and Services

Buyer: THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION LIMITED  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077a3d

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## Summary

The University Caterers Organisation Limited (TUCO) plans to procure catering technology and related services for its member institutions, including universities and colleges, healthcare organisations and local authorities. The intended framework covers systems used to run catering operations: purchasing-to-payment software, food safety and compliance tools, digital signage, electronic point-of-sale systems, greenhouse gas calculators and food waste management systems. The work is intended for use across the United Kingdom. Suppliers may be relevant if they provide one or more of these technology solutions or supporting services to institutional catering operations.

This procurement is at the planning stage: TUCO has announced its intention to establish an open framework, but has not yet invited tenders. It anticipates using the open procedure and dividing the framework into six lots, one for each technology area. The estimated value is £1.2 million a year and £9.6 million over eight years; the stated gross value is £11.52 million. The planned contract period runs from 1 December 2027 to 30 November 2035. TUCO expects to publish a preliminary market engagement notice on 10 May 2027, with a supplier questionnaire seeking feedback on the proposed lots, commercial models and suppliers’ capabilities. No evaluation criteria are set out at this stage.

The framework is suited to suppliers with products or services in one or more of the six catering technology areas, rather than only firms offering a complete catering operation. The planned lot structure offers distinct areas for specialist providers, and small and medium-sized businesses are identified as suitable. Suppliers can prepare to contribute to TUCO’s planned market engagement by considering how the proposed lots and commercial models fit their offer and by giving feedback on market capability when the questionnaire is issued. The intended customers span higher and further education, healthcare, local authorities and other TUCO members, so relevant experience serving institutional catering operations may help suppliers shape a suitable response when the tender is developed.

## Notice

TUCO intends to establish an Open Framework for Catering Technologies and Services, covering technology solutions used by TUCO member institutions (higher education, further education, healthcare, local authority and other member organisations) to run their catering operations. The Framework is anticipated to be structured into six Lots: P2P System; Food Safety & Compliance; Digital Signage; EPOS (Point of Sale); Greenhouse Gas Calculator; and Food Waste Management Systems. Estimated annual value is PS1.2m; PS9.6m over 8 years Open Framework (a scheme of successive frameworks under section 49 of the Procurement Act 2023), anticipated to be awarded following the Open procedure. This Pipeline Notice provides advance notice of TUCO's intention to establish an Open Framework for Catering Technologies and Services. A UK2 Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN) will follow in due course, which will include a supplier questionnaire to gather feedback from potential suppliers on the proposed Lot structure, commercial models, and market capability ahead of the tender. Suppliers interested in this opportunity are encouraged to look out for the UK2 notice and to respond to the questionnaire when published.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090870-2026 |
| Notice type | UK1 - Pipeline Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 25 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 11 May 2027 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Dec 2027 - 30 Nov 2035 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £9,600,000 |
| 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 | THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION LIMITED |
| Locality | MANCHESTER |
| Postcode area | Manchester |
| Postcode | M2 5GP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD33 Manchester |
| Local authority | Manchester |
| Electoral ward | Deansgate |
| Westminster constituency | Manchester Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages
- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 30200000 - Computer equipment and supplies
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 25 Sep 2026 at 10:36 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090870-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090870-2026
  25th September 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.tuco.ac.uk/
- 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-077a3d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077a3d.json.