---
title: "Catering Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078782"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078782"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078782.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078782.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Connect Academy Trust"
published: "2026-10-14"
---

# Catering Services

Buyer: Connect Academy Trust  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078782

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078782.json)

## Summary

Connect Academy Trust is seeking a provider for school catering across nine schools in Plymouth, Torquay and Newton Abbot. The service covers daily meals for pupils, free school meals and hospitality, alongside nutritional compliance, sustainability objectives and social value commitments. This is a catering services contract (CPV 55520000) for schools across the Trust. Suppliers would be responsible for delivering food and catering services at the schools, with provision shaped around pupils’ needs and the Trust’s nutritional and wider sustainability aims.

The Trust invited offers through an open competition using the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. The enquiry deadline was 2 November 2026 at 23:59 UTC, and the submission deadline was 16 November 2026 at 23:59 UTC. The contract is valued at £850,000 excluding VAT (£1,020,000 including VAT). It is due to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with an extension possible up to 31 March 2032 if service standards and key performance indicators are met. Quality accounts for 30% of evaluation, the commercial proposal 25%, mobilisation and TUPE 10%, social value 15%, sustainability 15%, and innovation and added value 5%.

The opportunity suits catering suppliers with experience in the education sector and the capacity to serve multiple schools. Relevant strengths include producing appealing menus, engaging pupils, supporting free school meal provision and managing allergies, customer service and staffing. The Trust expects suppliers to demonstrate financial stability, appropriate insurance, safeguarding compliance and effective food safety management systems. TUPE experience is important for managing staff transfer, training, parent communications and implementation. Bids should also show how the supplier can deliver local employment, apprenticeships, community engagement and educational activities, while reducing food miles, carbon emissions, food waste and packaging. Small and medium-sized businesses are identified as suitable to bid.

## Notice

The Trust invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified catering providers for the provision of school catering services across nine schools within the Trust (based in Plymouth, Torquay and Newton Abbott). Current value of contract is PS850,000. The contract will include: * Daily pupil meal provision * Free School Meal provision * Hospitality services * Nutritional compliance * Sustainability objectives * Social value commitments The procurement will be conducted under the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Interested suppliers must demonstrate: * Relevant education sector experience * Financial stability * Appropriate insurances * Safeguarding compliance * Food safety management systems * TUPE experience The estimated contract commencement date is 1 April 2027.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: If service provision meets standard and KPIs are met, we would consider extending the contract.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096984-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 16 Nov 2026 |
| 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 | £850,000 |
| Lots value | £850,000 |
| 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 | Connect Academy Trust |
| Locality | PLYMOUTH |
| Postcode area | Plymouth |
| Postcode | PL6 8RF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK4 Devon |
| ITL 3 | TLK41 Plymouth |
| Local authority | Plymouth |
| Electoral ward | Moor View |
| Westminster constituency | Plymouth Moor View |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

### Codes

- 55520000 - Catering services

## Release History

- 14 Oct 2026 at 12:57 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096984-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096984-2026
  14th October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-24087

## Notice URLs

- https://www.connectacademytrust.co.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-078782. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078782.json.