Official UK procurement notice
Catering Services · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Bournemouth University (Education)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe University is seeking to appoint a professional and experienced catering contractor capable of delivering a student-focused, high-quality and innovative catering and hospitality service. The student experience is central to the University’s mission, and the successful contractor will be expected to provide a sector-leading service that promotes and prioritises a campus-first experience and improves overall student satisfaction. The successful supplier will be required to operate on a Nil‑Cost Guaranteed with Profit Share basis.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 10 Jan 2034, 23:59 GMT.
CPV: Catering services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£0
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (4)
- Quality Questions: 50%
- Presentation: 10%
- Price: 30%
- Environmental, Sustainability & Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (4)
- Quality Questions
- Environmental, Sustainability & Social Value
- Presentation
- Price
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 10 Jan 2034
- First published
- 2 Feb 2026, 11:01 GMT
- Last source update
- 17 Jul 2026, 12:05 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
EST/JH/503- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-056803- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0613f1Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 10 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
2 Feb 2026 → 10 Jan 2027 · 7 dates- Planning notice published267 days ago2 Feb 2026, 11:01 GMT
- Market engagement255 days ago13 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
A Preliminary Market Engagement document is available to potential participants as part of this notice. The documents sets out the high-level requirements of the engagement process including the scope of the exercise and how organisations may register their interest.
Here is an overview of the requirements:
The University carrying out a Preliminary Market Engagement exercise for Catering Services. This will inform the tender process to appoint a professional and experienced catering contractor capable of delivering a student-focused, high-quality and innovative catering and hospitality service. The student experience is central to the University's mission, and the successful contractor will be expected to provide a sector-leading service that promotes and prioritises a campus-first experience and improves overall student satisfaction.
Campus Locations
Catering services are required across the University's two principal campus locations:
- Talbot Campus
- Lansdowne Campus
Each campus serves a diverse student, staff, and visitor population, requiring a flexible, responsive catering and hospitality service.
Key requirements include:
- Cost neutral with a surplus, a service model that both delivers at no cost to the University, yet provides profit sharing for the University to reinvest back into its student experience
- A student centred, high-quality, contemporary and authentic food and beverage offer across all catering outlets
- Excellent value for money, including accessible low-price entry points, discounts and loyalty schemes
- A continually evolving and innovative service model, providing a contemporary offer that aligns with student's tastes and trends
- A sustainable and environmentally responsible operation, incorporating a robust and data driven "reduce, reuse, recycle" waste management strategy
- A technologically advanced service, providing digital solutions that enhance convenience, drive engagement and repeat custom
- A strong commitment to staff training, personal development, and education
Format of the Preliminary Market Engagement Exercise
The exercise will consist of:
- Written responses to the areas of the PME document identified as required.
- One-to-one meetings with suppliers that have responded to this exercise (hereafter referred to as Participants) via face to face on site at one of the University campus locations. Meeting duration will be a maximum of 1.5 hours.
The University will reduce the number of Participants from written responses to one-to-one discussions via the following method:
Management of Engagement Activity
- At least one SME will be included;
- At least one large enterprise will be included;
- At least one non-incumbent supplier will be included;
- At least one Participant with a registered address within Bournemouth will be included;
- At least one Participant with a registered address outside of Bournemouth will be included;
The above elements can/will only apply if at least one Participant meets that description.
If you wish to participate in this pre-market engagement exercise you must express your interest in the exercise and download the document from In-Tend: in-tendhost.co.uk/bournemouthuniversit… ↗
- Tender notice published132 days ago16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
- Latest notice published102 days ago17 Jul 2026, 12:05 BST
- Submission deadline78 days ago10 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by25 days ago1 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today27 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 74 days10 Jan 2027
Notice history
9 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 2 Feb 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published2 Feb 2026, 11:01 GMTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published3 Feb 2026, 13:19 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BSTUK4
- Published value updated16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
- Status changed to active16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
- Procurement method changed16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
- Deadline published: 27 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
- Tender notice published17 Jul 2026, 12:05 BSTUK4
- Deadline moved to 10 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST17 Jul 2026, 12:05 BST+14 days · was 27 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
Published amendments (1)
Engagement process description - Details have been provided on how to access the document for participation in the pre-market engagement.
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-02: 1 release · 2 Feb 2026
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender