Official UK procurement notice
Holiday Activities and Food Programme 2026
Authority: Bedford Borough Council (Local council)
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionBedford Borough Council (‘The Authority’) is seeking to commission a number of local organisations capable of delivering high-quality Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme services across the Bedford Borough during the Easter, summer and December school holidays (there may also be opportunities to deliver provision during selected half-term holidays, subject to review). A bespoke multi-Supplier Framework Agreement will be set up to that effect.
The Framework Agreement will be structured across three Lots, reflecting different types of provision, including open access holiday clubs, bespoke targeted provision, and specialist SEND provision. They are as follows:
Lot 1: Open Access Holiday Clubs
Lot 2: Bespoke, Targeted and Non-Standard Provision
Lot 3: SEND Specialist Provision
It is anticipated that the Framework Agreement shall commence on 1st July 2026 for a period of two (2) years from the Commencement Date with an option to extend for an additional 24 months (in two 12-month-installments).
The Authority intends to re-open the Framework Agreement on an annual basis (typically in March) to allow new Suppliers to apply. Existing Suppliers appointed to the Framework Agreement will not be required to reapply but will continue to be considered for delivery through the Delivery Proposal process.
Suppliers appointed to the Framework Agreement will be invited to submit Delivery Proposals ahead of each holiday period (typically issued approximately two months in advance). The HAF programme is funded by the Department for Education. Allocation of provision, including sessions, places and associated funding, will be determined by the Authority based on demand, performance, geographical coverage and available funding.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Mar 2028, 23:59 GMT.
CPV: Holiday centre services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 25 bids on the busiest of 3 lots · 23 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 2 yrs · up to 4 yrs from 1 Jul 2026
- Scheme runs until
- 1 Jul 2030
Published description of the framework
The Authority intends to re-open the Framework Agreement on an annual basis (typically in March) to allow new Suppliers to apply. Existing Suppliers appointed to the Framework Agreement will not be required to reapply but will continue to be considered for delivery through the Delivery Proposal process.
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published valueLot #1Open Access Holiday ClubsAwardedRenewalPublished value£0
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #2Bespoke, Targeted and Non-Standard ProvisionAwardedRenewalPublished value£0
The source published no individual description for this lot.
Lot #3SEND Specialist ProvisionAwardedRenewalPublished value£0
The source published no individual description for this lot.
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).
- “Holiday Activities and Food Programme 2026” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
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
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 1 Mar 2028
- First published
- 17 Feb 2026, 11:49 GMT
- Last source update
- 21 Jul 2026, 12:57 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 12 Jun 2026
- Authority reference
BBC CH04141- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-037994- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0655d7Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 22 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 15 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
17 Feb 2026 → 21 Jul 2026 · 10 dates- Planning notice published252 days ago17 Feb 2026, 11:49 GMT
- Market engagement222 days ago18 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
Please see document summarising the HAF 2026 programme and a few questions the authority would like the market to complete to support in their future planning before going out to tender.
Document can be downloaded (free or charge) from Bedford Borough Council e-portal in-tendhost.co.uk/bedford/aspx/Home ↗
project reference is BBC CH 04141
- Next notice expected197 days ago13 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published183 days ago27 Apr 2026, 12:24 BST
- Clarification questions by165 days ago15 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends158 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown22 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent139 days ago11 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by137 days ago12 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts119 days ago1 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published98 days ago21 Jul 2026, 12:57 BST
Notice history
10 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 17 Feb 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published17 Feb 2026, 11:49 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published27 Apr 2026, 12:24 BSTUK4
- Published value updated27 Apr 2026, 12:24 BST
- Status changed to active27 Apr 2026, 12:24 BST
- Procurement method changed27 Apr 2026, 12:24 BST
- Deadline published: 22 May 2026, 12:00 BST27 Apr 2026, 12:24 BST
- Contract award notice published11 Jun 2026, 20:54 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete11 Jun 2026, 20:54 BST
- Contract signature expected23 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract award notice published21 Jul 2026, 12:57 BSTUK6
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-02: 1 release · 17 Feb 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across several lots1 award | |||
| Canoe Trail LtdSME, Care Consort LtdSME, Greenwich Leisure Limited, Junior Adventures GroupSME, One YMCASMEVCSE, Premier Education Group +17 more1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2028 · up to 30 Jun 2030Extensions: 2 years in twelve -month instalments. · Amended: Providers added with CDO Codes | £2,400,000 inc. VAT | 8 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Open Access Holiday Clubs | 25final-stage tenders | 14 | 6 | — |
| 2 · Bespoke, Targeted and Non-Standard Provision | 25final-stage tenders | 14 | 6 | — |
| 3 · SEND Specialist Provision | 25final-stage tenders | 14 | 6 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
24 commercial parties on the notice- Autism BedfordshireFramework contractor
- Barracudas Activity Day CampsFramework contractor
- Bedford Blues FoundationFramework contractor
- Bedford Blues FoundationFramework contractor
- Bowerbirdy LtdFramework contractor
- C Knight Dance Development LtdFramework contractor
- Canoe Trail LtdFramework contractor
- Care Consort LtdFramework contractor
- Country Days LtdFramework contractor
- Edu Sports LtdFramework contractor
Show 14 more suppliers
- Everyone's GangFramework contractor
- Fun 4 Young People (F4YP) LtdFramework contractor
- Greenwich Leisure LtdFramework contractor
- Junior Adventures GroupFramework contractor
- Limitless Sports & Activities LtdFramework contractor
- MACCA Sports Academies LtdFramework contractor
- NU Focus Education CICFramework contractor
- One YMCAFramework contractor
- Premier EducationFramework contractor
- R&D CoachingFramework contractor
- SI FFF Coaching LLPFramework contractor
- SSG Services (Est 2003) LimitedFramework contractor
- Spiral FreerunFramework contractor
- Sporty Scholars LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award 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