Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 9 Jul 2026, 14:39 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Inclusive Schools Trust ~ Catering Tender

Official notice

Authority: Inclusive Schools Trust (Education)

ServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£2,875,000≈ £958k / year · £2,875,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 14 Aug 2026awarded 28 Sept 2026
Award (standstill) to Nourish Contract Catering Ltd
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Oct 2029 · up to 31 Oct 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Nov 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for Inclusive Schools Trust.

The tender project is seeking to appoint a single Supplier whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of catering service within the existing facilities for the 6 primary schools of the trust.

The Trust would wish the successful Supplier to review the current range of services offered, as well as looking at the delivery of the current catering service and make recommendations accordingly.

The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1st November 2026 to the 31st October 2029 with the option to extend for a further two years, the extensions with mutual agreement would only be for 1 year at a time and will operate as a guaranteed performance contract, with the successful Supplier offering the Trust a fixed ceiling price per annum for the provision of catering services.

The Trust intends its’ schools to be open for 190 days, to achieve the 39 weeks of the teaching curriculum.

The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the schools as well as hospitality and free issue requirements of the schools ad hoc.

The client would like to see innovative delivery of emerging food trends that are seen on the high street and in retail outlets that pupils and their families frequent and therefore need to be reflected in the school dining rooms. The ITT documentation presents detailed specifications for each school against which bidders can present confident proposals.

Free School Meals and hospitality will be charged based on evidenced consumption at a rate agreed yearly in line with government funding with associated sales and costs included within the pricing models. The successful Supplier will be expected to maximise the sourcing of fresh produce on a local basis, as well as provide support on educating the pupils in healthy eating and where food comes from.

Whilst the Trust prioritises value for money as a key objective of the competitive tender process, the governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price.

The T/O value of the current contract is £575k per annum.

Please see PSQ Document for more information.

  • How the procedure runs: Please see PSQ Document for more information.

CPV: School catering services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£2,875,000
Contract period: 1 Nov 2026 – 31 Oct 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Oct 2031 with extensionsValue: £2,875,000 exc. VAT · £2,875,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: East of EnglandEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 1+1 Please see PSQ Document for more information.

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored
Quality: 70%Price: 30%
Published sub-criteria (2)
  • Criterion 1: 70%
  • Criterion 2: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Criterion 1
  • Criterion 2
What this means for your bid
  • 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
Competitive flexible procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
9 Jul 2026, 14:39 BST
Last source update
26 Oct 2026, 10:45 GMT
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 22 Sept 2026
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-064769
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
School catering services
Delivery area
East of England (UKH15)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c7a4 Find a Tender
How it runs

Please see PSQ Document for more information.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Litmus TMS
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free
Submission deadline
14 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
14 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

9 Jul 2026 → 4 Nov 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published110 days ago
    9 Jul 2026, 14:39 BST
  2. Clarification questions by74 days ago
    14 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline74 days ago
    14 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
  4. Award decision expected by35 days ago
    22 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
  5. Assessment summaries sent30 days ago
    28 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
  6. Latest notice published37h ago
    26 Oct 2026, 10:45 GMT
  7. Today
    27 Oct 2026
  8. Contract startsin 4 days
    1 Nov 2026
  9. Standstill endsin 8 days
    4 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT

Notice history

4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 9 Jul 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    9 Jul 2026, 14:39 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    26 Oct 2026, 10:45 GMT
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    26 Oct 2026, 10:45 GMT
  4. Contract signature expected
    5 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value (inc. VAT) £2,875,0001 award inc. VAT; no net value published
Bids received 74 from SMEs
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Nourish Contract Catering Ltd6 Nov 2026 – 31 Oct 2029 · up to 31 Oct 2031Extensions: 1+1 Please see PSQ Document for more information.£2,875,000 inc. VAT28 Sept 2026standstill to 4 Nov 2026Standstill

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
7final-stage tenders40—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Inclusive Schools Trust

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PXWJ-8741-JJDN Inclusive Schools Trust, Lionwood Infant & Nursery School, Telegraph Lane East, Norwich, East of England, NR1 4ANContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Nourish Contract CateringAwarded supplierGB-COH: 04953033 Unit 27, Metro Business Centre, Kangley Bridge Road, Lower Sydenham, London, London, SE26 5BWContact email, phone

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender