Official UK procurement notice
Provision of Catering Services
Authority: OPEN UNIVERSITY(THE) (Education)
Re-procurement plannedProvision of Catering Services · tender expected
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionCatering services to The OU Walton Hall Campus based in Milton Keynes.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 7 Aug 2025, 16:07 BST
- Last source update
- 7 Aug 2025, 16:07 BST
- Authority reference
OUPA11468- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-047024- Latest notice
- Transparency notice (UK5)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0583a1Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Additional Repeat Extension Partial Replacement
- Published justification
The contract between The Open University and BaxterStorey Limited commenced in 20th November 2019, coinciding with the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented event significantly impacted operations and prevented the contract from being implemented as originally envisaged. These circumstances were beyond the control of both the University and the contractor.
Since the award of the contract, The Open University has undertaken substantial organisational change, including the conclusion of its 'New Ways of Working' project and the formalisation of hybrid working practices. This shift has led to a sustained reduction in daily campus attendance.
Given the current period of transformation and uncertainty surrounding the future scope of catering requirements, the University finds it appropriate to extend the current catering contract to 31 January 2028. This extension will allow adequate time for the University to clarify future service needs and ensure alignment with its strategic objectives.
Notice history
2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 7 Aug 2025- Transparency notice published7 Aug 2025, 16:07 BSTUK5
- Contract signature expected1 Oct 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BaxterStorey Limited21 Nov 2026 – 31 Jan 2028 | £784,000 inc. VAT | — | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- BAXTERSTOREY LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender