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Embark - Outsource Catering Service

Embark Federation

Buyer Contact Info

Buyer Name: PHP Law LLP

Buyer Address: Unit 3 The Brutus Centre Station Road Totnes, Totnes, UKK43, TQ9 5RW, United Kingdom

Contact Name: Claire Jones

Contact Email: claire.jones@phplaw.co.uk

Buyer Name: Embark Federation

Buyer Address: University of Derby Kedleston Road, Derby, UKF11, DE22 1GB, United Kingdom

Contact Name: Richard Mansfield

Contact Email: richard.mansfield@embarkfed.org.uk

Status
active
Procedure
open
Value
3500000.0 GBP
Gross: 4200000 GBP
Published
18 Feb 2026, 20:00
Deadline
02 Apr 2026, 11:00
Contract Start
n/a
Contract End
n/a
Category
services
CPV
55524000 - School catering services
Region
n/a
Awarded To
n/a
Official Source
Open Find a Tender

Description

The Trust is seeking an outsourced Catering Service to provide a high-quality service and school meal, whilst delivering value for money for the school, parents and pupils using the Services. The tender is for primary and secondary schools however further schools may join the contract as the Trust grows.

Linked Documents

No linked documents found for this notice.

Opportunity Context

More Information Links

External Link: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015007-2026

Link Description: Tender notice on Find a Tender

Lots

Lot LOT-0000 Status: active

Lot LOT-0000 Has Options: Yes

Lot LOT-0000 Options: To include schools who join the Trust and associated services

Lot LOT-0000 Value: GBP 3,500,000

Lot LOT-0000 Value (Gross): GBP 4,200,000

Lot LOT-0000 Contract Start: 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z

Lot LOT-0000 Contract End: 2029-08-31T23:59:59+01:00

Lot LOT-0000 SME Suitable: Yes

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Proposed Service Model (12.5%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Service Model Case Study (5%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Menu Planning & Development (10%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Food Offering (7.5%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Allergy Management (7.5%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Contractor Staff (5%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Account Management (2.5%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Contract Management (5%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Contract Mobilisation & Risk Management (2.5%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (quality): Sustainability (2.5%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (cost): Guaranteed Position Assessment (30%)

Lot LOT-0000 Award Criterion (cost): Guaranteed (10%)

Documents

Document Description: Not published

Document Description: Tender notice on Find a Tender

Raw Notice JSON

Expand raw payload
{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PYLY-4964-TXGH",
    "name": "Embark Federation"
  },
  "date": "2026-02-18T20:00:25Z",
  "id": "015007-2026",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-065794",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Totnes",
        "postalCode": "TQ9 5RW",
        "region": "UKK43",
        "streetAddress": "Unit 3 The Brutus Centre Station Road Totnes"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "claire.jones@phplaw.co.uk",
        "name": "Claire Jones"
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PPRM-9434-VNYQ",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PPRM-9434-VNYQ",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "PHP Law LLP",
      "roleDetails": "Procurement Consultant",
      "roles": [
        "procuringEntity",
        "processContactPoint"
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    },
    {
      "address": {
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        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Derby",
        "postalCode": "DE22 1GB",
        "region": "UKF11",
        "streetAddress": "University of Derby Kedleston Road"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "richard.mansfield@embarkfed.org.uk",
        "name": "Richard Mansfield"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government",
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ]
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PYLY-4964-TXGH",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PYLY-4964-TXGH",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "Embark Federation",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "planning": {
    "noEngagementNoticeRationale": "The requirements are not complex, or niche and the Contracting Authority already has an understanding of what they want the service to deliver and the market is known."
  },
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "additionalProcurementCategories": [
      "goods"
    ],
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-05-07T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "contractTerms": {
      "financialTerms": "One invoice per month Invoicing for UIFSM \u0026 FSM based on actual meals taken, broken down by school"
    },
    "description": "The Trust is seeking an outsourced Catering Service to provide a high-quality service and school meal, whilst delivering value for money for the school, parents and pupils using the Services. The tender is for primary and secondary schools however further schools may join the contract as the Trust grows.",
    "documents": [
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "datePublished": "2026-02-18T20:00:25Z",
        "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "tenderNotice",
        "format": "text/html",
        "id": "015007-2026",
        "noticeType": "UK4",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015007-2026"
      }
    ],
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-04-02T11:00:00+00:00"
    },
    "hasRecurrence": true,
    "id": "EBMAT01.48",
    "items": [
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "School catering services",
            "id": "55524000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Catering services",
            "id": "55520000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
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        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom",
            "region": "UKF"
          }
        ],
        "id": "LOT-0000",
        "relatedLot": "LOT-0000"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "name": "Proposed Service Model",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 12.5,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Service Model Case Study",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 5.0,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Menu Planning \u0026 Development",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 10.0,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Food Offering",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 7.5,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Allergy Management",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 7.5,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Contractor Staff",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 5.0,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Account Management",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 2.5,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Contract Management",
              "numbers": [
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                  "number": 5.0,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
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              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Contract Mobilisation \u0026 Risk Management",
              "numbers": [
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                  "number": 2.5,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Sustainability",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 2.5,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "name": "Guaranteed Position Assessment",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 30.0,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "cost"
            },
            {
              "name": "Guaranteed",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 10.0,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "cost"
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2029-08-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "maxExtentDate": "2031-08-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2026-09-01T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "description": null,
        "hasOptions": true,
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "id": "LOT-0000",
        "options": {
          "description": "To include schools who join the Trust and associated services"
        },
        "renewal": {
          "description": "Two further 1 year extensions (3+1+1)"
        },
        "selectionCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "description": "A financial appraisal will be based upon a credit check. Insurances Employer Liability \u00a310m Public Liability - \u00a310m Product Liability - \u00a32m",
              "type": "economic"
            },
            {
              "description": "Provide 3 relevant previous contract examples To constitute a pass, the contract examples provided shall be relevant to the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer\u2019s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts. The contracts must be within the education sector and similar complexity and working on more than one site within the contract. My Checklist The checklist is here to help you finalize the notice. Click the Validate-button below to generate your checklist. Validate Europe/London",
              "type": "technical"
            }
          ]
        },
        "status": "active",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
        },
        "value": {
          "amount": 3500000,
          "amountGross": 4200000,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
    "recurrence": {
      "dates": [
        {
          "startDate": "2031-01-01T23:59:59Z"
        }
      ]
    },
    "riskDetails": "Financial Inflation and Rising Costs: Food price inflation, energy bills, and wage increases. Caterers locked into long-term contracts may struggle to remain profitable, risking service quality or contract withdrawal. Staffing Challenges Recruitment Difficulties: Shortages of skilled catering staff, especially in rural or low-income areas. Difficulty attracting and retaining staff due to limited pay and benefits. Training Gaps: Inadequate training in food safety, allergens, and safeguarding can lead to compliance issues. Reputational and Compliance Risks Non-compliance with School Food Standards can result in reputational damage and regulatory scrutiny. Non-compliance with the tender specification or compliance requirement",
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=102966\u0026TID100108173\u0026B=",
    "submissionTerms": {
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-04-02T11:00:00+00:00"
    },
    "title": "Embark - Outsource Catering Service",
    "value": {
      "amount": 3500000,
      "amountGross": 4200000,
      "currency": "GBP"
    }
  }
}