Official UK procurement notice
Activate Essex Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) 2026-2028
Authority: Essex County Council (Local council)
Sectors: Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services (55) Delivery: East of England (UKH3)
Published estimate£15,000,000≈ £5.0m / year · £15,000,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 6 Jan 2026awarded 23 Jan 2026
Awarded to ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE) +7 more
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Jan 2029 · starts 1 Feb 2026
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Department for Education has provided Essex County Council with funding in order to deliver the holiday activity and food programme (HAF) across Essex during the Easter, Summer and Winter school holidays. Active Essex will be managing the programme on behalf of Essex County Council.
Active Essex and Essex County Council will also be managing the HAF programme on behalf of Thurrock Council. Across Essex and Thurrock the programme is called Essex ActvAte Essex ActivAte will engage and support young people and families who are eligible for benefits based free school meals and families most in need.
The programme will provide free and inclusive holiday clubs across the county that will include a range of fun physical
and enrichment activities, a free nutritious meal, nutritional education and mentoring and support for the young person and whole family. The programme aims to improve health generally, including, crucially, mental health and aim to provide the families with the knowledge and support to live healthier, happier lives.
Bidders will be awarded funding from the overall grant fund to deliver their projects.
CPV: Holiday centre and holiday home services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedPublished value£15,000,000
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).
How bids were scored
Published sub-criteria (1)
- Technical Questions: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
- Technical Questions: This is an application process for grant funding and therefore price is not a determination. Funding will be awarded to applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the application pack. The outcome of this tender may result in multiple grant awards to multiple suppliers.
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
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 2 Dec 2025, 14:55 GMT
- Last source update
- 10 Apr 2026, 15:35 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 23 Jan 2026
- Authority reference
E010PA- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-078994- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ed1eFind a Tender
How it was run
Official noticeRun through: ProContract (Due North) · Who buys & how to bid on ProContract
Access & registration note: Free · short registration with manual review; public opportunity list
- Submission deadline
- 6 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release
procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities/Index ↗
Project information - DN799110
Timeline
2 Dec 2025 → 10 Apr 2026 · 6 dates- Tender notice published324 days ago2 Dec 2025, 14:55 GMT
- Submission deadline289 days ago6 Jan 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by271 days ago23 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts263 days ago1 Feb 2026
- Assessment summaries sent262 days ago2 Feb 2026
- Latest notice published195 days ago10 Apr 2026, 15:35 BST
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 2 Dec 2025- Tender notice published2 Dec 2025, 14:55 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published30 Mar 2026, 16:40 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete30 Mar 2026, 16:40 BST
- Contract details notice published10 Apr 2026, 15:35 BSTUK7
- Contract signature expected30 Apr 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecastAwards 1
Awarded value (inc. VAT) £15,000,0001 award inc. VAT; no net value published
Bids received 11174 from SMEs
Named bidders 111published on the award notice
Contracts signed 1latest 31 Mar 2026
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)VCSE, COLCHESTER MERCURY THEATRE LIMITED, FUTURES CHANGING LTD, INDEPENDENCE PROJECT LIMITED, MALDON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY VOLUNTARY SERVICESMEVCSE, PREMIER SPORTSCOACH SOLUTIONS LIMITED +99 morejoint award1 May 2026 – 31 Jan 2029 | £15,000,000 inc. VAT | 23 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Activate Essex Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) 2026-2028 · ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)VCSE, COLCHESTER MERCURY THEATRE LIMITED, FUTURES CHANGING LTD, INDEPENDENCE PROJECT LIMITED, MALDON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY VOLUNTARY SERVICESMEVCSE, PREMIER SPORTSCOACH SOLUTIONS LIMITED +99 more
- Signed
- 31 Mar 2026
- Value
- £15,000,000 inc. VAT
- Period
- 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Jan 2029
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 111final-stage tenders | 74 | 33 | — |
Who bid (first 60 of 111)
- did not win3FOOD4USMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winACE MUSIC THERAPY CICSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winA Q BASKETBALL CIC · East of England
- did not winARTS OUTBURSTSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winATF SOUTHENDSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winBRAINTREE DISTRICT MUSEUM TRUSTSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winBURNHAM RAMBLERS FOOTBALL CLUB LTD · East of England
- did not winBUTTERFLIES CLUB C.I.C.SMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winBWild AdventuresSME · East of England
- did not winCAMP 4 CHAMPS LIMITEDSME · Greater London
- did not winCAST A THOUGHT CICVCSE · South East England
- did not winCHAFFORD TOTS TO TEENS CHILDCARE SERVICES LTDSME · East of England
- did not winCHANGING LIVES COMMUNITY SERVICES CICSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winCHELMSFORD SPORT & ATHLETICS CENTRE · East of England
- did not winCHELMSFORD CITY FOOTBALL CLUB FOUNDATIONSME · East of England
- did not winCHILD & PROVIDE COMMUNITY C.I.C.VCSE · East of England
- did not winCMXSC LTDSME · Yorkshire and the Humber
- did not winCOLCHESTER UNITED COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winSOUTH EAST ESSEX ACADEMY TRUST · East of England
- did not winCRAFTY KATIE LIMITEDSMEVCSE · Greater London
- did not winDISABILITY 4 SPORT C.I.C.SMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winESSEX BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBSSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winESSEX ELITE SPORTS ACADEMY LTDSME · East of England
- did not winESSEX KIDS CAMP LIMITEDSME · East of England
- did not winEssex Music ServiceSME · East of England
- did not winESSEX PROFESSIONAL COACHING LTDSME · East of England
- did not winKWH FFF COACHING LLP · East of England
- did not winWEALDEN LEISURE LIMITED · South East England
- did not winFUTURES ESSEX LTDSME · East of England
- did not winGET WITH THE KIDS VIBE LTDSME · Greater London
- did not winGO BANANAS COLCHESTER LIMITEDSME · East of England
- did not winGOLF IN THE COMMUNITY CICVCSE · East of England
- did not winThurrock Council · East of England
- did not winHAPPY HEALTHY MINDS LIMITEDSME · East of England
- did not winHCL ACTIVITY CAMPS LIMITEDSME · East of England
- did not winHOLISTIC EDUCATION & SPORT SUPPORT SERVICES CICSME · Greater London
- did not winJACK OF ALL SPORTS LIMITEDSME · East of England
- did not winJTD ARTS LTDSME · East of England
- did not winKIDBUSTERZ LIMITEDSME · East of England
- did not winKINETIX ACADEMY CICSME · East of England
- did not winLEGENDS LEARNING CENTRE LTDSME · Greater London
- did not winLET'S GET OUT C.I.C.VCSE · East of England
- did not winM.R.F.A · East of England
- did not winMAKING IT MINDFUL C.I.C.SME · East of England
- did not winMALEARN LIMITEDSME · Greater London
- did not winMEGA CAMPS LTDSME · East of England
- did not winMUSHROOM THEATRE COMPANY LTDSME · East of England
- did not winMiniMe MindfulnessSME · East of England
- did not winMISTLEY KIDS CLUB LIMITEDSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winWELLBEING 4 LIFE CICSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winMULTICOACH LTDSME · East of England
- did not winNEXT THING EDUCATION CAMPS LTDSME · East of England
- did not winNURTURE DEN LTDSME · Greater London
- did not winOLIVERS LODGE LIMITEDSME · East of England
- did not winOFJ SPRING TOPCO LIMITED · Greater London
- did not winPARAGON TRAINING FACILITY C.I.C.VCSE · East of England
- did not winParents Dream · East of England
- did not winPLAYPALZ PARTY AND SOFTPLAY CENTRE LTDSME · Greater London
- did not winPOP ESSEXSMEVCSE · East of England
- did not winPREMIER SCHOOL LIMITEDSME · East of England
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
112 commercial parties on the notice · 44 awardedThe first 50 of 112 commercial parties (by name); the JSON mirror lists them all.
- 3FOOD4UAwarded supplier
- A Q BASKETBALL CICAwarded supplier
- ACE MUSIC THERAPY CICAwarded supplier
- ACTIVE CHRISTIAN TRUST (THE MEGACENTRE)Awarded supplier
- ACTIVE ESSEX FOUNDATIONAwarded supplier
- ALTERNATIVE MOVEMENT LTDBidder / tenderer
- AMAZING ACTIVITIES LTDBidder / tenderer
- ARTS OUTBURSTAwarded supplier
- ATF SOUTHENDAwarded supplier
- AlphaBake CookeryBidder / tenderer
Show 40 more suppliers
- BRAINTREE DISTRICT MUSEUM TRUSTAwarded supplier
- BURNHAM RAMBLERS FOOTBALL CLUB LTDAwarded supplier
- BUTTERFLIES CLUB C.I.C.Awarded supplier
- BWild AdventuresAwarded supplier
- C KNIGHT DANCE DEVELOPMENT LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- CAMP 4 CHAMPS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- CAST A THOUGHT CICAwarded supplier
- CHAFFORD TOTS TO TEENS CHILDCARE SERVICES LTDAwarded supplier
- CHANGING LIVES COMMUNITY SERVICES CICAwarded supplier
- CHELMSFORD CITY FOOTBALL CLUB FOUNDATIONAwarded supplier
- CHELMSFORD SPORT & ATHLETICS CENTREAwarded supplier
- CHILD & PROVIDE COMMUNITY C.I.C.Awarded supplier
- CMXSC LTDAwarded supplier
- COLCHESTER MERCURY THEATRE LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- COLCHESTER UNITED COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONAwarded supplier
- CRAFTY KATIE LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- DISABILITY 4 SPORT C.I.C.Awarded supplier
- EAST ANGLIA COACHING LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- ESSEX BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBSAwarded supplier
- ESSEX ELITE SPORTS ACADEMY LTDAwarded supplier
- ESSEX GAMING BUS LIMITEDBidder / tenderer
- ESSEX KIDS CAMP LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- ESSEX PROFESSIONAL COACHING LTDAwarded supplier
- Essex Music ServiceAwarded supplier
- FRY SPORTS HOLDINGS LTDAwarded supplier
- FUTURES CHANGING LTDAwarded supplier
- FUTURES ESSEX LTDAwarded supplier
- GET WITH THE KIDS VIBE LTDAwarded supplier
- GJLWSPORTS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- GO BANANAS COLCHESTER LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- GOLF IN THE COMMUNITY CICAwarded supplier
- HAPPY HEALTHY MINDS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- HCL ACTIVITY CAMPS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- HEADWAY SPORTS C.I.C.Bidder / tenderer
- HOLISTIC EDUCATION & SPORT SUPPORT SERVICES CICAwarded supplier
- HOWARD FRANCHISE LTDBidder / tenderer
- INDEPENDENCE PROJECT LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- INTERACT CHELMSFORD LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- JACK OF ALL SPORTS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- JTD ARTS LTDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender