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Published 2 Feb 2026, 11:01 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Catering Services · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: Bournemouth University (Education)

ServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdLight touch regime
Budget not disclosed£0exc. VAT · 1 value update
Submissions closed 10 Aug 2026
Contract term 7 yrsends 9 Jan 2034 · up to 9 Jan 2036 with extensions · starts 10 Jan 2027

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The University is seeking to appoint a professional and experienced catering contractor capable of delivering a student-focused, high-quality and innovative catering and hospitality service. The student experience is central to the University’s mission, and the successful contractor will be expected to provide a sector-leading service that promotes and prioritises a campus-first experience and improves overall student satisfaction. The successful supplier will be required to operate on a Nil‑Cost Guaranteed with Profit Share basis.

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 10 Jan 2034, 23:59 GMT.

CPV: Catering services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 7 yrsPublished value£0
Contract period: 10 Jan 2027 – 9 Jan 2034 (7 yrs) · up to 9 Jan 2036 with extensions
Delivery: South West
Extensions: Subject to agreement, the Contract may be extended for 2 Years.

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: 60%Price: 30%Social value: 10%
Published sub-criteria (4)
  • Quality Questions: 50%
  • Presentation: 10%
  • Price: 30%
  • Environmental, Sustainability & Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (4)
  • Quality Questions
  • Environmental, Sustainability & Social Value
  • Presentation
  • Price
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
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
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
Yes · next expected 10 Jan 2034
First published
2 Feb 2026, 11:01 GMT
Last source update
17 Jul 2026, 12:05 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 1 Oct 2026
Authority reference
EST/JH/503
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-056803
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Catering services
Delivery area
South West (UKK24)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0613f1 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: In-tend · Who buys & how to bid on In-tend
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · one account per buying organisation's portal · reCAPTCHA on signup
Submission deadline
10 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

2 Feb 2026 → 10 Jan 2027 · 7 dates
  1. Planning notice published267 days ago
    2 Feb 2026, 11:01 GMT
  2. Market engagement255 days ago
    13 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT

    A Preliminary Market Engagement document is available to potential participants as part of this notice. The documents sets out the high-level requirements of the engagement process including the scope of the exercise and how organisations may register their interest.

    Here is an overview of the requirements:

    The University carrying out a Preliminary Market Engagement exercise for Catering Services. This will inform the tender process to appoint a professional and experienced catering contractor capable of delivering a student-focused, high-quality and innovative catering and hospitality service. The student experience is central to the University's mission, and the successful contractor will be expected to provide a sector-leading service that promotes and prioritises a campus-first experience and improves overall student satisfaction.

    Campus Locations

    Catering services are required across the University's two principal campus locations:

    • Talbot Campus
    • Lansdowne Campus

    Each campus serves a diverse student, staff, and visitor population, requiring a flexible, responsive catering and hospitality service.

    Key requirements include:

    • Cost neutral with a surplus, a service model that both delivers at no cost to the University, yet provides profit sharing for the University to reinvest back into its student experience
    • A student centred, high-quality, contemporary and authentic food and beverage offer across all catering outlets
    • Excellent value for money, including accessible low-price entry points, discounts and loyalty schemes
    • A continually evolving and innovative service model, providing a contemporary offer that aligns with student's tastes and trends
    • A sustainable and environmentally responsible operation, incorporating a robust and data driven "reduce, reuse, recycle" waste management strategy
    • A technologically advanced service, providing digital solutions that enhance convenience, drive engagement and repeat custom
    • A strong commitment to staff training, personal development, and education

    Format of the Preliminary Market Engagement Exercise

    The exercise will consist of:

    • Written responses to the areas of the PME document identified as required.
    • One-to-one meetings with suppliers that have responded to this exercise (hereafter referred to as Participants) via face to face on site at one of the University campus locations. Meeting duration will be a maximum of 1.5 hours.

    The University will reduce the number of Participants from written responses to one-to-one discussions via the following method:

    Management of Engagement Activity

    • At least one SME will be included;
    • At least one large enterprise will be included;
    • At least one non-incumbent supplier will be included;
    • At least one Participant with a registered address within Bournemouth will be included;
    • At least one Participant with a registered address outside of Bournemouth will be included;

    The above elements can/will only apply if at least one Participant meets that description.

    If you wish to participate in this pre-market engagement exercise you must express your interest in the exercise and download the document from In-Tend: in-tendhost.co.uk/bournemouthuniversit… ↗

  3. Tender notice published132 days ago
    16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
  4. Latest notice published102 days ago
    17 Jul 2026, 12:05 BST
  5. Submission deadline78 days ago
    10 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
  6. Award decision expected by25 days ago
    1 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
  7. Today
    27 Oct 2026
  8. Contract startsin 74 days
    10 Jan 2027

Notice history

9 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 2 Feb 2026
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    2 Feb 2026, 11:01 GMT
    UK2
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    3 Feb 2026, 13:19 GMT
    UK2
  3. Tender notice published
    16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
    UK4
  4. Published value updated
    16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
  5. Status changed to active
    16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
  6. Procurement method changed
    16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
  7. Deadline published: 27 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
    16 Jun 2026, 16:28 BST
  8. Tender notice published
    17 Jul 2026, 12:05 BST
    UK4
  9. Deadline moved to 10 Aug 2026, 12:00 BST
    17 Jul 2026, 12:05 BST
    +14 days · was 27 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
Published amendments (1)

Engagement process description - Details have been provided on how to access the document for participation in the pre-market engagement.

Routine re-releases (4)
  • 2026-02: 1 release · 2 Feb 2026

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Bournemouth University

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PVRY-5141-LLTP Poole House, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, South West, BH12 5BBContact name, email

Official documents & specifications (4)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure