Official UK procurement notice
Catering Services PQQ — UK public procurement notice
Authority: Telford College (Education)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionINTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND
Introduction to the College and the Proposed Contract
Telford College, a leading Further Education provider in the Borough of Telford, Shropshire, is entering an exciting new chapter of growth and transformation. With a strong reputation for innovation and a clear vision for the future, we are committed to meeting the evolving skills and education needs of our learners, communities, and local employers.
As part of a major development programme, Telford College is reimagining the student experience and reshaping the way education is delivered in our region. Building on our OFSTED "GOOD" ratings (2022 and 2024), we are investing in inspirational, modern learning environments that empower students and prepare them for a rapidly changing world.
A cornerstone of this vision is Telford 6th, our brand-new town centre campus opening in September 2026. This flagship development will expand our curriculum, widen access to A Level study, and open new opportunities for learners across Telford and beyond. The building will feature a vibrant ground floor retail unit that will house catering services for both students and staff.
Our current Wellington campus is undergoing significant refurbishment to expand vocational provision. The site already includes a dedicated refectory with kitchen, a grab-and-go outlet, and a Starbucks coffee shop - and we are excited to build on this strong foundation.
Read the full description (1,453 more characters)
LOCATION & CONTEXT
• Wellington Campus: Home to around 2,000 full-time students, 500 apprentices, and 2,000 part-time/adult learners. A wide portfolio of vocational and academic qualifications is delivered here, with flexibility at the heart of our approach.
• Telford 6th (Station Quarter, Telford): Launching with over 300 A Level students in 2026, with capacity to grow to 500+. The central location offers excellent transport links and proximity to the town centre, making it a lively, connected hub for students.
Together, these two campuses represent a diverse and growing student population, each with its own unique identity and requirements.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Telford College is seeking an outstanding catering partner to deliver a modern, student-focused food and beverage offer across both sites - one that is flexible, innovative, and able to reflect the different needs of vocational and academic learners.
Our current catering services are provided by Aramark under an extended agreement, which concludes in August 2026. This procurement process offers a fantastic opportunity for a forward-thinking provider to shape the future of catering at Telford College, creating environments that are welcoming, high-quality, and aligned with the energy of our campuses.
We are running a two-stage process:
1. PQQ - to identify and shortlist qualified bidders.
2. Request for Proposal/Invitation to Tender (RFQ/ITT) - to be issued to shortlisted bidders only.
CPV: Beverage-serving services · Canteen and catering services · Restaurant and food-serving services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Lot 1CancelledRenewalPublished value£1,400,000
- Value
- £1,400,000 exc. VAT · £1,680,000 inc. VAT
- Extensions
- Subject to satisfactory performance during the initial term
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Below threshold - open competition
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Cancelled
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 3 Oct 2025, 09:35 BST
- Last source update
- 3 Oct 2025, 09:35 BST
- Authority reference
EMC10012- Latest notice
- Procurement termination notice (UK12)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059214
How it was run
- Submission deadline
- 26 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 16 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Electronic submission
- Not allowed
Timeline
6 published dates · Europe/London- Planning notice published382 days ago2 Sept 2025, 12:32 BST
- Next notice expected380 days ago3 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Clarification questions by367 days ago16 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadline357 days ago26 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published351 days ago3 Oct 2025, 09:35 BST
- Contract starts19 days ago31 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| supplier not published | — | 1 Oct 2025 | CancelledSummary of Termination: Telford College commenced a procurement process for the above contract under a Competitive Flexible Procedure. Following completion of the PQQ stage, the number of responses received was significantly lower than anticipated. In order to ensure open competition, fairness, and best value for money in line with Section 12 of the Procurement Act 2023, the College has taken the decision to terminate the current procurement process. A new procurement will now be launched under the Open Procedure with the Tender Notice scheduled for publication on 14 October 2025. Date of Termination: 1 October 2025 Reason for Termination: Insufficient supplier responses received at the initial stage of the procurement. Continuing with the current procedure would not ensure effective competition or compliance with the principles of transparency and equal treatment. Next Steps: A fresh Open Procedure Tender Notice will be published on Find a Tender Service (FTS) on 14 October 2025. All interested suppliers will be invited to participate without restriction at the ITT stage. |
Notice history
7 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 2 Sept 2025- Procurement termination notice published3 Oct 2025, 09:35 BSTUK12
- Published value updated3 Oct 2025, 09:35 BSTwas £1,400,000
- Status changed to withdrawn3 Oct 2025, 09:35 BST
- Procurement method changed3 Oct 2025, 09:35 BST
- Deadline withdrawn3 Oct 2025, 09:35 BST
- Buyer details updated3 Oct 2025, 09:35 BST
- Planned procurement notice published2 Sept 2025, 12:32 BSTUK3
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications THE OPPORTUNITY Telford College is seeking an outstanding catering partner to deliver a modern, student-focused food and beverage offer across both sites - one that is flexible, innovative, and able to reflect the different needs of vocational and academic learners. The college i…
Notices published for this procedure
- Procurement termination notice Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender