Official UK procurement notice
Forward Education Trust ~ Catering Tender
Authority: Forward Education Trust ~ Catering Tender (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe successful Supplier will be required to provide Catering services for Six schools across Forward Education Trust {SEN}
ETHOS,VISION AND VALUES:
fet.ac/about-us/ethos-visio… ↗
A welcome from Simon Dilkes, Chief Executive Officer of Forward Education Trust.
Our aim is to create a cohesive team of Trust Central staff supporting school staff teams, working together, fiercely loyal to each other. Our Trust Extended Leaders, Cavelle, Mandy and Karen bring their experience, expertise and knowledge as added value to our trust capacity. We are committed to developing local school identity and ethos, to celebrating success and adopting strategies for school improvement that build on and enhance local reputation, raise standards and respond to the needs and aspirations of those we serve – our children and their families.
Our Trust values remain unchanged, but we want to articulate them better and give unequivocal evidence that people can see those values in the decisions we make and the things that we do every single day. We want to empower people to make the right decisions and to be creative in the way that we approach the education and care of our children. Mutual respect must pervade all our relationships and together our staff will learn, practice and collaborate – a sense of team will identify what type of organisation we are and how we nurture our talent, for the benefit of our young people.
At all times, FET will be a safe place for our children, because our staff will know that this is their top priority.
I am excited about the challenges ahead. Whether you are a parent or carer, someone who wants to work for us or with us, or a school looking to join a Trust that can enhance the education your children receive, I would welcome the chance to tell you about the work of Forward Education Trust, so please do get in touch.
The Trust’s purpose is to enhance, maximise and exceed expectations for young people across the Forward Education Trust and beyond. The commitment to social care for every student is paramount today, tomorrow and into the future. The Trust strives to deliver the best educational message in their care which includes catering provision that aligns with the Trust’s ethos.
The Trust leadership team, Head Teachers and support network care deeply for every student and their future education. This vision should extend to the catering provision at each school with the successful contractor committed to making a positive impact. Currently, with six schools in the project, 800 students with diverse eating habits from textured, blended and syringe-fed diets. The contractor will need to give full reassurances that they are fully capable with a nutrition team that can support no matter the complex needs of many or costs that out way the benefit to dining every day.
One of six schools are currently delivering a delivered in hot services {DIH} from a Trust school, however, financial and commercial offering would be looked at to support long term solutions, additionally the contract ben offered is for three years with an option to extend for 1+1 in agreement.
Contract value: Circa, £261,000
Please see PSQ Document for more information.
- How the procedure runs: Please see PSQ Document for more information.
CPV: School catering services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£1,305,000
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).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Criterion 1: 70%
- Criterion 2: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Criterion 1
- Criterion 2
- 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
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 3 Nov 2025, 13:01 GMT
- Last source update
- 14 May 2026, 14:44 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 4 May 2026
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-070434- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d8edFind a Tender
- How it runs
Please see PSQ Document for more information.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 27 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 5 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
3 Nov 2025 → 1 Sept 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published353 days ago3 Nov 2025, 13:01 GMT
- Clarification questions by321 days ago5 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission deadline237 days ago27 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent178 days ago28 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by171 days ago4 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published161 days ago14 May 2026, 14:44 BST
- Standstill ends149 days ago26 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts52 days ago1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 3 Nov 2025- Tender notice published3 Nov 2025, 13:01 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published14 May 2026, 14:44 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete14 May 2026, 14:44 BST
- Contract signature expected26 May 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| abm catering limited1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2029 · up to 31 Aug 2031Extensions: 1+1 Please see PSQ Document for more information. | £1,305,000 inc. VAT | 28 Apr 2026standstill to 26 May 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- abm catering limitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender