Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 31 Mar 2025, 10:43 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Great Torrington School Outsourced Catering Service

Official notice

Authority: Great Torrington School (Central government)·On behalf of: PHP LAW LLP

ServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£750,000≈ £250k / year · £900,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 9 May 2025awarded 17 Jun 2025
Awarded to Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government Services, Compass Contract Services Limited
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Aug 2028 · up to 31 Aug 2030 with extensions · starts 1 Sept 2025

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This tender opportunity was issued by Great Torrington School ("the School") for the provision of outsourced catering services. Full details of all contract requirements are given in

Document 2. Specification of Requirement.

The School was seeking a Contractor to provide a high-quality service, whilst delivering value for money for the school, parents and pupils using the Services. The contract will include all food and staff provision to support the delivery of the outsourced catering service.

The contract start date will 1st September 2025 and is to be for a period of three (3) years with the possible extension of two (2) further years, in 12-month intervals (3 +1+1).

The Contractor shall:

a. embrace the School vision, values and ethos, whilst demonstrating alignment to them in all aspects of the delivery, throughout the contract term.

b. work in partnership with the School, offering a service a high-quality food offering, whilst delivering value for money for pupils

using the services whilst continually improving the quality and uptake of meals, particularly for FSM pupils.

c. deliver an exemplary quality of service whilst harnessing a continuous drive for improvement throughout the contract term and have appropriate practices and systems in place to ensure a suitable amount of food supply, meal choices are available throughout the service.

d. have appropriate processes and procedures in place which gives assurance that individuals with food allergens, medical and dietary requirements will not be put at risk and religious cultural and SEND dietary requirements are catered for.

e. demonstrate a contract management approach, including a robust complaint management policy that offers transparency and visibility of management information, KPI and financial performance. This will allow for a robust level of oversight regarding contract delivery.

f. operate the contract in line with School Food Standards, British, International and EU standards & legislation, working with the

School in compiling a nutritious and healthy menu offer.

g. promote environmental and social sustainability in all aspects of the school meals provision and have in place a sustainable food

supply chain that minimises the negative impact on the environment, preserves natural resources, and promotes social and economic well-being. The Contractor shall have appropriate processes and procedures that demonstrate the ongoing review of the supply chain and procurement of goods to ensure it continues to meet this objective.

h. provide signage and marketing for the catering service. This shall include general advertising, and attractive packaging and

presentation of meals and marketing materials that can be shared with families via newsletters, website email etc.

i. implement a robust mobilisation plan for the contract that will demonstrate partnership working, is seamless and demonstrates due regard for risk with appropriate mitigation measures, including the responsibility for TUPE of existing staff.

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Jan 2030, 23:59 GMT.
  • No preliminary market engagement: 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 catering market is known.

CPV: Canteen and catering services · School catering services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£750,000
Contract period: 1 Sept 2025 – 31 Aug 2028 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Aug 2030 with extensionsValue: £750,000 exc. VAT · £900,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: option of 2 further one year extensions (3+1+1)
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    As per the information contained within the procurement documents

  • Technical & professional ability

    As per the information contained within the procurement documents

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: 50%Price: 45%Environmental: 5%
Published sub-criteria (12)
  • Proposed Service Model: 10%
  • Service Model Case Study: 5%
  • Menu Planning & Development: 15%
  • Added Value: 5%
  • Contractor Staff: 5%
  • Contract Management, Reporting & Service Quality Monitoring & Complaints: 5%
  • Contract Mobilisation & Risk Management: 5%
  • Total Menu Item Pricing: 17.5%
  • Meal Deal Price: 12.5%
  • Capital Investment for the School: 10%
  • Fixed Annual Profit for School: 5%
  • Sustainability: 5%
Published award criteria (12)
  • Proposed Service Model
  • Service Model Case Study
  • Menu Planning & Development
  • Added Value
  • Contractor Staff
  • Contract Management, Reporting & Service Quality Monitoring & Complaints
  • Contract Mobilisation & Risk Management
  • Sustainability
  • Total Menu Item Pricing
  • Meal Deal Price: Menu Deal Price
  • Capital Investment for the School
  • Fixed Annual Profit for School
Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing

    As per the information contained within the procurement documents

  • Technical & professional ability

    As per the information contained within the procurement documents

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 45 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4.5 points. Quality carries 50 of 100: the paper moves it further than 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
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
Yes · next expected 1 Jan 2030
First published
31 Mar 2025, 10:43 BST
Last source update
6 Jan 2026, 15:19 GMT
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 23 Jun 2025
Authority reference
GTS01.02
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-011943
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Canteen and catering servicesSchool catering services
Delivery area
South West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fa7c Find a Tender
Contract terms summary

As per information contained within the procurement documents

Review and risk notes
Risks

As per information contained within the procurement documents

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
9 May 2025, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
2 May 2025, 12:00 BST
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

31 Mar 2025 → 6 Jan 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published
    31 Mar 2025, 10:43 BST
  2. Clarification questions by
    2 May 2025, 12:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline
    9 May 2025, 12:00 BST
  4. Assessment summaries sent
    17 Jun 2025, 00:00 BST
  5. Award decision expected by
    23 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
  6. Standstill ends
    27 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
  7. Contract starts
    1 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
  8. Latest notice published287 days ago
    6 Jan 2026, 15:19 GMT

Notice history

6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 31 Mar 2025
  1. Tender notice published
    31 Mar 2025, 10:43 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    18 Jun 2025, 10:30 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    18 Jun 2025, 10:30 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    11 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  5. Contract details notice published
    6 Jan 2026, 15:19 GMT
    UK7
  6. Buyer details updated
    6 Jan 2026, 15:19 GMT

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £1,750,0001 award exc. VAT
Bids received 31 from SMEs
Contracts signed 1latest 1 Sept 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government ServicesSME, Compass Contract Services Limitedjoint award1 Sept 2025 – 31 Aug 2028 · up to 31 Aug 2030Extensions: two 1 year extensions£1,750,00017 Jun 2025Awarded

Contracts

  • Great Torrington School Provision of Outsourced Catering Service · Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government ServicesSME, Compass Contract Services Limited

    Signed
    1 Sept 2025
    Value
    £1,750,000
    Period
    1 Sept 2025 – 31 Aug 2028 · up to 31 Aug 2030 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    Option of 2 further one year extensions (3+1+1)
    6 agreed KPIs: Meal Uptake · Meal Delivery Timeliness · Food Quality Compliance …
    • Meal Uptake, 95% in accordance with proposed rate set
    • Meal Delivery Timeliness, 95% of meals delivered on time.
    • Food Quality Compliance, 98% of meals meeting the agreed quality standards.
    • Customer Satisfaction, 90% positive feedback from students and staff.
    • Nutritional Standards, 95% compliance with nutritional guidelines.
    • Health and Safety Compliance, 95% adherence to health and safety regulations.

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
3final-stage tenders10—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

3 public bodies on the notice

GTS ACADEMY TRUST

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-COH: 07698197 · GB-PPON: PGBQ-4436-HDMW Great Torrington School Calvesford Road, Devon, South West, EX38 7DJContact email

Consortium members and other public bodies

  • Great Torrington School (Secondary Acct: PHP Law)Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central governmentGB-PPON: PGBQ-4436-HDMW Great Torrignton, South WestContact name, email
  • PHP LAW LLPProcuring entityProcurement ConsultantGB-COH: OC429243GB-PPON: PPRM-9434-VNYQ Totnes, South WestContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice

Official documents & specifications (4)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender