Official UK procurement notice
Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust Framework Catering Tender 2026
Authority: RPJ3 Group (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust (MECMAT) are seeking to procure a number of providers for a multi-supplier framework for catering services. The main objective of this procurement exercise is to deliver the procurement of a framework that will enable the Trust to source catering services for its schools.
There are initially 17 schools in this framework, however, other schools may call off later.
It should be noted that it is not mandatory for schools to use this framework. Schools will only call off from this agreement if they have a requirement to do so. It is envisaged the number of contractors on the framework will be between 1 and 3
The provision of the service must demonstrate the best value approach and be flexible in its delivery and operation to ensure that the needs and ethos of individual schools are supported.
This framework process is targeted to have a catering contract in place to commence in April 2027 for the initial direct award schools. Please note that this process covers all catering services within the Trust schools with full tender costings and proposals for the schools for a contract start in in April 2027 for the initial direct award schools. These details will be further explained in the ITT documents. The process will be through a competitive flexible procedure commencing with a participation stage to create a select bidder list following analysis of a PSQ document (within which the scoring criteria will be included). The nature of the contract demands a good local infrastructure to provide and maintain the level and standard of catering services and support required by the Trust. Labour resource/relief cover is very important. We have set a minimum Employer's (compulsory) liability insurance of 10,000,000 GBP). Following the analysis of PSQ’s the selected bidders will be invited to attend site surveys and tender briefing initially planned for mid-September 2026. Tender response deadline is planned as Mid-October 2026 and it is envisaged that interviews will take place in mid-November 2026. The contract will be for a 3 +1 +1 period (5 years in total including the option to extend for 1 + 1years after the initial 3 year term).
- How the procedure runs: The competitive flexible procedure will commence with a participation stage whereby a PSQ will be completed by interested suppliers. This will be scored and successful suppliers will be invited to submit a full tender. The tender submissions will be analysed and scored and selected suppliers will be invited to final interview/presentation stage. The contracting Authority will then select the successful framework supplier/s and award the contract.
- No preliminary market engagement: Time constraints of the procurement process and to ensure a level playing field so no supplier has an unfair advantage or to distort competition.
CPV: School catering services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
- Places
- up to 3 suppliers
- Framework period
3 yrs · up to 5 yrs from 1 Apr 2027, The contract is for 3 years with the option to extend for a further 1 +1 years therefore 5 years in total
Published description of the framework
Framework suppliers are selected based on their financial and qualitative submissions and responses to a set brief at the interview/negotiation stage. Any new schools joining the contract will go through a mini tender with the framework bidders ensuring they join on no less favourable terms than the initial schools.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£8,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
As per the PSQ document
- Technical & professional ability
As per the PSQ document
- Condition of participationshortlisting
A Procurement Specific Questionnaire is completed by suppliers with the highest scoring suppliers being invited to tender.
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)
- Qualitative: 50%
- Financial: 50%
Published award criteria (2)
- Qualitative: 9 qualitative schedules require responding to.
- Financial: 7 financial schedules require completion, providing a fixed price annual cost
- Economic & financial standing
As per the PSQ document
- Technical & professional ability
As per the PSQ document
- Condition of participationshortlisting
A Procurement Specific Questionnaire is completed by suppliers with the highest scoring suppliers being invited to tender.
- Price carries 50 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 5 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
- “Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Multi Academy Trust Framework Catering Tender…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 3 suppliers, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.
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
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 11 May 2026, 10:12 BST
- Last source update
- 11 May 2026, 10:12 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 13 Nov 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-042839- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069553Find a Tender
- How it runs
The competitive flexible procedure will commence with a participation stage whereby a PSQ will be completed by interested suppliers. This will be scored and successful suppliers will be invited to submit a full tender. The tender submissions will be analysed and scored and selected suppliers will be invited to final interview/presentation stage. The contracting Authority will then select the successful framework supplier/s and award the contract.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 1 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Appointment period ends
- 1 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
11 May 2026 → 1 Apr 2027 · 4 dates- Tender notice published164 days ago11 May 2026, 10:12 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends143 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown1 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Today22 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 23 days13 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 160 days1 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published11 May 2026, 10:12 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications PSQ Document for the MEC MAT framework catering tender 2026
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Tender documents will be emailed out to the successful PSQ applicants
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender