Official UK procurement notice
Milk, Dairy, Bread & Baked Goods
Authority: THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION LIMITED (Education)
What is being bought7 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe purpose of this planned procurement is to establish a (closed) framework for the supply and distribution of Milk, Dairy, Bread (fresh and frozen) and a selection of baked goods to members and clients of TUCO (Universities, Colleges and the wider Public Sector).
The duration of this (closed) framework is planned to be a maximum of 4 years.
The annual spend through the (closed) Framework is estimated at £3.5m
The total spend through the (closed) framework (over the maximum 4 years) is estimated at £20m
The scope of products to be covered in the framework are as follows but not limited to:
Milk - all variants including dairy alternatives.
Dairy - including creams, butter and spreads. Cheese, yoghurts and eggs. Dairy alternatives where available.
Bread (fresh & frozen) - all variants of loaves and rolls including gluten free and free from.
Baked goods (fresh & frozen) - cakes, pastries, confectionery and traybakes. Low sugar/free from alternatives where available.
It is envisaged that suppliers will be able to cover the full scope of products for each lot. The framework includes the option of a one-stop shop for the supply of fresh milk & bread to Local Authorities.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 4 Feb 2030, 23:59 GMT.
CPV: Bread · Bread products · Bread products, fresh pastry goods and cakes · Full-cream milk · Milk · Milk and cream · Pasteurised milk · Pastry goods · Pastry goods and cakes · Prepared bread products · Semi-skimmed milk · Skimmed milk · +2 more
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Bids received
- 17 bids on the busiest of 7 lots · 22 suppliers appointed
- Framework period
- 2 yrs · up to 4 yrs from 1 May 2026
- Scheme runs until
- 30 Jun 2030
- Buyer regions
- UK
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- 1.35% of call-off value
Who may buy through it
- The University Caterers Organisation Limited (TUCO):
account.tuco.ac.uk/delrvdkzgqmjfhudksgs ↗
- North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC)
- Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC)
- Higher Education Purchasing Consortium Wales (HEPCW)
- London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC)
- North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC)
- Southern Universities Procurement Consortium (SUPC)
- Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC)
- Local authorities
10.Central Government departments and their agencies
- Police, fire and rescue, maritime and coastguard agency emergency services
12.NHS bodies, the HSC (Northern Ireland) and ambulance services
- Schools, Educational establishments and Higher Education in England, Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland
For full details refer to Framework Permissible Users for details of contracting authorities
that may use the Framework
Published description of the framework
To be completed
Lots and requirements (7)Procurement structure
7 lots · all with a published value · same conditions of participation on every lot · evaluation weights differ by lotEvery one of these 7 lots carries the same published figure, £20,000,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Milk & Dairy products for HE/FE membersAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
Lot #2Milk & Dairy products for LA’s/wider public sectorAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
Lot #3Fresh Bread & Baked Goods for HE/FE membersAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
Lot #4Fresh Bread & Baked Goods for LA’s/wider public sectorAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
Lot #5Frozen Bread & Baked Goods for HE/FE membersAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
Lot #6Frozen Bread & Baked Goods for LA’s/wider public sectorAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
Lot #7One stop shop option for LA’s/wider public sectorAwardedRenewalceiling above
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
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).
Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.
- Economic & financial standing
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
- Technical & professional ability
Refer to the tender documents which are available on in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home ↗
- Price carries 50–60 points depending on the lot; most lots put it at 50 points.
- “Milk, Dairy, Bread & Baked Goods” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
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
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use this agreement
- 1. The University Caterers Organisation Limited (TUCO): https://account.tuco.ac.uk/delrvdkzgqmjfhudksgs 2. North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium (NEUPC) 3. Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC) 4. Higher Education Purchasing Consortium Wales (HEPCW) 5. London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC) 6. North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium (NWUPC) 7. Southern Universities Procurement Consortium (SUPC) 8. Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) 9. Local authorities 10.Central Government departments and their agencies 11. Police, fire and rescue, maritime and coastguard agency emergency services 12.NHS bodies, the HSC (Northern Ireland) and ambulance services 13. Schools, Educational establishments and Higher Education in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland For full details refer to Framework Permissible Users for details of contracting authorities that may use the Framework · open scheme: new suppliers can join during the term
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 4 Feb 2030
- First published
- 22 May 2025, 11:21 BST
- Last source update
- 15 Jul 2026, 14:54 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 7 Apr 2026
- Authority reference
CAT11078-TU- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-010208- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-051d10Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 6 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 27 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- call-off levy · 1.35% of call-off value
Timeline
22 May 2025 → 15 Jul 2026 · 10 dates- Planning notice published22 May 2025, 11:21 BST
- Next notice expected2 Sept 2025, 00:59 BST
- Tender notice published258 days ago4 Feb 2026, 18:05 GMT
- Clarification questions by235 days ago27 Feb 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends228 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown6 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by196 days ago7 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts173 days ago1 May 2026, 00:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent135 days ago8 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends123 days ago19 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published97 days ago15 Jul 2026, 14:54 BST
Notice history
10 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 May 2025- Pipeline notice published22 May 2025, 11:21 BSTUK1
- Tender notice published4 Feb 2026, 18:05 GMTUK4
- Published value published: £20,000,0004 Feb 2026, 18:05 GMT
- Status changed to active4 Feb 2026, 18:05 GMT
- Procurement method changed4 Feb 2026, 18:05 GMT
- Deadline published: 6 Mar 2026, 15:00 GMT4 Feb 2026, 18:05 GMT
- Contract award notice published9 Jun 2026, 16:37 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete9 Jun 2026, 16:37 BST
- Contract signature expected22 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published15 Jul 2026, 14:54 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-05: 1 release · 22 May 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast£20,000,000 is the framework's published maximum, restated by the publisher on 7 award rows. It is one ceiling, not 7 separate sums, and no share per lot is published; those rows read “ceiling above”.
Contracts
All 7 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £20,000,000, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.
Lot 1 - Milk & Dairy products for HE/FE members · ARTHUR DAVID (FOOD WITH SERVICE) LIMITED, Brake Bros Ltd, Harlech Foodservice Limited, Johal Dairies LimitedSME, Multihope Ltd t/a Paynes FoodserviceSME, R.D. JOHNS LIMITED +11 more
- Signed
- 22 Jun 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 22 Jun 2026 – 21 Jun 2028 · up to 21 Jun 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 1 year + 1 year
Lot 2 - Milk & Dairy products for LA's/wider public sector. · ARTHUR DAVID (FOOD WITH SERVICE) LIMITED, Fresh Direct (UK) Limited, Harlech Foodservice Limited, Johal Dairies LimitedSME, Multihope Ltd t/a Paynes FoodserviceSME, SCHOOL MILK SERVICES LTDSME +9 more
- Signed
- 22 Jun 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 22 Jun 2026 – 21 Jun 2028 · up to 21 Jun 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 1 year + 1 year
Lot 3 - Fresh Bread & Baked Goods for HE/FE members · Johal Dairies LimitedSME, Morris Quality BakersSME, Multihope Ltd t/a Paynes FoodserviceSME, SCHOOL MILK SERVICES LTDSME, Tamar Fresh LtdSME, Thomas Ridley Foodservice +6 more
- Signed
- 22 Jun 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 22 Jun 2026 – 21 Jun 2028 · up to 21 Jun 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 1 year + 1 year
Lot 4 - Fresh Bread & Baked Goods for LA's/wider public sector · Johal Dairies LimitedSME, Morris Quality BakersSME, Multihope Ltd t/a Paynes FoodserviceSME, SCHOOL MILK SERVICES LTDSME, Tamar Fresh LtdSME, Thomas Ridley Foodservice +5 more
- Signed
- 22 Jun 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 22 Jun 2026 – 21 Jun 2028 · up to 21 Jun 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 1 year + 1 year
Lot 5 - Frozen Bread & Baked Goods for HE/FE members · Crowndale Food Services LTDSME, DELICE DE FRANCE, H N NuttallSME, Harlech Foodservice Limited, KENT FROZEN FOODS LIMITED, R.D. JOHNS LIMITED +3 more
- Signed
- 22 Jun 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 22 Jun 2026 – 21 Jun 2028 · up to 21 Jun 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 1 year + 1 year
Lot 6 - Frozen Bread & Baked Goods for LA's/wider public sector · Crowndale Food Services LTDSME, DELICE DE FRANCE, Dunsters Farm LimitedSME, Harlech Foodservice Limited, KENT FROZEN FOODS LIMITED, Thomas Ridley Foodservice +1 more
- Signed
- 22 Jun 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 22 Jun 2026 – 21 Jun 2028 · up to 21 Jun 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 1 year + 1 year
Lot 7 - One stop shop option for LA's/wider public sector · Harlech Foodservice Limited, Johal Dairies LimitedSME, Multihope Ltd t/a Paynes FoodserviceSME, SCHOOL MILK SERVICES LTDSME, Tamar Fresh LtdSME, Thomas Ridley Foodservice +6 more
- Signed
- 22 Jun 2026
- Value
- ceiling above
- Period
- 22 Jun 2026 – 21 Jun 2028 · up to 21 Jun 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 1 year + 1 year
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Milk & Dairy products for HE/FE members | 17final-stage tenders · 22 at stage one | 8 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Milk & Dairy products for LA’s/wider public sector | 17final-stage tenders · 21 at stage one | 8 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Fresh Bread & Baked Goods for HE/FE members | 12final-stage tenders · 16 at stage one | 10 | 0 | — |
| 4 · Fresh Bread & Baked Goods for LA’s/wider public sector | 11final-stage tenders · 15 at stage one | 9 | 0 | — |
| 5 · Frozen Bread & Baked Goods for HE/FE members | 10final-stage tenders · 13 at stage one | 3 | 0 | — |
| 6 · Frozen Bread & Baked Goods for LA’s/wider public sector | 10final-stage tenders · 12 at stage one | 3 | 0 | — |
| 7 · One stop shop option for LA’s/wider public sector | 13final-stage tenders · 16 at stage one | 8 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonARTHUR DAVID (FOOD WITH SERVICE) LIMITED · South West England · 1, 2
- wonSysco GB Limited · South East England · 1, 2, 5, 6
- did not winCOTTESWOLD DAIRY LIMITED · South West England · 1, 2, 7
- wonCROWNDALE FOOD SERVICES LIMITEDSME · East Midlands · all lots
- wonDUNSTERS FARM LIMITEDSME · North West England · all lots
- wonFresh Direct (UK) Limited · South East England · 1, 2
- wonHARLECH FOODSERVICE LIMITED · Wales (Cymru) · 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
- wonJOHAL DAIRIES LIMITEDSME · West Midlands · 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
- wonKENT FROZEN FOODS LIMITED · South East England · 1, 2, 5, 6
- wonMULTIHOPE LIMITEDSME · Yorkshire and the Humber · 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
- wonR.D. JOHNS LIMITED · South West England · 1, 5, 2, 6, 7
- wonSCHOOL MILK SERVICES LIMITEDSME · South West England · 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
- wonTamar Fresh LtdSME · South West England · 1, 2, 3
- wonTHOMAS RIDLEY AND SON,LIMITED · South East England · all lots
- wonTURNER & PRICE LIMITED · South East England · all lots
- wonWEST COUNTRY MILK CONSORTIUM LIMITEDSME · South West England · 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
- did not winWest Horsley DairySME · South East England · 1, 3
- did not winDAIRYLINK UK LTDSME · West Midlands · 2, 7
- did not winHENLLAN BREAD (UK) LIMITEDSME · Wales (Cymru) · 3, 4
- wonMORRIS QUALITY BAKERS LIMITEDSME · North West England · 3, 4
- wonTAMAR FRESH LIMITEDSME · South West England · 4, 7, 6
- wonDELICE DE FRANCE LIMITED · Greater London · 5, 6
- wonH.N.NUTTALL LIMITEDSME · North West England · 5
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
23 commercial parties on the notice- ARTHUR DAVID (FOOD WITH SERVICE) LIMITEDFramework contractor
- COTTESWOLD DAIRY LIMITEDFramework contractor
- CROWNDALE FOOD SERVICES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- DAIRYLINK UK LTDFramework contractor
- DELICE DE FRANCE LIMITEDFramework contractor
- DUNSTERS FARM LIMITEDFramework contractor
- Fresh Direct (UK) LimitedFramework contractor
- H.N.NUTTALL LIMITEDFramework contractor
- HARLECH FOODSERVICE LIMITEDFramework contractor
- HENLLAN BREAD (UK) LIMITEDFramework contractor
Show 13 more suppliers
- JOHAL DAIRIES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- KENT FROZEN FOODS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- MORRIS QUALITY BAKERS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- MULTIHOPE LIMITEDFramework contractor
- R.D. JOHNS LIMITEDFramework contractor
- SCHOOL MILK SERVICES LIMITEDFramework contractor
- Sysco GB LimitedFramework contractor
- TAMAR FRESH LIMITEDFramework contractor
- THOMAS RIDLEY AND SON,LIMITEDFramework contractor
- TURNER & PRICE LIMITEDFramework contractor
- Tamar Fresh LtdFramework contractor
- WEST COUNTRY MILK CONSORTIUM LIMITEDFramework contractor
- West Horsley DairyFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (31)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Signed contract
- Signed contract
- Signed contract
- Signed contract
- Signed contract
- Signed contract
- Signed contract
- Signed contract
Show 5 more documents
- Signed contract
- Bidding documents and specifications Complete set of tender documents are available through the web address https://in-tendhost.co.uk/tuco/aspx/Home
- Signed contract
- Signed contract
- Signed contract
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
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- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
2 further documents are listed in the JSON mirror.