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Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 19 Aug 2025, 16:29 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Provision of Schools Catering Services

Official notice

Authority: Academies Enterprise Trust (Education)

5 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitable
Sectors: Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services (55) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Published estimate£95,000,000total for 5 lots · £97,000,000 inc. VAT · 1 value update
Submissions closed 16 Feb 2026awarded 29 Jun 2026
Award (standstill) to ASPENS-SERVICES LIMITED (06561073) +2 more5 awards
Contract term 5 yrsends 31 Aug 2031 · up to 1 Sept 2033 with extensions · starts 1 Sept 2026

What is being bought5 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Provision of school meals and additional catering services at Lift Schools , in accordance with all relevant statutory requirements , good practice guidelines and to provide good quality, nutritious meals at an affordable price.The service will be an integral part of the school day where pupils will be able to take a nourishing meal in a pleasant and orderly environment which aids in curriculum attainment.

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 5 Jan 2033, 23:59 GMT.

CPV: School catering services

Lots and requirements (5)Procurement structure

5 lots · all with a published value
Lot #1North RegionAwardedRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£0

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 1 Sept 2033 with extensions
Eligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 1 Plus 1
55524000 School catering services
Lot #2Southwest RegionAwardedRenewal 5 yrsPublished value£0

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 1 Sept 2033 with extensions
Extensions: 1 Plus 1
55524000 School catering services
Lot #3Midlands RegionAwardedRenewal 5 yrsPublished value£0

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 1 Sept 2033 with extensions
Extensions: 1 Plus 1
55524000 School catering services
Lot #4London & SouthAwardedRenewal 5 yrsPublished value£0

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 1 Sept 2033 with extensions
Extensions: 1 Plus 1
55524000 School catering services
Lot #5East RegionAwardedRenewal 5 yrsPublished value£0

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 1 Sept 2033 with extensions
Extensions: 1 Plus 1
55524000 School catering services

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
Light touch regime
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Yes · next expected 5 Jan 2033
First published
19 Aug 2025, 16:29 BST
Last source update
29 Jun 2026, 16:35 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 30 Apr 2026
Authority reference
T281-ITT
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-000405
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
School catering services
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-058ac5 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: In-tend · Who buys & how to bid on In-tend
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · one account per buying organisation's portal · reCAPTCHA on signup
Submission deadline
16 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
10 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal ↗

Timeline

19 Aug 2025 → 1 Sept 2026 · 10 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    19 Aug 2025, 16:29 BST
  2. Market engagement397 days ago
    18 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST

    In late September/Early October 2025 The Trust will be dedicating 3 free to attend regional events - London, South West and The Midlands. This will be a Presentation from Lift , an open forum and a series of 15 minute 1-2-1 slots for each supplier with a Lift Schools team member.

    We aim to involve some of our primary & secondary educators in each area where we hold the event. We would like our wider educational team to be part of the vision as we present to and speak with suppliers. We are aiming for these events to be a proactive approach to building collaborative ,transparent and mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers in the catering industry.

    If you would like to be invited to one of these regional events please indicate via correspondence on the Intend Portal in-tendhost.co.uk/educationportal ↗ before Friday 19th September 2025 the following;

    Company

    Name(s) of attendees

    Region Preferred

    Y/N for 1-2-1 slot

  3. Tender notice published288 days ago
    5 Jan 2026, 15:33 GMT
  4. Clarification questions by253 days ago
    10 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
  5. Submission deadline247 days ago
    16 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
  6. Award decision expected by173 days ago
    30 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
  7. Assessment summaries sent114 days ago
    29 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
  8. Latest notice published113 days ago
    29 Jun 2026, 16:35 BST
  9. Standstill ends104 days ago
    8 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
  10. Contract starts50 days ago
    1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

9 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 Aug 2025
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    19 Aug 2025, 16:29 BST
    UK2
  2. Tender notice published
    5 Jan 2026, 15:33 GMT
    UK4
  3. Published value published: £95,000,000
    5 Jan 2026, 15:33 GMT
  4. Status changed to active
    5 Jan 2026, 15:33 GMT
  5. Procurement method changed
    5 Jan 2026, 15:33 GMT
  6. Deadline published: 16 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
    5 Jan 2026, 15:33 GMT
  7. Contract award notice published
    29 Jun 2026, 16:35 BST
    UK6
  8. Status changed to complete
    29 Jun 2026, 16:35 BST
  9. Contract signature expected
    31 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 5
Awarded value Not summedeach provider’s award repeats the list or panel total
Bids received 5
Named bidders 3published on the award notice
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 1 · North Region1 award
ASPENS-SERVICES LIMITED (06561073)Catering Services Lot 1 North23 Oct 2026 – 24 Oct 2031 · up to 23 Oct 2033Extensions: 2 x 1 year extension£19,000,000 inc. VAT29 Jun 2026standstill to 8 Jul 2026Standstill
Lot 2 · Southwest Region1 award
ASPENS-SERVICES LIMITED (06561073)Catering Services Lot 2 Midlands24 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2031 · up to 23 Oct 2033Extensions: 2x1 year extension£19,000,000 inc. VAT29 Jun 2026standstill to 8 Jul 2026Standstill
Lot 3 · Midlands Region1 award
CaterlinkLot 3 Southwest24 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2031 · up to 23 Oct 2033Extensions: 2x 1 year extension£19,000,000 inc. VAT29 Jun 2026standstill to 8 Jul 2026Standstill
Lot 4 · London & South1 award
TAYLOR SHAW LIMITEDCatering Services Lot 4 East24 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2031 · up to 23 Oct 2033Extensions: 2x1 year extensions£19,000,000 inc. VAT29 Jun 2026standstill to 8 Jul 2026Standstill
Lot 5 · East Region1 award
TAYLOR SHAW LIMITEDCatering Services Lot 5 London and South24 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2031 · up to 23 Oct 2033Extensions: 2 x 1 year Extensions£19,000,000 inc. VAT29 Jun 2026standstill to 8 Jul 2026Standstill

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · North Region1final-stage tenders · 5 at stage one00—
2 · Southwest Region1final-stage tenders · 5 at stage one00—
3 · Midlands Region1final-stage tenders · 5 at stage one00—
4 · London & South1final-stage tenders · 5 at stage one00—
5 · East Region1final-stage tenders · 6 at stage one00—

Who bid

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

LIFT SCHOOLS

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-COH: 06625091 1 Edcity Walk, London, London, W12 7TFContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

3 commercial parties on the notice
  • Aspens Services LtdAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PJZY-1355-VRGY International House 10 Beaufort Court, Admirals Way,, London, United Kingdom,, London, E14 9XLContact email
  • Caterlink LtdAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PWPW-6942-JXBP 300 Thames Valley Park Drive,, Reading,, South East, RG6 1PTContact email
  • Taylor ShawAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PYWJ-2955-LJDH The Courtyard, Catherine Street,, Macclesfield, Cheshire,, North West, SK11 6ETContact email

Official documents & specifications (8)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure