Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 20 Jan 2026, 12:05 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Reach South Academy Trust ~ Catering Tender

Official notice

Authority: Reach South Academy Trust (Public body)

5 lotsServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£8,599,110total for 5 lots · £8,599,110 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 17 Apr 2026awarded 1 Jul 2026
Awarded to Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government Services, Forerunner Personal Catering Limited5 awards
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Jul 2029 · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Aug 2026

What is being bought5 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The successful contractor will be required to provide catering services for 17 Schools within Reach South Academy Trust:

1.Drake Primary Academy, 1 Johnston Terrace Ope, Keyham, Plymouth, PL2 2EN

2.Goosewell Primary Academy, Goosewell Road, Plymstock, Plymouth, PL9 9HD

3.High Street Primary Academy, High Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, PL1 3SJ

4.Hill View Primary Academy, Hill View Road, Ensbury Park, Bournemouth, BH10 5BD

5.Malmesbury Park Primary Academy, Lowther Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 8LU

6.Marlborough Primary School, Morice Square, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 4NJ

7.Millbay Academy, The Red House, 22 Millbay Road, Millbay, Plymouth, PL1 3EG

8.Morice Town Primary Academy, Charlotte Street, Devonport, Plymouth, PL2 1RJ

9.The Peak Academy, Drake Lane Cam, Dursley, GL11 5HD

10.Pilgrim Primary Academy, Oxford Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 5BQ

11.Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning (SAIL), Wilton Road, Salisbury, SP2 7EU

12.Stoke Damerel Primary Academy, Collingwood Road, Stoke, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 5PA

13.Stuart Road Primary Academy, Palmerston Street, Stoke, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 5LL

14.The Springfields Academy, Curzon Street, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 ODS

15.Thomas Hall School, Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter, EX4 5AD

16.UTC Plymouth, Park Avenue, Devonport, Plymouth, PL1 4RL

17.A new build school, currently known as Gloucestershire Academy For Inspirational Learning (GAIL) in Wheatridge East, Abbeydale, Gloucestershire.

Trust’s website: www.reachsouth.org ↗

The contract covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the Schools, which is inclusive of all hospitality and free issue requirements.

The duration of the contract being offered is for an initial three-year period commencing on 01 August 2026, with the potential to then extend for a further two 12-month periods. This extension will be granted by mutual consent and on the same terms and conditions as the original contract without the right to further extend beyond the full five years.

Please see PSQ Document.

  • How the procedure runs: Please see PSQ Document for more information.

CPV: School catering services

Lots and requirements (5)Procurement structure

5 lots · all with a published value (£8,599,110 together) · same evaluation weights on every lot
Lot #1PlymouthAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£4,856,600

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensionsValue: £4,856,600 exc. VAT · £4,856,600 inc. VAT
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 1+1 Please see PSQ Document for more information.
Lot #2ExeterAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£1,095,895

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensionsValue: £1,095,895 exc. VAT · £1,095,895 inc. VAT
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 1+1 Please see PSQ Document for more information.
Lot #3BournemouthAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£1,165,125

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensionsValue: £1,165,125 exc. VAT · £1,165,125 inc. VAT
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 1+1 Please see PSQ document for more information.
Lot #4SalisburyAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£286,075

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensionsValue: £286,075 exc. VAT · £286,075 inc. VAT
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 1+1 Please see PSQ Document for more information.
Lot #5Gloucestershire & WiltshireAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£1,195,415

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensionsValue: £1,195,415 exc. VAT · £1,195,415 inc. VAT
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 1+1 Please see PSQ Document for more information.

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 · same split on all 5 lots
Quality: 70%Price: 30%
Published sub-criteria (2)
  • Criterion 1: 70%
  • Criterion 2: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Criterion 1
  • Criterion 2
What this means for your bid
  • 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
20 Jan 2026, 12:05 GMT
Last source update
3 Sept 2026, 11:51 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 1 Jun 2026
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-004760
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
School catering services
Delivery area
South West (UKK1)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0609d3 Find a Tender
How it runs

Please see PSQ Document for more information.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Litmus TMS
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free
Submission deadline
17 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
16 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

20 Jan 2026 → 3 Sept 2026 · 7 dates
  1. Tender notice published275 days ago
    20 Jan 2026, 12:05 GMT
  2. Clarification questions by248 days ago
    16 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
  3. Submission deadline188 days ago
    17 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
  4. Award decision expected by142 days ago
    1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  5. Assessment summaries sent113 days ago
    1 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
  6. Contract starts82 days ago
    1 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
  7. Latest notice published49 days ago
    3 Sept 2026, 11:51 BST

Notice history

4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 Jan 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    20 Jan 2026, 12:05 GMT
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    3 Sept 2026, 11:51 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    3 Sept 2026, 11:51 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    15 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 5
Awarded value (inc. VAT) £8,599,1105 awards inc. VAT; no net value published
Bids received 3015 from SMEs
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 1 · Plymouth1 award
Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government ServicesSME16 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 · up to 31 Jul 2031Extensions: 1+1 initial term of 01/08/2026 ~ 31/07/2029 Please see PSQ Document for more information.£4,856,600 inc. VAT1 Jul 2026Awarded
Lot 2 · Exeter1 award
Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government ServicesSME16 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 · up to 31 Jul 2031Extensions: 1+1 with an initial term of 01/08/2026 ~ 31/07/2029 Please see PSQ Document for more information.£1,095,895 inc. VAT1 Jul 2026Awarded
Lot 3 · Bournemouth1 award
Forerunner Personal Catering LimitedSME16 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 · up to 31 Jul 2031Extensions: 1+1 with an initial term of 01/08/2026 ~ 31/07/2029 Please see PSQ document for more information.£1,165,125 inc. VAT1 Jul 2026Awarded
Lot 4 · Salisbury1 award
Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government ServicesSME16 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 · up to 31 Jul 2031Extensions: 1+1 with an initial term of 01/08/2026 ~ 31/07/2029 Please see PSQ Document for more information.£286,075 inc. VAT1 Jul 2026Awarded
Lot 5 · Gloucestershire & Wiltshire1 award
Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government ServicesSME16 Sept 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 · up to 31 Jul 2031Extensions: 1+1 with an initial term of 01/08/2026 ~ 31/07/2029 Please see PSQ Document for more information.£1,195,415 inc. VAT1 Jul 2026Awarded

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Plymouth6final-stage tenders30—
2 · Exeter6final-stage tenders30—
3 · Bournemouth6final-stage tenders30—
4 · Salisbury6final-stage tenders30—
5 · Gloucestershire & Wiltshire6final-stage tenders30—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Reach South Academy Trust

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PBGB-3854-CJJH Reach South Academy Trust c/o UTC Plymouth, Park Avenue, Devonport, Plymouth, South West, PL1 4RLContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice

Official documents & specifications (6)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award 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