Official UK procurement notice
School Catering Services for South Farnham Educational Trust Primary Schools
Authority: South Farnham Educational Trust (SFET) (Public body)·On behalf of: PANACHE CREATIVE LIMITED
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionProcurement exercise to source a suitable catering provider for 8 primary and nursery schools within the South Farnham Educational Trust (SFET). Eight of the Trust's schools are seeking a new catering services contract from 1st September 2026, for a contract term of 3 years (plus possible 2 year extension on a +1year, +1year basis).
SFET undertook this tender exercise to source a flexible and best value catering contractor with whom they can partner with to achieve service excellence through the provision of a great tasting food, made with authentic recipes and ingredients. Healthy eating, service innovation and added value through food education and sustainability initiatives are equally as important.
- How the procedure runs: The procurement process follows a two stage 'Competitive Flexible' approach, beginning with a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) stage followed by an Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage after shortlisting. This process is managed under the Light Touch Regime, and the Trust reserves the right to refine the award criteria throughout.
CPV: School catering services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£2,964,000
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Scoring criteria listed in PSQ document.
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)
- Quality/Technical: 70%
- Price: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality/Technical
- Price
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Scoring criteria listed in PSQ document.
- 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
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 19 Nov 2025, 13:21 GMT
- Last source update
- 27 Aug 2026, 16:33 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 30 Mar 2026
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-075222- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05e462Find a Tender
- How it runs
The procurement process follows a two stage 'Competitive Flexible' approach, beginning with a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) stage followed by an Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage after shortlisting. This process is managed under the Light Touch Regime, and the Trust reserves the right to refine the award criteria throughout.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 16 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission deadline
- 16 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 16 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Submission instructions are included in the PSQ; all completed PSQ submissions are to be sent to [email protected]
by the deadline stipulated.
Timeline
19 Nov 2025 → 1 Sept 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published338 days ago19 Nov 2025, 13:21 GMT
- Clarification questions by311 days ago16 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission deadline311 days ago16 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent208 days ago30 Mar 2026, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by207 days ago30 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST
- Standstill ends196 days ago10 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published57 days ago27 Aug 2026, 16:33 BST
- Contract starts53 days ago1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
6 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 19 Nov 2025- Tender notice published19 Nov 2025, 13:21 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published26 Nov 2025, 14:06 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published30 Mar 2026, 12:27 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete30 Mar 2026, 12:27 BST
- Contract signature expected29 May 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published27 Aug 2026, 16:33 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-11: 1 release · 19 Nov 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edwards and Ward LtdAward of South Farnham Educational Trust Catering Services Contract1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2029 · up to 31 Aug 2031Extensions: Up to 2 year extension, on a +1year, +1year basis. | £4,850,000 | 30 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · Edwards and Ward Ltd
- Signed
- 27 Aug 2026
- Value
- £4,850,000
- Period
- 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2029 · up to 31 Aug 2031 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 2 year extension; on a +1year, +1year basis.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- PANACHE CREATIVE LIMITEDProcess contact pointProcuring entityPanache Consultancy, catering services consultants, are assisting the School with the facilitation of this tender exercise, as a supporting role only.
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- EDWARDS & WARD LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Interested parties are to complete a Procurement Specific Questionnaire, which can be accessed via the dropbox link provided. If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender