Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 30 Mar 2026, 15:25 BST

Official UK procurement notice

South West Essex Community Education Trust ~ Catering Tender

Official notice

Authority: South West Essex Community Education Trust (Public body)

ServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£1,375,000≈ £458k / year · £1,375,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 1 May 2026awarded 10 Jun 2026
Award (standstill) to Aspens Services Limited
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Jul 2029 · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Aug 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Please note that this PSQ is running concurrently alongside the ITT. You will need to register separately for both the PSQ and the ITT. If you have any questions around the PSQ or the ITT please use the message centre feature in the ITT section of LTMS.

Please note that this PSQ is running concurrently alongside the ITT. You will need to register separately for both the PSQ and the ITT. If you have any questions around the PSQ or the ITT please use the message centre feature in the ITT section of LTMS.

The successful Supplier will be required to provide cleaning services for South West Essex Community Education Trust.

This procurement is being conducted under a concurrent competitive flexible procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Suppliers must meet the minimum conditions of participation in the PSQ in order to progress to having their tenders scored.

Sales value is currently £275,000 per annum (see ITT data pack)

SWECET formed in 2015 when a group of like-minded schools came together to form the South West Essex Community Education Trust. They were united in the belief that every young person needs and deserves an education that will maximise their future life chances and that this could be better achieved together.

The founding schools and those schools that have joined since are all united by shared values and beliefs, but this is where the similarities end. We encourage each other to remain unique places of learning. We believe our schools’ differences are an asset, allowing for creative thinking and sharing of best practice, raising standards across the Trust and providing exciting opportunities for our students.

This opportunity has come to market after the recent withdrawal of the Local Authority Catering service, therefore the expectation will be that TUPW will apply and LGPS membership will be a feature of most employee’s contract terms. The schools have consistent and dedicated teams performing the services currently.

In scope for this project are the three primary schools in the Trust;

Deneholm Primary School

Stifford Clays Primary School

Chadwell St Mary Primary School

Current catering sales revenue is around £275k per annum

The Client would like to see innovative delivery of staple primary menu items, enhanced where appropriate with innovation and interest. There is a need to maximise sales and uptake to contribute against overheads – this can be achieved by offering a dynamic and bespoke food offering across all of the schools.

Please see PSQ Document for more information

  • How the procedure runs: Concurrent Process, please see PSQ Document for more information.

CPV: School catering services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£1,375,000
Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensionsValue: £1,375,000 exc. VAT · £1,375,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: East of EnglandEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 3+2 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
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
30 Mar 2026, 15:25 BST
Last source update
2 Jul 2026, 14:54 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 15 Jun 2026
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-029206
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
School catering services
Delivery area
East of England (UKH3)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06780e Find a Tender
How it runs

Concurrent Process, please see PSQ Document for more information.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: portal not identified
Electronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Submission deadline
1 May 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
1 May 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

30 Mar 2026 → 1 Aug 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published213 days ago
    30 Mar 2026, 15:25 BST
  2. Clarification questions by181 days ago
    1 May 2026, 12:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline181 days ago
    1 May 2026, 12:00 BST
  4. Assessment summaries sent141 days ago
    10 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
  5. Award decision expected by135 days ago
    15 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  6. Latest notice published119 days ago
    2 Jul 2026, 14:54 BST
  7. Standstill ends106 days ago
    14 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
  8. Contract starts89 days ago
    1 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 30 Mar 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    30 Mar 2026, 15:25 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    2 Jul 2026, 14:54 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    2 Jul 2026, 14:54 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    14 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value (inc. VAT) £1,375,0001 award inc. VAT; no net value published
Bids received 21 from SMEs
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Aspens Services Limited1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2029 · up to 31 Jul 2031Extensions: 3+2 Please see PSQ Document for more information.£1,375,000 inc. VAT10 Jun 2026standstill to 14 Jul 2026Standstill

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
2final-stage tenders10—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

South West Essex Community Education Trust

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PJRP-8452-BNTY SWECET Offices, Oakfield, Long Lane, Essex, East of England, RM16 2QHContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Aspens Services LtdAwarded supplierGB-COH: 06561073 International House, 10 Beaufort Court, Admirals Way, London, London, E14 9XLContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender