Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 8 Jan 2026, 16:05 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

The Rainbow Multi Academy Trust ~ Catering Tender

Official notice

Authority: The Rainbow Multi Academy Trust ~ Catering Tender (Public body)

ServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£2,600,000≈ £520k / year · £2,600,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 24 Apr 2026awarded 17 Jun 2026
Award (standstill) to Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government Services
Contract term 5 yrsends 31 Aug 2031 · up to 31 Aug 2033 with extensions · starts 1 Sept 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for the following twelve Schools within The Rainbow Multi Academy Trust (MAT):

1.Bishop Bronescombe C of E School, Boscoppa Road, St Austell, Cornwall, PL5 3DT

2.Grampound Road Village CE School, South Street, Grampound Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 4DY

3.Grampound With Creed C of E School, Fore Street, Grampound, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 4SB

4.Ladock C of E Primary School, Ladock, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 4PL

5.Penponds School, Higher Penponds, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 0QN

6.St Issey C of E Primary School, Gardeners Way, St Issey, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 7RN

7.St Meriadoc C of E Infant Academy, Rectory Road, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 7DW

8.St Meriadoc C of E Junior Academy, Cranfield Road, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 7PN

9.St Michael’s C of E Primary School, Penberthy Road, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 8AR

10.Trevithick Learning Academy, Mount Pleasant Road, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 7RH

11.Troon Community Primary School, New Road, Troon, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 9ED

12.Veryan C of E School, Veryan, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 5QA

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 five-year period commencing on 01 September 2026 and concluding on 31 August 2031, 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.

The contract being offered within this tender will be on a guaranteed performance basis, with an expected profit share of any betterment to the agreed budget.

The Trust is seeking a suitably experienced contractor who is able to evidence working with multiple Primary Schools with varying requirements and Multi Academy Trusts. The successful contractor will already have, or need to develop, a strong operational base within the South West, thus allowing for both adequate contract support and operational flexibility that is to be delivered to support the contract as and when needed moving forwards into this contract term.

Please see PSQ document for more information.

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

CPV: School catering services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 5 yrsSMEPublished value£2,600,000
Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 31 Aug 2033 with extensionsValue: £2,600,000 exc. VAT · £2,600,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: 5+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
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
8 Jan 2026, 16:05 GMT
Last source update
7 Aug 2026, 11:21 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 8 Jun 2026
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-001594
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
School catering services
Delivery area
North West (UKD72)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06022a 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
24 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
6 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

8 Jan 2026 → 1 Sept 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Tender notice published286 days ago
    8 Jan 2026, 16:05 GMT
  2. Clarification questions by257 days ago
    6 Feb 2026, 12:00 GMT
  3. Submission deadline180 days ago
    24 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
  4. Award decision expected by134 days ago
    8 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  5. Assessment summaries sent126 days ago
    17 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
  6. Latest notice published75 days ago
    7 Aug 2026, 11:21 BST
  7. Standstill ends63 days ago
    18 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
  8. Contract starts50 days ago
    1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

4 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 Jan 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    8 Jan 2026, 16:05 GMT
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    7 Aug 2026, 11:21 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    7 Aug 2026, 11:21 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    19 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value (inc. VAT) £2,600,0001 award inc. VAT; no net value published
Bids received 2
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited, trading as ESS Government ServicesSME1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 · up to 31 Aug 2033Extensions: 5+1+1 Please see PSQ document for more information.£2,600,000 inc. VAT17 Jun 2026standstill to 18 Aug 2026Standstill

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
2final-stage tenders00—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

The Rainbow Multi Academy Trust ~ Catering Tender

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PVZJ-3724-JBLN Unit 16 Chapel Brook Trade Park, Wilson Road, Huyton, Liverpool, North West, L36 6FHContact email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

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