Official UK procurement notice
Virano Managed Service Catering Framework
Authority: Virano Frameworks Ltd (Public body)·On behalf of: PHP Law LLP
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionVirano Frameworks Ltd was seeking to establish a single supplier framework agreement for the provision of managed catering services, primarily for education settings and other eligible contracting authorities. The framework is intended to support schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, colleges, universities and other educational bodies with the delivery of compliant, high-quality and value-for-money managed catering services. The framework will cover managed school catering and school meal services, including primary meal provision, secondary retail catering provision and mixed primary/secondary estate arrangements. Services may include menu development, food and ingredient supply, mobilisation, operational management support, compliance support, training, reporting, performance monitoring, contract management and continuous improvement under a managed service model. The framework will be awarded to one supplier only. Future call-off contracts may be awarded to the appointed supplier in accordance with the framework agreement and call-off methodology set out in the procurement documents. Appointment to the framework does not guarantee any minimum level of work, value, volume or exclusivity. Call-off contracts must remain within the scope of the framework, specification, pricing methodology and framework terms. The call-off process will be used to confirm customer-specific requirements, apply the approved pricing methodology, agree mobilisation and service-specific details and complete the relevant call-off contract.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 7 Jan 2030, 23:59 GMT.
- No preliminary market engagement: The justification is that the requirements are not complex or niche and the Contracting Authority already has an understanding of what they want the service to deliver and the market is known.
CPV: School catering services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs are awarded directly to appointed suppliers, without further competition
- Places
- up to 1 suppliers · 3 bids received (3.0 per place) · 1 appointed (full)
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 2 Nov 2026
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
0.50% of call-off value · A Framework Levy of 0.5% of the gross value of invoices issued under each Call-Off Contract shall be payable by the appointed Contractor to the Framework Manager. The levy contributes towards the costs of establishing, operating, managing and developing the Framework, including framework governance, contract management, compliance monitoring, performance reporting, customer support, procurement administration and continuous improvement activities. The levy shall be payable monthly in arrears and applies throughout the duration of each Call-Off Contract awarded under the Framework.
Who may buy through it
The customers authorised to use the framework fit into the following education specific categories and can be identified by following the relevant links that follow: Schools, academies, colleges, universities and other educational bodies
- www.gov.uk/government/organisat… ↗
- www.gov.uk/check-a-university-i… ↗
- www.schoolswebdirectory.co.uk/localauthorities.php ↗
- get-information-schools.service.gov.uk ↗
- www.gov.uk/find-school-in-england ↗
- education.gov.scot/ParentZone ↗
- hwb.wales.gov.uk ↗
- www.education-ni.gov.uk ↗
- www.gov.uk/government/publicati… ↗
- unistats.direct.gov.uk/institutions/ ↗
- www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/… ↗
- www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/… ↗
Published description of the framework
The Framework Agreement will be awarded to a single supplier responsible for the provision and management of the managed catering services framework. Participating contracting authorities may access the Framework throughout its term and enter into Call-Off Contracts in accordance with the Framework Agreement. Call-Off Contracts may be awarded directly under the Framework terms where the participating authority's requirements fall within the scope of the Framework. The supplier shall provide support in relation to procurement, mobilisation, contract implementation, supplier management, performance monitoring, reporting, compliance monitoring and continuous improvement activities as described in the procurement documents. Call-Off Contracts may vary in scope, value, duration, participating authority, number of sites, pupil numbers, catering model and service requirements. The Framework Provider will support participating authorities in tailoring Call-Off Contracts to their individual requirements whilst maintaining compliance with the Framework Agreement. The Framework Provider will maintain governance arrangements, contract management processes, performance monitoring mechanisms and reporting procedures to ensure the effective operation of the Framework and resulting Call-Off Contracts throughout the Framework term.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedPublished value£20,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
Financial Capacity Tenderers must demonstrate their economic and financial standing in accordance with the following: Due diligence checks will be undertaken on the preferred Tenderer’s accounts to determine a Tenderer’s financial standing. This will incorporate credit checks and a financial appraisal. Please refer to Appendix A of Document 1 Instructions & Information for the financial assessment process.
- Technical & professional ability
To constitute a pass, the contract examples provided shall be relevant to the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer’s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts. The contracts must be within the education sector and similar complexity in delivering a managed catering service in a multi-site environment across a geographical area. Tenderers must provide a minimum of two and a maximum of three examples of contracts delivered within the last three years which demonstrate experience relevant to the Framework requirement. Where a Tenderer cannot provide a relevant contract example, or cannot provide the requested number of examples, alternative evidence demonstrating equivalent technical capability may be submitted and will be assessed by the Authority. Insurances: Required to confirm whether you already have, or can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below: a. Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £10m b. Public Liability Insurance = £10m c. Professional Indemnity Insurance = £1m d. Product Liability Insurance = £1m
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 (5)
- Quality Assessment: 60%
- Price: 12.5%
- Price: 12.5%
- Managed Service Fee: 10%
- Food Margin & Supply Chain Benefit Transparency: 5%
Published award criteria (5)
- Quality Assessment: Framework Management 10.0% Framework Mobilisation 2.5% Proposed Managed Service Operating Model 15.0% Food Offering 10.0% Food Pricing Transparency and Value for Money 5.0% Call-Off Contract Management 10.0% Call-Off Contract Mobilisation & Risk Management 5.0% Sustainability 2.5%
- Price: Primary food pricing methodology Scored commercial methodology response assessing the Tenderer’s ability to apply the primary cost-per-plate and three-week rolling menu model transparently, consistently and auditable at framework and call-off level, supported by mandatory pass/fail compliance requirements.
- Price: Secondary food pricing methodology Scored commercial methodology response assessing the Tenderer’s ability to apply the secondary retail selling price, food supply charge and Authority retained margin model transparently, consistently and auditable at framework and call-off level, supported by mandatory pass/fail compliance requirements.
- Managed Service Fee: Managed service fee Price evaluation using the Tenderer’s fixed annual managed service fee rates for production kitchens and servery kitchens, applied to the model estate stated in the Invitation to Tender for evaluation purposes only. The submitted rates will become Framework rates and will be applied at call-off by reference to the actual number and type of schools included in the Call-Off Contract.
- Food Margin & Supply Chain Benefit Transparency: Scored commercial methodology response assessing the Tenderer’s approach to food margin transparency, supply chain benefit disclosure and value for money. The response will be evaluated on the clarity and credibility of the Tenderer’s food margin methodology, the disclosure of any material rebates, commissions, retrospective discounts, volume incentives or equivalent supply chain benefits, how those benefits are reflected in pricing, and the audit trail, reporting and open-book controls proposed to verify compliance at framework and call-off level. This component is supported by mandatory pass/fail requirements in Document 5.
- Economic & financial standing
Financial Capacity Tenderers must demonstrate their economic and financial standing in accordance with the following: Due diligence checks will be undertaken on the preferred Tenderer’s accounts to determine a Tenderer’s financial standing. This will incorporate credit checks and a financial appraisal. Please refer to Appendix A of Document 1 Instructions & Information for the financial assessment process.
- Technical & professional ability
To constitute a pass, the contract examples provided shall be relevant to the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer’s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts. The contracts must be within the education sector and similar complexity in delivering a managed catering service in a multi-site environment across a geographical area. Tenderers must provide a minimum of two and a maximum of three examples of contracts delivered within the last three years which demonstrate experience relevant to the Framework requirement. Where a Tenderer cannot provide a relevant contract example, or cannot provide the requested number of examples, alternative evidence demonstrating equivalent technical capability may be submitted and will be assessed by the Authority. Insurances: Required to confirm whether you already have, or can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below: a. Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £10m b. Public Liability Insurance = £10m c. Professional Indemnity Insurance = £1m d. Product Liability Insurance = £1m
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Virano Managed Service Catering Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 1 suppliers, not a single contract, and call-offs are awarded directly: getting appointed is the whole game.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
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
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- The customers authorised to use the framework fit into the following education specific categories and can be identified by following the relevant links that follow: Schools, academies, colleges, universities and other educational bodies • https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education • https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised/recognised-bodies • http://www.schoolswebdirectory.co.uk/localauthorities.php • https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/ • https://www.gov.uk/find-school-in-england • https://education.gov.scot/ParentZone • http://hwb.wales.gov.uk/ • https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/ • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development • http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/institutions/ • http://www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/heis/ • http://www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/fecs/
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 7 Jan 2030
- First published
- 14 Aug 2026, 15:28 BST
- Last source update
- 14 Oct 2026, 16:20 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 19 Oct 2026
- Authority reference
LAP01.46- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-077788- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e4e2Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
30 days from receipt of a valid invoice. Detailed payment arrangements are set out in the Framework Agreement and Call-Off Contract terms
- Risks
Known risks to satisfactory performance of the Framework and Call-Off Contracts include changes to participating authorities, academy trust structures, school estates, pupil numbers, meal volumes, statutory obligations, School Food Standards, technology, supply chain arrangements, funding, operational requirements and other circumstances affecting the effective delivery or management of catering services. The Framework Agreement may be modified where necessary to address such risks and ensure the continued effective operation of the Framework and resulting Call-Off Contracts.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 25 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 25 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · 0.50% of call-off value · A Framework Levy of 0.5% of the gross value of invoices issued under each Call-Off Contract shall be payable by the appointed Contractor to the Framework Manager. The levy contributes towards the costs of establishing, operating, managing and developing the Framework, including framework governance, contract management, compliance monitoring, performance reporting, customer support, procurement administration and continuous improvement activities. The levy shall be payable monthly in arrears and applies throughout the duration of each Call-Off Contract awarded under the Framework.
Timeline
14 Aug 2026 → 2 Nov 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published67 days ago14 Aug 2026, 15:28 BST
- Clarification questions by25 days ago25 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends25 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown25 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent7 days ago14 Oct 2026
- Latest notice published6 days ago14 Oct 2026, 16:20 BST
- Award decision expected by1 day ago19 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today20 Oct 2026
- Standstill endsin 6 days26 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 12 days2 Nov 2026
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 14 Aug 2026- Tender notice published14 Aug 2026, 15:28 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published21 Sept 2026, 09:53 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published14 Oct 2026, 16:20 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete14 Oct 2026, 16:20 BST
- Contract signature expected2 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Published amendments (1)
To clarify the Insurance Requirements: Insurance requirements to be in place for the start of the Framework Agreement: Please confirm whether you already have, or can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below: a. Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £10m b. Public Liability Insurance = £10m c. Professional Indemnity Insurance = £1m…
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goosemoor Educatering LimitedSME2 Nov 2026 – 1 Nov 2030Options: The Framework associated Call-Off Contracts may be extended in accordance with their terms. Call-Off Contracts may include additional schools, sites and service locations and may be varied to reflect changes in service requirements, meal volumes, pupil numbers and operational arrangements, provided such changes remain within the scope of the Framework. The Framework may also include optional managed catering support services as described in the procurement documents. | £20,000,000 | 13 Oct 2026standstill to 26 Oct 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- did not winABM Catering Ltd · West Midlands
- wonGoosemoor Educatering LtdSME · South West England
- did not winMiQuill CateringSME · North West England
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
2 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- PHP Law LLPProcess contact pointProcuring entityProcurement Consultant
Framework contractors & participating bidders
3 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded- ABM Catering LtdBidder / tenderer
- Goosemoor Educatering LtdFramework contractor
- MiQuill CateringBidder / tenderer
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- 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