Official UK procurement notice
Water Cooler Solutions · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Waythrough (Public body)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought8 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionSupply, install and maintenance of water cooler solutions
CPV: Catering services for other enterprises or other institutions · School catering services · Vending machines · Water coolers
How this framework works
From the published notice- Bids received
- 6 bids on the busiest of 3 lots · 7 suppliers appointed
Lots and requirements (8)Procurement structure
8 lots · 4 with a published value · evaluation weights differ by lotEvery one of these 4 lots carries the same published figure, £100,000,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Catering – Education OnlyAwardedLot estimate not published
Lot #2Catering – Public Sector (Non-Education)CancelledLot estimate not published
This LOT is for the supply of a variety of catering Services to the wider public sector (excluding education) including, but not limited to local authorities, NHS trusts, care homes, prisons, police, residential schools, study centres, children's activity centres. Customers will have their own requirements and Suppliers will need to be able to provide a Service that will cover the following:
- Ambient foods/ready meals for premises where chilling food is not an option
- Delivery of hot or cold foods to venue
- Enhanced dining experiences including serving of alcohol
- Hot or cold food options
- On site preparation and Service Suppliers awarded onto this LOT are expected to:
- Ensure use of quality ingredients including fresh, frozen, tinned and dried
- Offer a variety of menu choices
- Tailor Services to meet specific needs in relation to allergies and medical conditions
- Tailor Services to meet specific needs in relation to religion, culture and ethnicity
- Use local providers and seasonal produce wherever possible
Lot #3Vending MachinesAwardedLot estimate not published
This LOT is for the supply of all types of vending machines including, but not limited to
- Coffee/hot beverages vending machine
- Cold drinks vending machine
- Food vending machine
- Healthy vending machine
- Smart vending machine
- Snack vending machine Customers will have their own requirements and Suppliers will need to be able to provide a Service that will cover the following options:
- Brand new vending machines
- Fully managed service including restocking
- Indoor and outdoor options
- Lease/rental of vending machine
- Maintenance and servicing
- Option to be branded
- Outright purchase of vending machine
- Refurbished vending machines
- Self-filled machines
Lot #4Water Cooler SolutionsAwardedLot estimate not published
This LOT is for the supply, installation, maintenance and service of water cooler solutions for the public sector to include but not be limited to
- Bottled water cooler units
- Hot and cold-water tap
- Hot water boilers
- Mains fed water coolers Customers will have their own requirements and Suppliers will need to be able to provide a Service that will cover the following options:
- Bottled water delivery
- Installation services
- Lease/rental or outright purchase options
- Regular service and maintenance including sanitation
- Supply of recyclable cups and accessories
Lot #5Catering – Education Onlyceiling above
This LOT is for the supply of a lunchtime catering service to any education establishment. In addition to a lunchtime service Customers may also require other Services which may include, but not be limited to, breakfast, mid-morning break and after school Services.
Suppliers awarded onto this LOT are expected to:
•Be able to transport hot food to Customers site if the site only has a servery
•Create flexible menus
•Ensure use of quality ingredients including fresh, frozen, tinned and dried
•Tailor Services to meet specific needs in relation to allergies and medical conditions
•Tailor Services to meet specific needs in relation to religion, culture and ethnicity
•Use local providers and seasonal produce wherever possible Additional information: All Public Bodies will have access to this Framework Agreement with the agreement with the Contracting Authority. Those organisations who wish to access this Framework Agreement are detailed in the Invitation to Tender document.
Lot #6Catering – Public Sector (Non-Education)ceiling above
This LOT is for the supply of a variety of catering Services to the wider public sector (excluding education) including, but not limited to local authorities, NHS trusts, care homes, prisons, police, residential schools, study centres, children's activity centres. Customers will have their own requirements and Suppliers will need to be able to provide a Service that will cover the following:
•Ambient foods/ready meals for premises where chilling food is not an option
•Delivery of hot or cold foods to venue
•Enhanced dining experiences including serving of alcohol
•Hot or cold food options
•On site preparation and Service
Suppliers awarded onto this LOT are expected to:
•Ensure use of quality ingredients including fresh, frozen, tinned and dried
•Offer a variety of menu choices
•Tailor Services to meet specific needs in relation to allergies and medical conditions
•Tailor Services to meet specific needs in relation to religion, culture and ethnicity
•Use local providers and seasonal produce wherever possible Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
Lot #7Vending Machinesceiling above
This LOT is for the supply of all types of vending machines including, but not limited to
•Coffee/hot beverages vending machine
•Cold drinks vending machine
•Food vending machine
•Healthy vending machine
•Smart vending machine
•Snack vending machine
Customers will have their own requirements and Suppliers will need to be able to provide a Service that will cover the following options:
•Brand new vending machines
•Fully managed service including restocking
•Indoor and outdoor options
•Lease/rental of vending machine
•Maintenance and servicing
•Option to be branded
•Outright purchase of vending machine
•Refurbished vending machines
•Self-filled machines Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
Lot #8Water Cooler Solutionsceiling above
This LOT is for the supply, installation, maintenance and service of water cooler solutions for the public sector to include but not be limited to
•Bottled water cooler units
•Hot and cold-water tap
•Hot water boilers
•Mains fed water coolers
Customers will have their own requirements and Suppliers will need to be able to provide a Service that will cover the following options:
•Bottled water delivery
•Installation services
•Lease/rental or outright purchase options
•Regular service and maintenance including sanitation
•Supply of recyclable cups and accessories Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
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).
Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.
| Lot | Quality | Price | Social value | Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Catering – Education Only | 50% | 50% | — | |
| 2 · Catering – Public Sector (Non-Education) | 90% | — | 10% | |
| 3 · Vending Machines | 90% | — | 10% | |
| 4 · Water Cooler Solutions | 90% | — | 10% |
- Price carries 50 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 5 points.
- “Water Cooler Solutions” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 19 Jun 2023, 19:04 BST
- Last source update
- 28 Aug 2026, 11:12 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 4 Aug 2023 – …
- Authority reference
CA18384 - N/A- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-082099- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-03d7b2Find a Tender
Publisher note: All public bodies will have access to this Framework Agreement with the agreement of the Contracting Authority. Those organisations who may wish to access this Framework Agreement will be members, Affiliates and associates ofthe CBC Group, local government authorities, the police service, the fire service, the NHS and NHS trusts, housing associations, third sector organisations, academic centres (including Academies), free schools, publicly funded organisations and publicly owned private companies, operating within the geographic boundaries of the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and Isle of Man To view this notice, please click here: <a href="https://csg.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=825306050" target="_blank">https://csg.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=825306050</a> GO Reference: GO-2024110-PRO-24927963
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 4 Aug 2023, 14:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bids opened
- 4 Aug 2023, 14:15 BST
Timeline
4 Aug 2023 → 28 Aug 2026 · 3 dates- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown4 Aug 2023, 14:00 BST
- Bids opened4 Aug 2023, 14:15 BST
- Notice published56 days ago28 Aug 2026, 11:12 BST
Notice history
2 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 10 Jan 2024- Status changed to complete10 Jan 2024, 16:06 GMT
- Buyer details updated28 Aug 2026, 11:12 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast4 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
Water Cooler Solutions
- Signed
- 28 Aug 2026
- Value
- £270,906
- Status
- active
Catering – Education Only
- Signed
- 21 Nov 2023
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
Vending Machines
- Signed
- 21 Nov 2023
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
Water Cooler Solutions
- Signed
- 21 Nov 2023
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Catering – Education Only | 3bids · 3 electronic | 2 | — | £1 – £100,000,000 |
| 3 · Vending Machines | 6bids · 6 electronic | 2 | — | £1 – £100,000,000 |
| 4 · Water Cooler Solutions | 1bids · 1 electronic | 1 | — | £1 – £100,000,000 |
| Whole notice | — | — | — | £1 – £400,000,000 |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Kent County Council (T/A Procurement Services)Contracting authorityCentral purchasing bodyRegional or local authorityGeneral public services
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Commercial ServicesMediation body
- Commercial Services Kent LimitedReview body
- Procurement Review UnitReview body
Framework contractors & participating bidders
7 commercial parties on the notice- CaterLink Limited (Trading as Caterlink)Framework contractor
- Culinera LimitedFramework contractor
- Culligan (UK) LimitedFramework contractor
- Culligan (UK) LimitedFramework contractor
- Fairtrade VendingFramework contractor
- Mix & VendFramework contractor
- Nourish Contract Catering LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.