Scope
Reference
003223
Description
The Council wishes to seek multiple Providers to deliver the Fun and Food programme to Children with SEND in Receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals within the boundaries of County Durham.
This project utilises Department for Education (DfE) funding which is for school aged children in receipt of benefits related free school meals.
All providers must meet DfE framework of standards as below:
• Food Provision
• Enrichment Activities
• Physical Activities
• Increasing Awareness of Healthy Eating, healthy lifestyles, and positive behaviours
• Signposting and referrals and supporting families
• Safeguarding
• Policies and Procedures
Please note - sessions do not need to be exclusively for children in receipt benefits-related Free School Meals, alternative funding may be sourced by the organisation to fund children ineligible for DfE funding i.e parents/carers may be charged for sessions by the activity organisation.
Total value (estimated)
- £250,000 excluding VAT
- £250,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 7 April 2026 to 17 April 2026
- 11 days
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Successful Providers' contracts, as delivered under the Easter 2026 holiday provision, may be extended/varied to cover delivery in the Summer and or Christmas school holiday period. At the sole discretion of the Council, providers will be identified and approached for Summer and or Christmas delivery, this is likely to be dependent on successful achievement from Easter 2026 delivery under this contract and Commissioners professional judgement.
If Successful Providers meet the threshold that the Commissioner deems as successful delivery, they will be emailed a proposal form for completion for the next school holiday period. The same evaluation criteria will be applied to the subsequent proposals.
There is also a possibility that DCC may acquire funding from different sources that may be used for main school holidays, half term holidays or funding for participants to attend that are not in receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals. Where this is the case successful providers will be updated regarding the scope of delivery.
Further details of the requirements are set out in Document 3A Specification.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
Contract locations
- UKC14 - Durham CC
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
13 February 2026, 10:00am
Tender submission deadline
20 February 2026, 10:00am
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Award criteria
There is Essential Pass Fail criteria.
Bidders are also required to complete the 'Easter Proposal' excel form to present a holistic view of your offer so the Council can assess your proposal which should address how you will meet the national standards as set out below against the requirements of the contract, including the indicative participant numbers, variety of proposed activities and geographic factors.
The Council reserves the right to undertake the following:
• Not award if Evaluators feel the proposal does not meet need;
• Not award if Evaluators feel the proposal does not achieve value for money
• Not award if Evaluators feel the demographic within the geographical area is not of deprivation i.e. the % of Children with SEND in Receipt of Benefits-related Free School Meals is not sufficient to achieve proposed number of participants
• Apply tiebreak should there be a duplication of the same/similar activities in a given geographical area;
• Approach bidders to reduce/increase participant numbers based on Evaluators professional judgement and knowledge of delivery in the geographical area;
• Approach bidders to reduce/increase hours of delivery based on Evaluators professional judgement;
• Approach bidders to deliver in another geographical area, based on Evaluators professional judgement and knowledge of gaps in delivery for geographical areas;
Evaluators will use their professional judgement using the stated scoring to assess your proposal and how this will meet the requirements of the contract (healthy meal, enriching activities, physical activity and nutritional education) and achieves value for money. The evaluation criteria will be applied to the proposal(s) received.
The Council will consider in combination the following factors to determine the most appropriate provision (this is not an exhaustive list):
o Service delivery location and/or
o Value for money and/or
o Enriching activities and/or
o Healthy meal provision and/or
o Number of places available and/or
o Engaging with those children with SEND who are in receipt of benefit related Free School Meals
o Professional Judgement of the Evaluation Panel
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - open competition
Special regime
Light touch
Documents
Associated tender documents
http://www.open-uk.org
Tender documents can be accessed free of charge at www.open-uk.org
Contracting authority
Durham County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMPB-8772-VYWM
Corten House, Dunholme Close
Durham
DH1 5WB
United Kingdom
Email: corporate.procurement@durham.gov.uk
Website: http://www.durham.gov.uk/
Region: UKC14 - Durham CC
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government