Scope
Reference
CCL_125
Description
Cheam High School and Oaks Park High School, part of the Cheam Academies Network Trust, are successful secondary schools in the London Borough of Sutton.
The Trust is tendering its catering services for the two schools with a contract start date of 1st August 2026. The initial term will run for three years, ending on 31st July 2029, with a requirement for termly and annual reviews and a break clause to support both parties should the relationship not prosper.
There will be an option to extend for up to two further years (1+1) by mutual agreement, based on qualitative and financial performance. The current contract with Harrison Catering has reached the maximum tenure of five years.
The Trust is seeking a professional catering contractor who can deliver an excellent level of service, high-quality food and service enhancements, realistic and achievable sales targets and ongoing support to the School community throughout the contract.
The projected turnover for the five-year contract is expected to be circa £5.2 million.
The School is running this procurement as a Competitive Flexible, Two Stage, Light Touch Regime, Open Tender Process.
To declare your interest in the tender and download contract documents (available free of charge), please register on https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cohesionconsulting/aspx/Home
Once registered, please declare interest in the opportunity to access and download the full document set.
In short, the Trust needs to be convinced that bidders can deliver their promises in full, achieve their sales projections, and meet their service enhancements. If the School is not convinced of this, it reserves the right to consider an insourced solution or make no award. Any investment proposals must align with DFE guidelines.
Total value (estimated)
- £5,200,000 excluding VAT
- £6,240,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2029
- Possible extension to 30 July 2031
- 4 years, 11 months, 30 days
Description of possible extension:
There will be an option to extend for up to two further years (1+1) by mutual agreement, based on qualitative and financial performance. The current contract with Harrison Catering has reached the maximum tenure of five years.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 55524000 - School catering services
Submission
Enquiry deadline
10 February 2026, 11:59pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
11 March 2026, 1:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
All returns are submitted electronically. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cohesionconsulting/aspx/Home
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
25 March 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Simple description | Award criteria are in the ITT documents |
Price |
Weighting description
Award criteria are in the ITT documents
Other information
Payment terms
30 days from invoice
Description of risks to contract performance
None
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
The School is running this procurement as a Competitive Flexible, Two Stage, Light Touch Regime, Open Tender Process.
Contracting authority
CHEAM ACADEMIES NETWORK
- Companies House: 07588097
Cheam High School
Cheam
SM3 8PW
United Kingdom
Region: UKI63 - Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
Cohesion Consulting Ltd
Summary of their role in this procurement: Procurement and management consultancy for this tender
- Companies House: 13682273
16 Mount Pleasant, Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN1 1QU
United Kingdom
Contact name: Procurement Team
Telephone: +441892251001
Email: info@cohesionconsulting.co.uk
Website: http://www.cohesionconsulting.co.uk
Region: UKJ46 - West Kent