Scope
Description
Thornleigh Salesian College are seeking to procure a provider for catering services.
The provision of the service must demonstrate the best value approach and be flexible in its delivery and operation to ensure that the needs and ethos of the school are supported.
This tender process is targeted to have a catering contract in place to commence in March 2026. Please note that this process covers all catering services within Thornleigh Salesian College with full tender costings and proposals for the college for a contract start in March 2026. These details will be further explained in the ITT documents. The process will include the creation of a select bidder list following analysis of PSQ documents (within which the scoring criteria is included). Following the analysis of PSQ's the selected bidders will be invited to attend a site survey and tender briefing initially planned for early October 2025. Tender responses deadline is planned as late October 2025 and it is envisaged that interviews will take place in mid November 2025. The contract will be for a 3 +1 +1 period (5 years in total including the option to extend for 1 + 1years).
Total value (estimated)
- £2,500,000 excluding VAT
- £3,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 March 2026 to 30 April 2029
- Possible extension to 30 April 2031
- 5 years, 2 months
Description of possible extension:
Option of up to two further annual extensions after the initial 3 year term meaning a possible 5 year period in total
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 55524000 - School catering services
Contract locations
- UKD - North West (England)
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
As detailed within the PSQ document
Technical ability conditions of participation
As detailed within the PSQ document
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
1 September 2025, 12:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
15 September 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Suppliers to be invited to tender
4 to 10 suppliers
Selection criteria:
A Procurement Specific Questionnaire is completed by suppliers with the highest scoring suppliers being invited to tender.
Award decision date (estimated)
27 November 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial | 6/7 financial schedules require completion, providing a fixed price annual cost |
Price | 50.00% |
| Qualitative | 9 qualitative schedules require responding to. |
Quality | 50.00% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
The competitive flexible procedure will commence with a participation stage whereby a PSQ will be completed by interested suppliers. This will be scored and successful suppliers will be invited to submit a full tender. The tender submissions will be analysed and scored and selected suppliers will be invited to final interview/presentation stage. The contracting Authority will then select the successful supplier and award the contract.
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
Time constraints of the procurement process and to ensure a level playing field so no supplier has an unfair advantage or to distort competition.
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=608961
PSQ document for the Thornleigh Salesian College Catering Tender 2025
Documents to be provided after the tender notice
Full tender documents will be sent electronically to successful PSQ applicants
Contracting authority
RPJ3 Group - On behalf of Thornleigh Salesian College
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRYY-6263-NQHG
Leasowe Lodge
Wirral
CH46 3SA
United Kingdom
Contact name: Neil Mayers
Email: neil@rpj3group.co.uk
Region: UKD74 - Wirral
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government