Scope
Reference
PP-10173
Description
Co-op Academies Trust is a multi-academy trust with schools located in West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Staffordshire. Their portfolio of schools includes around 38 academies across these areas, serving primary, secondary, and special schools, as well as a college of which 32 will be involved in this tender.
The trust currently receives catering provision from the local authority as well as other privately owned incumbents.
At the sole discretion of the Trust any future schools that the Trust may incorporate into the Trust will also be added to the contract. Any additional schools will co-terminate to the end same end date of the initial contract.
The proposed contract will be for the outsourced provision of catering services to the Client. It is the Client's expectation that the Successful Bidder shall be responsible for the operation of the catering function including employment and management of staff, supply of foodstuffs, consumables and light equipment where required and preparing and serving appropriate meals. The Supplier will also be expected to provide hospitality at certain school events both during and outside of school core hours. The Client will retain responsibility for payment of utilities and the operation and maintenance of core catering equipment and facilities.
The Successful bidder will provide a range of good quality, nutritious, attractively presented meals for pupils and staff, that comply with Government's minimum nutritional and food based standards for the educational sector. Meals should reflect growth in healthy eating trends and promote uptake.
The Successful Bidder shall establish effective management and operational level communication systems at all levels regarding the catering service with customers that include; School management, parents, and pupils. In addition, the Successful Bidder will also be responsible for all legal and health and safety & food safety requirements in delivering the catering services.
Further information on the Client's requirements can be found in the tender package.
The Contract period will be for 3 years initially, with the option to extend for two further one-year periods at the discretion of the Client.
The Contract is split into Lots.
Total value (estimated)
- £31,930,000 excluding VAT
- £38,316,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029
- Possible extension to 1 September 2031
- 5 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
Option to extend for two further one-year periods at the discretion of the Client
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 15894210 - School meals
- 55523100 - School-meal services
- 55524000 - School catering services
Not the same for all lots
Contract locations are shown in Lot sections, because they are not the same for all lots.
Lot 1. Lot 1 - Greater Manchester
Description
Co op Academy Belle Vue
Co op Academy Broadhurst
Connell Co op College
Co op Academy Manchester
Co op Academy Medlock
Co op Academy New Islington
Co op Academy North Manchester
Co op Academy Swinton
Lot value (estimated)
- £12,000,000 excluding VAT
- £14,400,000 including VAT
Contract locations
- UKD3 - Greater Manchester
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Lot 2 - West Yorkshire 1
Description
Co op Academy Beckfield
Co op Academy Delius
Co op Academy Parkland
Co op Academy Penny Oaks
Co op Academy Smithies Moor
Co op Academy Princeville
Co op Academy Southfield & Grange
Lot value (estimated)
- £6,670,000 excluding VAT
- £8,004,000 including VAT
Contract locations
- UKE4 - West Yorkshire
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Lot 3 - West Yorkshire 2
Description
Co op Academy Brierley
Co op Academy Brownhill
Co op Academy Nightingale
Co op Academy Priesthorpe
Co op Academy Woodlands
Lot value (estimated)
- £4,775,000 excluding VAT
- £5,730,000 including VAT
Contract locations
- UKE4 - West Yorkshire
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. Lot 4 - Staffordshire
Description
Co op Academy Clarice Cliff
Co op Academy Florence MacWilliams
Co op Academy Friarswood
Co op Academy Glebe
Co op Academy Grove
Co op Academy Hamilton
Co op Academy Northwood
Co op Academy Stoke on Trent
Lot value (estimated)
- £7,100,000 excluding VAT
- £8,520,000 including VAT
Contract locations
- UKG2 - Shropshire and Staffordshire
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 5. Lot 5 - Merseyside
Description
Co op Academy Hillside
Co op Academy Portland
Co op Academy Woodslee
Lot value (estimated)
- £1,385,000 excluding VAT
- £1,662,000 including VAT
Contract locations
- UKD7 - Merseyside
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Participation
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Lot 1 - Greater Manchester
Lot 2. Lot 2 - West Yorkshire 1
Lot 3. Lot 3 - West Yorkshire 2
Lot 4. Lot 4 - Staffordshire
Lot 5. Lot 5 - Merseyside
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
1 December 2025, 5:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
11 December 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
Lot 1. Lot 1 - Greater Manchester
Lot 2. Lot 2 - West Yorkshire 1
Lot 3. Lot 3 - West Yorkshire 2
Lot 4. Lot 4 - Staffordshire
Lot 5. Lot 5 - Merseyside
5 to 8 suppliers per lot
Award decision date (estimated)
27 April 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Simple description | Quality Assessment: 60% of overall score Price Assessment: 40% of overall score See ITT Part A document for full breakdown |
Price |
Weighting description
Quality Assessment: 60% of overall score
Price Assessment: 40% of overall score
See ITT Part A document for full breakdown
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Competitive flexible procedure description
This competitive flexible procedure will be conducted in two stages. The two stages are set out in detail in the tendering documentation, and summarised briefly below:
1) Stage 1 - Invitation to Participate. Suppliers are invited to request to participate in the tender by completing the required Stage 1 response documentation. Suppliers will be assessed in line with the Conditions of Participation set out in the Stage 1 documentation and the process outlined in the tendering documentation, in order to select suppliers to progress to Stage 2.
2) Stage 2 - Invitation to Submit a Final Tender. Suppliers successful in being selected at Stage 1 (in line with the process as set out in detail in the tendering documentation) will be invited to submit a final tender, and will be scored in line with the award criteria and methodology set out within the tendering documentation for Stage 2
Contracting authority
THE CO-OPERATIVE ACADEMIES TRUST
- Companies House: 07747126
1 Angel Square
Manchester
M60 0AG
United Kingdom
Region: UKD33 - Manchester
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.
Place Group Ltd
Summary of their role in this procurement: Procurement Agent on behalf of client
- Companies House: 04395705
The Regent, Chapel Street
Penzance
TR18 4AE
United Kingdom
Region: UKK30 - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly