Scope
Reference
MPN-10384
Description
All Saints Schools Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.
The services at the Trust are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.
The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of full lunch service for each school day at all sites.
Across the Trust there are currently 1656 pupils on roll for the academic year 2025/26. Of this figure, 585 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 327 to Free School Meals.
TUPE is expected to apply, details of which can be found in the tender documentation.
Some members of the catering team (x 7) are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme and all details are in the tender documentation.
The Trust is keen to further increase uptake and continue the good work already in place for catering. It wishes to do so by working closely with the successful contractor in developing and continuously improving the service and partnership during the period of the contract and by introducing innovative and creative ideas as submitted in the tender process and ongoing.
The Trust is aware that there are always opportunities to improve and modernise. They are interested in ensuring that the caterers provide the best possible service, introducing new menu ideas and initiatives so that pupils are all eating and utilising the service regularly.
Total value (estimated)
- £2,289,325 excluding VAT
- £2,289,325 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029
- Possible extension to 31 August 2031
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
The duration detailed above includes the initial term of 3 years as well as the 2 optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 55524000 - School catering services
Contract locations
- UKH14 - Suffolk
Submission
Enquiry deadline
9 January 2026, 5:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
23 January 2026, 5:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Full details of how to submit are contained within the documents accompanying this tender. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/minervapcs/aspx/Home
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
18 June 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 19 December 2027
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Full details of the weightings and evaluation criteria are contained within the documents accompanying this tender. |
Quality | 90% |
| Price | Full details of the weightings and evaluation criteria are contained within the documents accompanying this tender. |
Price | 10% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Competitive flexible procedure description
Duty to Consider Lots
As part of the initial project set up and approval stage of the tender process, All Saints Schools Trust discussed with Minerva the possibility of splitting the tender into more than one lot/contract. On the basis that All Saints Schools Trust is a Trust with only a small number of sites (in a reasonably close geographic area) it was agreed that lots were not appropriate for this tender process.
Full details of the description of the process being used are contained within the documents accompanying this tender.
Stage 1 Conditions of participation with evaluation
Suppliers are invited to submit a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) response. Submissions will be evaluated based on the criteria detailed in the PSQ documentation. A maximum of five suppliers will be taken forward to the Invitation to Tender stage of the process. Where less than five suppliers meet the minimum standards, only those that meet the minimum standards will be taken through to the Invitation to Tender stage. Where more than five suppliers meet the minimum standard, those suppliers with the highest scores will proceed to the Invitation to Tender stage.
Stage 2 Invitation to Tender with evaluation
Suppliers shortlisted to the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage will be required to submit their final tender and will be evaluated on the criteria detailed in the ITT documentation. Envisaged shortlist of the three highest scoring bidders to be invited to:
Stage 3 Presentation Day
Stage 4 Assessment Summaries and Publication of Contract Award Notice (commencing 8 working day standstill period)
Stage 5 Publication of Contract Details Notice
Further details of the CFP can be found in the documentation accompanying this tender.
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/minervapcs/aspx/Home
All documents are being provided on publication of this Tender Notice. They will be hosted, and are freely available, on the In-tend portal for Minerva Procurement Consultancy Services Limited.
Contracting authority
All Saints Schools Trust
- Companies House: 11216388
All Saints Church Of England Primary School Framlingham Road
Woodbridge
IP13 8HD
United Kingdom
Contact name: Maria Robinson
Telephone: +441256467107
Email: Tenders@minervapcs.com
Website: https://www.asst.org.uk/
Region: UKH14 - Suffolk
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.
Minerva Procurement Consultancy Services Limited
Summary of their role in this procurement: Procurement consultancy managing the tender process for All Saints Schools Trust
- Companies House: 07144956
117 Devonshire House
Basingstoke
RG24 8PE
United Kingdom
Contact name: Maria Robinson
Telephone: +441256467107
Email: tenders@minervapcs.com
Website: http://www.minervapcs.com
Region: UKJ37 - North Hampshire