{ "uri": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsRecordPackages/ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2", "publisher": { "name": "Cabinet Office", "scheme": "GB-GOR", "uid": "D2", "uri": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office" }, "publishedDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "license": "http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/", "publicationPolicy": "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-contracting", "version": "1.1", "extensions": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ], "packages": [ "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsRecordPackages/ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2" ], "records": [ { "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2", "releases": [ { "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2", "id": "038574-2026", "tag": [ "planning" ], "date": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "initiationType": "tender", "parties": [ { "name": "STRATHEARN SCHOOL BELFAST", "id": "GB-COH-NI020602", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-COH", "id": "NI020602" }, "additionalIdentifiers": [ { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PGCJ-7879-JJCZ" } ], "address": { "streetAddress": "188 Belmont Road", "locality": "BELFAST", "postalCode": "BT4 2AU", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKN06" }, "contactPoint": { "name": "Mandy Ferguson", "email": "mferguson448@c2ken.net", "telephone": "02890 471595" }, "roles": [ "buyer" ], "details": { "url": "http://www.strathearn.org.uk/", "classifications": [ { "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment", "description": "Public authority - sub-central government" }, { "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS", "id": "GB-NIR", "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply" } ] } } ], "buyer": { "id": "GB-COH-NI020602", "name": "STRATHEARN SCHOOL BELFAST" }, "planning": { "milestones": [ { "id": "engagement", "type": "engagement", "description": "Purpose\nThis questionnaire is issued as part of a pre‑procurement market engagement exercise to understand likely market capacity and interest and to help refine a potential future tender for outsourced school canteen provision. \nResponses will be used to inform the procurement approach and specification; this is not a tender and responses will not be scored. Furthermore, completion of the questionnaire is not a pre-requisite for a subsequent tender response.\nFor the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of a formal procurement process.\nQuestionnaire\nPlease provide responses to the questions below in Word document format and keep responses concise, referencing evidence/attachments where helpful. Please clearly mark any commercially sensitive information.\nResponses are requested by 12pm on Tuesday 5th May and should be emailed to mferguson448@c2ken.net\n1.\tSector experience\na.\tPlease provide a brief overview of your school catering offer, including an approximate number of education sites served and typical site sizes.\nb.\tWhat were the main challenges experienced in your last post-primary school mobilisation and how were they mitigated?\n2.\tService delivery\na.\tHow do you typically design menus to maximise uptake while meeting the Department of Education's Nutritional Standards for School Lunches?\nb.\tHow do you typically manage queuing, service speed and peak time congestion?\nc.\tWhat mechanisms do you typically offer to keep pupil pricing affordable over the contract term?\nd.\tWhat KPI reporting do you typically provide in a post-primary setting?\ne.\tIf footfall is below expectations, what levers do you typically use (e.g. offer changes, marketing, adjustment to operating hours)?\n3.\tFacilities, equipment and lifecycle maintenance\na.\tWhat minimum facilities/equipment specification do you need to operate safely and efficiently?\nb.\tWhat assumptions do you typically make about who funds/maintains the following:\n-\tkitchen equipment replacement;\n-\tsmallwares;\n-\tplanned maintenance;\n-\tutilities;\n-\tcleaning of kitchen/dining areas?\n4.\tMarket interest\na.\tHave you delivered a concession contract in a school setting? If yes, what were the key success factors?\nb.\tAre you a provider on any catering frameworks that the school may be able to use?\nc.\tWould you be interested in bidding for this opportunity? If maybe or no, what are the main barriers?\nd.\tWhat contract length and extension options are most attractive to you?\ne.\tWhat mobilisation lead time do you typically require from award to go live?\nf.\tWhat would you want to see in the tender pack to make this opportunity attractive and what would stop you bidding?", "dueDate": "2026-05-05T23:59:59+01:00", "status": "scheduled" } ], "documents": [ { "id": "038574-2026", "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice", "noticeType": "UK2", "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038574-2026", "datePublished": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "format": "text/html" } ] }, "tender": { "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2", "legalBasis": { "id": "2023/54", "scheme": "UKPGA", "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" }, "title": "Potential outsourcing of School Canteen Service", "description": "Background to the School\nStrathearn School is an all girls' grammar located at 188 Belmont Road, Belfast BT4 2AU. The school was this year ranked the top grammar in Northern Ireland in the Sunday Times Parent Power Report.\nAs a Voluntary Grammar School, the school is managed by its Board of Governors, which acts as the employing authority for staff. The school has a greater level of autonomy and self-governance over its budget and maintenance than schools in the Education Authority Controlled sector.\nCurrent Canteen Provision\nEnrolment at the school is 823, approximately 50% of whom choose a canteen lunch. Of these, the number of pupils in receipt of free school meals is 58. All pupils and c.120 members of staff have access to canteen facilities at the following times: \n-\tBreakfast: 8.15 - 8.45am\n-\tBreak: 10.50 - 11.05am\n-\tLunch: 12.20 - 1.45pm\nThe school is willing to consider any extension of these times that a supplier may seek, for example for the provision of hot drinks. There is a separate servery in the Sixth Form Centre, which is located adjacent to the canteen, and there may be demand from these pupils (as yet untested) during study periods.\nIn addition, enrolment in the Preparatory Department is currently 120. Prep pupils are served lunch in the canteen at the earlier time of 11.45am and approximately 50% choose a canteen lunch.\nThe canteen operates a cashless biometric system whereby pupils pay using their fingerprint. Education Authority (EA) funding for Free School Meal pupils is received at £3.34 per meal. For Prep pupils, a set lunch cost (currently £3.05 per meal) is billed to parents on a termly basis.\nIn its current configuration the canteen provides seating for c.375 pupils. The Sixth Form Centre accommodates pupils in L6/U6 (c.200). Sixth form pupils are also allowed to leave the school grounds at lunchtime. Pupils are encouraged to eat their lunch in the canteen, including those with a packed lunch. The school has modern, well-maintained equipment and facilities and will work with the operator to improve aesthetics or facilitate any changes to the existing configuration of the canteen.\nIn addition, catering is provided for internal events such as meetings, Prizegiving, Open Morning etc. where requested.\nSummary turnover data can be obtained by contacting the Bursar at mferguson448@c2ken.net.\nRequirement\nThe school canteen service is currently run in-house, and the Board of Governors wishes to explore the opportunity to outsource a fully managed catering service to a commercial operator, ideally from the start of the 2026/27 academic year. \nThe reasons for this move are as follows:\n-\tThe forecast financial position for canteen operations is unsustainable in the current operating environment of unstable and reduced operating income (in real terms) from the Department of Education (DE). The school is seeking to increase operational efficiencies and innovation in order to improve value for money and service delivery to its pupils.\n-\tA survey of pupils undertaken in February 2026 was completed by 351 pupils and indicates scope for improvement in terms of variety of food on offer and waiting times. The survey responses are available by contacting the Bursar at mferguson448@c2ken.net.\n-\tThe school finds it difficult to recruit canteen staff. There is a current vacant position for a Cook (currently being covered on a temporary basis through an agency) and nine staff employed (one Canteen Supervisor and eight Canteen Assistants). Whilst current staff will be required to transfer to the operator under the TUPE regulations, there is an opportunity for the operator to recruit for the vacant position. Information to support the TUPE process will be provided in the tender documentation.\n-\tThe school would benefit from an operator's input in relation to staff training, management of allergens, meeting nutritional standards and accounting for best practice in relation to service provision. \n-\tThere is an opportunity for the operator to supply vending services on site, should this prove attractive. There is also scope to supply ingredients to the Home Economics department, if this presents as a viable proposition.", "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "55500000", "description": "Canteen and catering services" } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": "UKN", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" } ], "relatedLot": "1" } ], "mainProcurementCategory": "services", "lots": [ { "id": "1", "contractPeriod": { "startDate": "2026-09-01T00:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2028-08-31T23:59:59+01:00" }, "status": "planning" } ], "status": "planning" }, "language": "en", "extensions": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ] } ], "compiledRelease": { "tag": [ "compiled" ], "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2-2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "date": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2", "initiationType": "tender", "parties": [ { "id": "GB-COH-NI020602", "name": "STRATHEARN SCHOOL BELFAST", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-COH", "id": "NI020602" }, "additionalIdentifiers": [ { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PGCJ-7879-JJCZ" } ], "address": { "streetAddress": "188 Belmont Road", "locality": "BELFAST", "postalCode": "BT4 2AU", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKN06" }, "contactPoint": { "name": "Mandy Ferguson", "email": "mferguson448@c2ken.net", "telephone": "02890 471595" }, "roles": [ "buyer" ], "details": { "url": "http://www.strathearn.org.uk/", "classifications": [ { "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment", "description": "Public authority - sub-central government" }, { "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS", "id": "GB-NIR", "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply" } ] } } ], "buyer": { "id": "GB-COH-NI020602", "name": "STRATHEARN SCHOOL BELFAST" }, "planning": { "milestones": [ { "id": "engagement", "type": "engagement", "description": "Purpose\nThis questionnaire is issued as part of a pre‑procurement market engagement exercise to understand likely market capacity and interest and to help refine a potential future tender for outsourced school canteen provision. \nResponses will be used to inform the procurement approach and specification; this is not a tender and responses will not be scored. Furthermore, completion of the questionnaire is not a pre-requisite for a subsequent tender response.\nFor the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of a formal procurement process.\nQuestionnaire\nPlease provide responses to the questions below in Word document format and keep responses concise, referencing evidence/attachments where helpful. Please clearly mark any commercially sensitive information.\nResponses are requested by 12pm on Tuesday 5th May and should be emailed to mferguson448@c2ken.net\n1.\tSector experience\na.\tPlease provide a brief overview of your school catering offer, including an approximate number of education sites served and typical site sizes.\nb.\tWhat were the main challenges experienced in your last post-primary school mobilisation and how were they mitigated?\n2.\tService delivery\na.\tHow do you typically design menus to maximise uptake while meeting the Department of Education's Nutritional Standards for School Lunches?\nb.\tHow do you typically manage queuing, service speed and peak time congestion?\nc.\tWhat mechanisms do you typically offer to keep pupil pricing affordable over the contract term?\nd.\tWhat KPI reporting do you typically provide in a post-primary setting?\ne.\tIf footfall is below expectations, what levers do you typically use (e.g. offer changes, marketing, adjustment to operating hours)?\n3.\tFacilities, equipment and lifecycle maintenance\na.\tWhat minimum facilities/equipment specification do you need to operate safely and efficiently?\nb.\tWhat assumptions do you typically make about who funds/maintains the following:\n-\tkitchen equipment replacement;\n-\tsmallwares;\n-\tplanned maintenance;\n-\tutilities;\n-\tcleaning of kitchen/dining areas?\n4.\tMarket interest\na.\tHave you delivered a concession contract in a school setting? If yes, what were the key success factors?\nb.\tAre you a provider on any catering frameworks that the school may be able to use?\nc.\tWould you be interested in bidding for this opportunity? If maybe or no, what are the main barriers?\nd.\tWhat contract length and extension options are most attractive to you?\ne.\tWhat mobilisation lead time do you typically require from award to go live?\nf.\tWhat would you want to see in the tender pack to make this opportunity attractive and what would stop you bidding?", "dueDate": "2026-05-05T23:59:59+01:00", "status": "scheduled" } ], "documents": [ { "id": "038574-2026", "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice", "noticeType": "UK2", "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038574-2026", "datePublished": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "format": "text/html" } ] }, "tender": { "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2", "legalBasis": { "id": "2023/54", "scheme": "UKPGA", "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" }, "title": "Potential outsourcing of School Canteen Service", "description": "Background to the School\nStrathearn School is an all girls' grammar located at 188 Belmont Road, Belfast BT4 2AU. The school was this year ranked the top grammar in Northern Ireland in the Sunday Times Parent Power Report.\nAs a Voluntary Grammar School, the school is managed by its Board of Governors, which acts as the employing authority for staff. The school has a greater level of autonomy and self-governance over its budget and maintenance than schools in the Education Authority Controlled sector.\nCurrent Canteen Provision\nEnrolment at the school is 823, approximately 50% of whom choose a canteen lunch. Of these, the number of pupils in receipt of free school meals is 58. All pupils and c.120 members of staff have access to canteen facilities at the following times: \n-\tBreakfast: 8.15 - 8.45am\n-\tBreak: 10.50 - 11.05am\n-\tLunch: 12.20 - 1.45pm\nThe school is willing to consider any extension of these times that a supplier may seek, for example for the provision of hot drinks. There is a separate servery in the Sixth Form Centre, which is located adjacent to the canteen, and there may be demand from these pupils (as yet untested) during study periods.\nIn addition, enrolment in the Preparatory Department is currently 120. Prep pupils are served lunch in the canteen at the earlier time of 11.45am and approximately 50% choose a canteen lunch.\nThe canteen operates a cashless biometric system whereby pupils pay using their fingerprint. Education Authority (EA) funding for Free School Meal pupils is received at £3.34 per meal. For Prep pupils, a set lunch cost (currently £3.05 per meal) is billed to parents on a termly basis.\nIn its current configuration the canteen provides seating for c.375 pupils. The Sixth Form Centre accommodates pupils in L6/U6 (c.200). Sixth form pupils are also allowed to leave the school grounds at lunchtime. Pupils are encouraged to eat their lunch in the canteen, including those with a packed lunch. The school has modern, well-maintained equipment and facilities and will work with the operator to improve aesthetics or facilitate any changes to the existing configuration of the canteen.\nIn addition, catering is provided for internal events such as meetings, Prizegiving, Open Morning etc. where requested.\nSummary turnover data can be obtained by contacting the Bursar at mferguson448@c2ken.net.\nRequirement\nThe school canteen service is currently run in-house, and the Board of Governors wishes to explore the opportunity to outsource a fully managed catering service to a commercial operator, ideally from the start of the 2026/27 academic year. \nThe reasons for this move are as follows:\n-\tThe forecast financial position for canteen operations is unsustainable in the current operating environment of unstable and reduced operating income (in real terms) from the Department of Education (DE). The school is seeking to increase operational efficiencies and innovation in order to improve value for money and service delivery to its pupils.\n-\tA survey of pupils undertaken in February 2026 was completed by 351 pupils and indicates scope for improvement in terms of variety of food on offer and waiting times. The survey responses are available by contacting the Bursar at mferguson448@c2ken.net.\n-\tThe school finds it difficult to recruit canteen staff. There is a current vacant position for a Cook (currently being covered on a temporary basis through an agency) and nine staff employed (one Canteen Supervisor and eight Canteen Assistants). Whilst current staff will be required to transfer to the operator under the TUPE regulations, there is an opportunity for the operator to recruit for the vacant position. Information to support the TUPE process will be provided in the tender documentation.\n-\tThe school would benefit from an operator's input in relation to staff training, management of allergens, meeting nutritional standards and accounting for best practice in relation to service provision. \n-\tThere is an opportunity for the operator to supply vending services on site, should this prove attractive. There is also scope to supply ingredients to the Home Economics department, if this presents as a viable proposition.", "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "55500000", "description": "Canteen and catering services" } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": "UKN", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" } ], "relatedLot": "1" } ], "mainProcurementCategory": "services", "lots": [ { "id": "1", "contractPeriod": { "startDate": "2026-09-01T00:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2028-08-31T23:59:59+01:00" }, "status": "planning" } ], "status": "planning" }, "language": "en", "extensions": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ] }, "versionedRelease": { "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2", "initiationType": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "tender" } ], "parties": [ { "id": "GB-COH-NI020602", "name": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "STRATHEARN SCHOOL BELFAST" } ], "identifier": { "scheme": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "GB-COH" } ], "id": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "NI020602" } ] }, "additionalIdentifiers": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PGCJ-7879-JJCZ" } ] } ], "address": { "streetAddress": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "188 Belmont Road" } ], "locality": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "BELFAST" } ], "postalCode": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "BT4 2AU" } ], "country": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "GB" } ], "countryName": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "United Kingdom" } ], "region": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "UKN06" } ] }, "contactPoint": { "name": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Mandy Ferguson" } ], "email": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "mferguson448@c2ken.net" } ], "telephone": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "02890 471595" } ] }, "roles": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ "buyer" ] } ], "details": { "url": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "http://www.strathearn.org.uk/" } ], "classifications": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ { "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment", "description": "Public authority - sub-central government" }, { "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS", "id": "GB-NIR", "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply" } ] } ] } } ], "buyer": { "id": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "GB-COH-NI020602" } ], "name": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "STRATHEARN SCHOOL BELFAST" } ] }, "planning": { "milestones": [ { "id": "engagement", "type": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "engagement" } ], "description": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Purpose\nThis questionnaire is issued as part of a pre‑procurement market engagement exercise to understand likely market capacity and interest and to help refine a potential future tender for outsourced school canteen provision. \nResponses will be used to inform the procurement approach and specification; this is not a tender and responses will not be scored. Furthermore, completion of the questionnaire is not a pre-requisite for a subsequent tender response.\nFor the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of a formal procurement process.\nQuestionnaire\nPlease provide responses to the questions below in Word document format and keep responses concise, referencing evidence/attachments where helpful. Please clearly mark any commercially sensitive information.\nResponses are requested by 12pm on Tuesday 5th May and should be emailed to mferguson448@c2ken.net\n1.\tSector experience\na.\tPlease provide a brief overview of your school catering offer, including an approximate number of education sites served and typical site sizes.\nb.\tWhat were the main challenges experienced in your last post-primary school mobilisation and how were they mitigated?\n2.\tService delivery\na.\tHow do you typically design menus to maximise uptake while meeting the Department of Education's Nutritional Standards for School Lunches?\nb.\tHow do you typically manage queuing, service speed and peak time congestion?\nc.\tWhat mechanisms do you typically offer to keep pupil pricing affordable over the contract term?\nd.\tWhat KPI reporting do you typically provide in a post-primary setting?\ne.\tIf footfall is below expectations, what levers do you typically use (e.g. offer changes, marketing, adjustment to operating hours)?\n3.\tFacilities, equipment and lifecycle maintenance\na.\tWhat minimum facilities/equipment specification do you need to operate safely and efficiently?\nb.\tWhat assumptions do you typically make about who funds/maintains the following:\n-\tkitchen equipment replacement;\n-\tsmallwares;\n-\tplanned maintenance;\n-\tutilities;\n-\tcleaning of kitchen/dining areas?\n4.\tMarket interest\na.\tHave you delivered a concession contract in a school setting? If yes, what were the key success factors?\nb.\tAre you a provider on any catering frameworks that the school may be able to use?\nc.\tWould you be interested in bidding for this opportunity? If maybe or no, what are the main barriers?\nd.\tWhat contract length and extension options are most attractive to you?\ne.\tWhat mobilisation lead time do you typically require from award to go live?\nf.\tWhat would you want to see in the tender pack to make this opportunity attractive and what would stop you bidding?" } ], "dueDate": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2026-05-05T23:59:59+01:00" } ], "status": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "scheduled" } ] } ], "documents": [ { "id": "038574-2026", "documentType": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "marketEngagementNotice" } ], "noticeType": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "UK2" } ], "description": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender" } ], "url": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038574-2026" } ], "datePublished": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00" } ], "format": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "text/html" } ] } ] }, "tender": { "id": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2" } ], "legalBasis": { "id": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2023/54" } ], "scheme": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "UKPGA" } ], "uri": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" } ] }, "title": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Potential outsourcing of School Canteen Service" } ], "description": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "Background to the School\nStrathearn School is an all girls' grammar located at 188 Belmont Road, Belfast BT4 2AU. The school was this year ranked the top grammar in Northern Ireland in the Sunday Times Parent Power Report.\nAs a Voluntary Grammar School, the school is managed by its Board of Governors, which acts as the employing authority for staff. The school has a greater level of autonomy and self-governance over its budget and maintenance than schools in the Education Authority Controlled sector.\nCurrent Canteen Provision\nEnrolment at the school is 823, approximately 50% of whom choose a canteen lunch. Of these, the number of pupils in receipt of free school meals is 58. All pupils and c.120 members of staff have access to canteen facilities at the following times: \n-\tBreakfast: 8.15 - 8.45am\n-\tBreak: 10.50 - 11.05am\n-\tLunch: 12.20 - 1.45pm\nThe school is willing to consider any extension of these times that a supplier may seek, for example for the provision of hot drinks. There is a separate servery in the Sixth Form Centre, which is located adjacent to the canteen, and there may be demand from these pupils (as yet untested) during study periods.\nIn addition, enrolment in the Preparatory Department is currently 120. Prep pupils are served lunch in the canteen at the earlier time of 11.45am and approximately 50% choose a canteen lunch.\nThe canteen operates a cashless biometric system whereby pupils pay using their fingerprint. Education Authority (EA) funding for Free School Meal pupils is received at £3.34 per meal. For Prep pupils, a set lunch cost (currently £3.05 per meal) is billed to parents on a termly basis.\nIn its current configuration the canteen provides seating for c.375 pupils. The Sixth Form Centre accommodates pupils in L6/U6 (c.200). Sixth form pupils are also allowed to leave the school grounds at lunchtime. Pupils are encouraged to eat their lunch in the canteen, including those with a packed lunch. The school has modern, well-maintained equipment and facilities and will work with the operator to improve aesthetics or facilitate any changes to the existing configuration of the canteen.\nIn addition, catering is provided for internal events such as meetings, Prizegiving, Open Morning etc. where requested.\nSummary turnover data can be obtained by contacting the Bursar at mferguson448@c2ken.net.\nRequirement\nThe school canteen service is currently run in-house, and the Board of Governors wishes to explore the opportunity to outsource a fully managed catering service to a commercial operator, ideally from the start of the 2026/27 academic year. \nThe reasons for this move are as follows:\n-\tThe forecast financial position for canteen operations is unsustainable in the current operating environment of unstable and reduced operating income (in real terms) from the Department of Education (DE). The school is seeking to increase operational efficiencies and innovation in order to improve value for money and service delivery to its pupils.\n-\tA survey of pupils undertaken in February 2026 was completed by 351 pupils and indicates scope for improvement in terms of variety of food on offer and waiting times. The survey responses are available by contacting the Bursar at mferguson448@c2ken.net.\n-\tThe school finds it difficult to recruit canteen staff. There is a current vacant position for a Cook (currently being covered on a temporary basis through an agency) and nine staff employed (one Canteen Supervisor and eight Canteen Assistants). Whilst current staff will be required to transfer to the operator under the TUPE regulations, there is an opportunity for the operator to recruit for the vacant position. Information to support the TUPE process will be provided in the tender documentation.\n-\tThe school would benefit from an operator's input in relation to staff training, management of allergens, meeting nutritional standards and accounting for best practice in relation to service provision. \n-\tThere is an opportunity for the operator to supply vending services on site, should this prove attractive. There is also scope to supply ingredients to the Home Economics department, if this presents as a viable proposition." } ], "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "55500000", "description": "Canteen and catering services" } ] } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "UKN" } ], "country": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "GB" } ], "countryName": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "United Kingdom" } ] } ], "relatedLot": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "1" } ] } ], "mainProcurementCategory": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "services" } ], "lots": [ { "id": "1", "contractPeriod": { "startDate": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2026-09-01T00:00:00+01:00" } ], "endDate": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "2028-08-31T23:59:59+01:00" } ] }, "status": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "planning" } ] } ], "status": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "planning" } ] }, "language": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": "en" } ], "extensions": [ { "releaseID": "038574-2026", "releaseDate": "2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00", "releaseTag": [ "planning" ], "value": [ "https://standard.open-contracting.org/profiles/eu/latest/en/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_amendment_rationale_classifications_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_budget_breakdown_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_contract_completion_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_documentation_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_pagination_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-contracting-extensions/ocds_suitability_extension/master/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/portaledcahn/ocds_Links_extension/main/extension.json", "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cabinetoffice/ocds_uk_extension/main/extension.json" ] } ] } } ] }