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Tenders

Discovery MAT ~ Catering Tender

Open
Deadline
28 days left
April 24, 2026
Contract Details
Category
Open Procedure
Reference
022788-2026
Value
£690,000
Location
Devon, United Kingdom
Published
March 20, 2026
CPV Code
Project Timeline

Tender Published

March 13, 2026

Deadline for Questions

April 17, 2026

Submission Deadline

April 24, 2026

Contract Start Date

July 31, 2026

Budget
£690,000
Duration
36 months
Location
Devon
Type
Open Procedure
75
Quality Score/100
Good

Original Tender Description

The successful contractor will be required to provide catering services for the following three Primary Schools within Discovery Multi Academy Trust (MAT): 1. Beechwood Primary Academy, 31 Rockfield Avenue, Plymouth, PL6 6DX 2. Oakwood Primary Academy, Pendeen Crescent, Southway, Plymouth, PL6 6QS 3. Weston Mill Community Primary Academy, Ferndale Road, Plymouth, PL2 2EL Trust website: https://discoverymat.co.uk/ The contract covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the Schools, which is inclusive of all hospitality and free issue requirements. The duration of the contract being offered is for an initial three-year period commencing on 01 August 2026, with the potential to then extend for a further two 12-month periods. This extension will be granted by mutual consent and on the same terms and conditions as the original contract without the right to further extend beyond the full five years. The contract being offered within this tender will be on a guaranteed performance basis, with an expected profit share of any betterment to the agreed budget. While the Trust will be the principal contracting authority, each School will have its own individual budget for performance analysis and reconciliation. The Trust is seeking a suitably experienced contractor who is able to evidence working with multiple Primary Schools with varying requirements. The successful contractor will already have, or need to develop, a strong operational base within the South West, thus allowing for both adequate contract support and operational flexibility that is to be delivered to support the contract as and when needed moving forwards into this contract term. The services across the Schools are currently outsourced, and TUPE is expected to apply. It is anticipated that a number of the current employees are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and, in this instance, the successful contractor will be expected to gain Admitted Body Status (ABS) in order to continue contributing to the scheme. The Trust wishes to offer wholesome, healthy eating options within the menus which should be based upon the use of fresh, local produce that is abundant throughout the South West to support the local economy. Please see PSQ document for more information.

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Requirements & Qualifications

16 requirements across 5 categories

Submission (3)
Mandatory (2)
Compliance (3)
Technical (5)
Financial (3)
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS3
--Tender is for an initial three-year period commencing on 01 August 2026, with potential for two further 12-month extensions.
--The contract value is 690,000.0 EUR.
--The deadline for submission is 2026-04-24T12:00:00+01:00.
MANDATORY EXCLUSION GROUNDS2
--TUPE is expected to apply, requiring the successful contractor to manage employee transfers.
--The successful contractor must gain Admitted Body Status (ABS) to continue contributing to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS3
--Must be a suitably experienced contractor.
--Must be able to evidence working with multiple Primary Schools with varying requirements.
--Must already have, or need to develop, a strong operational base within the South West.
TECHNICAL CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS5
--Provide catering services for three specified Primary Schools.
--Services must be inclusive of all hospitality and free issue requirements.
--Menus must offer wholesome, healthy eating options.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS3
--Contract will be on a guaranteed performance basis.
--Expected profit share of any betterment to the agreed budget.
--Each School will have its own individual budget for performance analysis and reconciliation.

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75
Good

Tender Quality Score

This tender for catering services is generally well-structured with clear requirements, but lacks specific evaluation criteria and details on the submission process, impacting its overall practicality and legal compliance.

Score Breakdown

Legal Compliance75/100

The tender adheres to open procedure and provides a CPV code. Deadlines are present, though the submission deadline might be considered short given the complexity. The absence of specified evaluation criteria is a notable omission that could lead to disputes. Regulatory compliance is assumed but not explicitly detailed.

Missing evaluation criteria
Potentially short submission deadline
Clarity80/100

The description of services, locations, and contract duration is clear. Technical and eligibility requirements are well-defined, including specific needs like Admitted Body Status and operational base. The mention of a PSQ document suggests further detail is available.

Completeness70/100

Most basic information is present, including estimated value, duration, and start date. However, the lack of accessible tender documents (content/summaries) and the absence of explicit evaluation criteria reduce completeness. The value is disclosed, but the 'Value Classified: Yes' is slightly ambiguous.

No document content available
Missing evaluation criteria
Fairness85/100

The tender is an open procedure, and the estimated value is disclosed. Requirements for an operational base in the South West are specific but not necessarily tailored to a single company, promoting competition. The lack of explicit evaluation criteria could be a concern for fairness if not addressed in the PSQ document.

Lack of specified evaluation criteria
Practicality65/100

The tender specifies a contract start date and duration. However, it does not explicitly mention e-submission, and the availability of document URLs is not confirmed. Financing information is not detailed. The requirement to gain Admitted Body Status adds a layer of complexity for potential bidders.

No explicit mention of e-submission
No document URL provided
Data Consistency90/100

Key fields such as title, reference, organization, value, and dates are populated. There are no reported disputes or suspensions. The contract start date and submission deadline are logically ordered. The duration and extension clauses are consistent.

Sustainability50/100

The tender mentions a preference for 'wholesome, healthy eating options' and 'fresh, local produce' to support the local economy, which touches upon social and local sourcing aspects. However, there is no explicit mention of green procurement, innovation, or EU funding.

No explicit green procurement criteria
No explicit innovation focus

Strengths

Clear description of services and locations
Well-defined eligibility and technical requirements
Open procedure with disclosed estimated value
Logical timeline and contract duration

Concerns

Missing evaluation criteria
Lack of accessible tender document content
Unclear submission process (e-submission not specified)
Potentially short submission deadline

Recommendations

1. Provide clear evaluation criteria within the tender documents or PSQ.
2. Ensure all tender documents are readily accessible with clear URLs.
3. Clarify the e-submission process and platform.

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