Avoid ‘silly season’ and start your catering tenders now

One of the consequences of COVID-19 is that many colleges who had catering contracts that were due to be retendered in the spring/summer of 2020 extended their contracts until the end of the academic year 2021. We are therefore expecting a higher number than usual of educational institutions seeking tenders next year and our top tip would be to get in there early! Although July 2021 seems a long way off, it would pay to get ahead of the rest and be in a position to send your tender documents to suppliers in January 2021. 

The CPC framework agreement for Outsourced Catering Services provides you with an easy-to-use procurement vehicle to tender these contracts in compliance with the Public Contract Regulations.  The frameworks come with a suite of tender documentation including an example specification that you can tailor to meet the needs of your institution. Each framework has been split into geographical lots, enabling you to send your tender to comprehensively vetted catering suppliers working in your region.  

Framework facts  170 education institutions have their catering contract placed through the CPC Outsourced Catering Services framework agreement, as of 31st July 2020 Contracts vary in size from £13k per annum primary school contracts to £2.3m university catering contracts

Sue Gordon, Director of Finance & Estates at The King's School, Grantham said; "CPC were pivotal in the successful award of the catering contract and were extremely flexible in supporting me despite COVID-19 restrictions. I wouldn't hesitate to use CPC for further contracts, services or products in the future."

These services are complex and tendering these alongside the day job can be time consuming!  Help of a specialist catering procurement consultant can be invaluable, especially when it comes to the evaluation of tenders.  Tenet Education Services’ catering tender specialists can manage the whole procurement process for you. They will help you save money whilst securing a service that meets the needs of your organisation.  

Should your institution catering contract expire in July 2021, don’t delay, start the process now and get ahead of the game. 

Visit the CPC Outsourced Catering Framework for more information on the framework or get in touch with the framework Contract Manager, Majid Khan on 0161 974 0949 or [email protected] who can offer support, guidance and assistance throughout your tender process.