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Framework Active Services
Invitation to Tender for Catering Services Contract (Framework Agreement) at Tove Learning Trust.
Published 22 Apr 2026
22 Apr 2026
Closed 11 May 2026
- Primary CPV
-
55524000 *
School catering services
- Location
- 🇬🇧 West Northamptonshire, East Midlands
- Value
- £2,500,000
- Contract
-
3 years Duration
01/09/2026 31/08/2029
- Contract Types
-
55 *Hotel, restaurant & retail trade service...Full CPV Breakdown
- SME suitable
- Not stated
Publisher Address
c/o Elizabeth Woodville School, Stratford Road, Roade, NN7 2LP, United Kingdom · UKF24
Contact
Award Criteria
- Commerical (50%)
- Qualitative (50%)
- Please log onto the Red Box Portal to access tender document... · Bidding Documents
Related tenders
TOVE LEARNING TRUST
All notices from this publisher Same CPV code
55524000 *
All notices with this CPV code
Reference: ocds-h6vhtk-067b50
The Tove Learning Trust is a family of academies that aims to inspire education that leads to outstanding outcomes. The trust consists of primary, secondary, and alternative provision schools across two regional hub areas in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, as well as the West Midlands.
They are committed to ensuring that all of our students achieve their full potential, and work hard to provide stimulating environments that enable every child to develop and flourish. The schools and teaching staff share best practices to strengthen their skill sets, deliver outstanding teaching, and enhance the outcomes of their pupils.
They value the unique differences and identities of all their pupils and see them as positive attributes to build upon. Each of the schools is unique, with its own personality, values, and ethos. As a trust they support and nurture this, ensuring that their core individuality and beliefs remain the same.
Currently there are a range of catering arrangements throughout the trust. The trust have decided to tender their catering services to investigate the financial and qualitative benefits they could be offered through this process, either by awarding in Lots or appointing one contractor across the Lots.
The schools involved are:
Lot 1- Primary Schools
• Knowles Primary School, MK2 2HB
• New Horizons Academy, NN1 2NE (Alternative Provision)
• Water Hall Primary School, MK2 3QF
• Whitefriars Primary School, NN10 9HX
• Wootton Primary School, NN4 6HJ
Lot 2- Secondary Schools
• Elizabeth Woodville School (Deanshanger Site) MK19 6HN
• Elizabeth Woodville School (Roade Site), NN7 2LP
• Grace Academy Coventry, CV2 2RH
• Grace Academy Darlaston, WS10 8QJ
• Huxlow Academy, NN9 5TY
• Lord Grey Academy, MK3 6EW
• Rushden Academy, NN10 6AG
• Sponne School, NN12 6DJ
• Stantonbury School, MK14 6BN
Lot 3- Primary & Secondary Schools Combined
• Lots 1 & 2 combined
It is the preference of the trust to appoint a single contractor in order to maximise the benefits for all parties. However, should a specialist contractor add significant value in their field, multiple contractors may be awarded across the lots.
Full CPV breakdown
- 55524000 — School catering services (primary)
Notice details
- Buyer type
- Local authority
- Competition
- Open competition (any supplier can bid)
- Contract type
- Services
- Lots
- 2
- Procurement method
- Open procedure
- Main category
- Services
- Above threshold
- Yes
- Legal basis
- UKPGA 2023/54
- Notice status
- Active
- Renewal
- 2 x 12 month optional extensions
- Framework agreement
- Yes
- Framework details
- Internal framework agreement for use of Tove LT only through the life of the contract. Intention being that any new schools that join the Trust enter into the contract via the Call off Agreement under the same terms and contract dates, no further competition needed.
- Submission method
- https://redboxportal.com/
- Enquiries close
- 8 May 2026
- Award decision expected
- 5 Jun 2026
- Number of lots
- 2
- Language
- EN
- Published
- 22 Apr 2026 11:36
- Deadline
- 11 May 2026 10:00
- OCID
- ocds-h6vhtk-067b50
- Notice ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-067b50
Organisations on this notice
RED BOX CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED
Procuring Entity, Process Contact Point
1 Innisfree Close, North Yorkshire, HG2 8PL, United Kingdom
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GB-COH 05126781
Lots (2)
Lot 1: Primary Schools
£330,000
Provision of Catering Services for a group of Primary Schools in Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes the West Midlands. The Schools involved are: • New Horizons Academy, NN1 2NE • Water Hall Primary School, MK2 3QF • Whitefriars Primary School, NN10 9HX • Wootton Primary School, NN4 6HJ • Knowles Primary School, MK2 2HB
1 Sep 2026 to 31 Aug 2029 · Active
Lot 2: Secondary Schools
£2,300,500
Provision of Catering Services - Lot 2 -Secondary Schools- for Tove Learning Trust. To provide Catering Services for a group of Secondary Schools in Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes the West Midlands. The Schools involved are: • Elizabeth Woodville School (Roade Site), NN7 2LP • Elizabeth Woodville School (Deanshanger S...
1 Sep 2026 to 31 Aug 2029 · Active
Full notice record
111 detailsEverything the publisher included in this notice, organised by section. Contact details hidden: upgrade to Pro to see
Organisations
| Party 1 › Name | TOVE LEARNING TRUST |
| Party 1 › Address › Street | c/o Elizabeth Woodville School, Stratford Road |
| Party 1 › Address › Town / city | Roade |
| Party 1 › Address › Postcode | NN7 2LP |
| Party 1 › Address › Country | GB |
| Party 1 › Address › Country | United Kingdom |
| Party 1 › Address › Region (NUTS) | UKF24 |
| Party 1 › Role | buyer |
| Party 1 › Classification › Description | Public authority - sub-central government |
| Party 2 › Name | RED BOX CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED |
| Party 2 › Address › Street | 1 Innisfree Close |
| Party 2 › Address › Town / city | North Yorkshire |
| Party 2 › Address › Postcode | HG2 8PL |
| Party 2 › Address › Country | GB |
| Party 2 › Address › Country | United Kingdom |
| Party 2 › Address › Region (NUTS) | UKE22 |
| Party 2 › Role › Role 1 | Procuring entity |
| Party 2 › Role › Role 2 | Process contact point |
| Party 2 › Role Details | ITT & Eval criteria writing, market engagement, assessing & scoring bids with client |
Buyer
| Name | TOVE LEARNING TRUST |
Planning
| No Engagement Notice Rationale | The FTS Pipeline notice and our own Red Box Tender Portal notices ensure a wide reach for pre market engagement. Here we are able to register new suppliers, and provide key information & dates to our registered contractors ahead of publishing a tender notice, as preliminary market engagement. |
Tender
| Title | Invitation to Tender for Catering Services Contract (Framework Agreement) at Tove Learning Trust. |
| Status | active |
| Item › Item 1 › CPV › Description | School catering services |
| Item › Item 1 › Delivery › Delivery 1 › Region (NUTS) | UKF24 |
| Item › Item 1 › Delivery › Delivery 1 › Country | GB |
| Item › Item 1 › Delivery › Delivery 1 › Country | United Kingdom |
| Item › Item 1 › Delivery › Delivery 2 › Region (NUTS) | UKF25 |
| Item › Item 1 › Delivery › Delivery 2 › Country | GB |
| Item › Item 1 › Delivery › Delivery 2 › Country | United Kingdom |
| Item › Item 2 › CPV › Description | School catering services |
| Item › Item 2 › Delivery › Delivery 1 › Region (NUTS) | UKF24 |
| Item › Item 2 › Delivery › Delivery 1 › Country | GB |
| Item › Item 2 › Delivery › Delivery 1 › Country | United Kingdom |
| Item › Item 2 › Delivery › Delivery 2 › Region (NUTS) | UKF25 |
| Item › Item 2 › Delivery › Delivery 2 › Country | GB |
| Item › Item 2 › Delivery › Delivery 2 › Country | United Kingdom |
| Item › Item 2 › Delivery › Delivery 3 › Region (NUTS) | UKG31 |
| Item › Item 2 › Delivery › Delivery 3 › Country | GB |
| Item › Item 2 › Delivery › Delivery 3 › Country | United Kingdom |
| Value › Value incl. VAT | £2,575,000 |
| Value › Value | £2,500,000 |
| Value › Currency | GBP |
| Procedure type | open |
| Procedure | Open procedure |
| Procedure › Is Accelerated | Yes |
| Procedure › Accelerated Rationale | State of urgency |
| Category | services |
| Above threshold | Yes |
| Techniques › Framework agreement | Yes |
| Techniques › Framework agreement › Method | Without reopening competition |
| Techniques › Framework agreement › Type | closed |
| Techniques › Framework agreement › Description | Internal framework agreement for use of Tove LT only through the life of the contract. Intention being that any new schools that join the Trust enter into the contract via the Call off Agreement under the same terms and contract dates, no further competition needed. |
| How to submit | https://redboxportal.com/ |
| Submission Terms › Electronic submission | allowed |
| Submission Terms › Languages | en |
| Bidding period › End | 11 May 2026 |
| Questions period › End | 8 May 2026 |
| Award decision period › End | 5 Jun 2026 |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Title | Primary Schools |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Description | Provision of Catering Services for a group of Primary Schools in Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes the West Midlands. The Schools involved are: • New Horizons Academy, NN1 2NE • Water Hall Primary School, MK2 3QF • Whitefriars Primary School, NN10 9HX • Wootton Primary School, NN4 6HJ • Knowles Primary School, MK2 2HB |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Status | active |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Value › Value incl. VAT | £346,500 |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Value › Value | £330,000 |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Value › Currency | GBP |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Type | cost |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Name | Commerical |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Description | 50% overall weighting on Cost, with total 300 points available Cost- max 150 points Financial Narrative- Max 100 points Investment- Max 50 points |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Weighting › Weight | 50 |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Weighting › Weight type | Percentage exact |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Type | quality |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Name | Qualitative |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Description | 50% total weighting on Quality with max 300 points available across 11 questions. |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Weighting › Weight | 50 |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Weighting › Weight type | Percentage exact |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Suitable for › SMEs | Yes |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Contract period › Start | 1 Sep 2026 |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Contract period › End | 31 Aug 2029 |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Contract period › Can be extended to | 31 Aug 2031 |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Can be renewed | Yes |
| Lot › Lot 1 › Renewal › Description | 2 x 12 month optional extensions |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Title | Secondary Schools |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Description | Provision of Catering Services - Lot 2 -Secondary Schools- for Tove Learning Trust. To provide Catering Services for a group of Secondary Schools in Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes the West Midlands. The Schools involved are: • Elizabeth Woodville School (Roade Site), NN7 2LP • Elizabeth Woodville School (Deanshanger Site) MK19 6HN • Sponne School, NN12 6DJ • Lord Grey Academy, MK3 6EW • Huxlow Academy, NN9 5TY • Stantonbury School, MK14 6BN • Grace Academy Coventry, CV2 2RH • Rushden Academy, NN10 6AG • Grace Academy Darlaston, WS10 8QJ |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Status | active |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Value › Value incl. VAT | £2,415,525 |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Value › Value | £2,300,500 |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Value › Currency | GBP |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Type | cost |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Name | Commerical |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Description | 50% overall weighting on Cost, with total 300 points available Cost- max 150 points Financial Narrative- Max 100 points Investment- Max 50 points |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Weighting › Weight | 50 |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 1 › Weighting › Weight type | Percentage exact |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Type | quality |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Name | Qualitative |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Description | 50% total weighting on Quality with max 300 points available across 11 questions. |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Weighting › Weight | 50 |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Award criteria › Criterion › Criterion 2 › Weighting › Weight type | Percentage exact |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Suitable for › SMEs | Yes |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Contract period › Start | 1 Sep 2026 |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Contract period › End | 31 Aug 2029 |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Contract period › Can be extended to | 31 Aug 2031 |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Can be renewed | Yes |
| Lot › Lot 2 › Renewal › Description | 2 x 12 month optional extensions |
| Document › Document 1 › Document type | Conflict of interest |
| Document › Document 1 › Description | Not published |
| Document › Document 2 › Document type | Bidding documents |
| Document › Document 2 › Link | https://redboxportal.com/ |
| Document › Document 3 › Document type | Tender notice |
| Document › Document 3 › Description | Tender notice on Find a Tender |
| Document › Document 3 › Link | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036512-2026 |
| Document › Document 3 › Published | 22 Apr 2026 |