Catering & Foodservice Tendering

Tendering a catering contract properly takes time, structure and sector knowledge. Done well, it secures a caterer who genuinely fits your setting, at a fair price, on terms you can hold them to for years. Done in a rush, it locks in problems that surface term after term.

I manage the whole process on your behalf. That starts well before any documents are written, with an honest review of your current service, what your community values about it, and what needs to change. From there, every stage runs to an agreed timetable, and every recommendation comes with the reasoning behind it, so your leadership team and governors can make decisions with confidence.

What’s included

• Review of your current catering service, contract and costs
• Advice on the right route to market: framework, open tender or competitive flexible procedure
• Specification and tender documents written around your setting, not a template
• Management of supplier questionnaires, shortlisting and clarifications
• Structured evaluation, taste panels and supplier presentations
• Support with TUPE, pensions and staffing considerations
• Contract negotiation and award, with clear terms and measurable KPIs
• Mobilisation support so the new service starts as promised

How it works

1. 01

   Review and scope

   We meet, walk the service, and agree what the tender needs to achieve across quality, price, uptake, sustainability and staffing. The timetable is fixed here, with realistic time for consultation and legal compliance.

2. 02

   Specification and route to market

   I draft a specification that reflects your priorities and advise on the compliant route that best suits your value and circumstances, including your obligations under the Procurement Act 2023.

3. 03

   Shortlist and evaluate

   Suppliers are assessed against published criteria. I manage site visits, evaluate submissions line by line, and bring you a reasoned shortlist rather than simply the glossiest bid.

4. 04

   Presentations and award

   Shortlisted caterers present to your panel, and I chair if you wish. Contract terms, KPIs and budgets are negotiated and pinned down before anything is signed.

5. 05

   Mobilisation

   The weeks between award and first service matter. I stay involved to make sure menus, staffing, systems and communications are ready for day one.