Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation, Provision of catering services

Catering Services, a major new tendering opportunity
The Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation invites tenders for a major new framework agreement covering the provision of catering services to all types of public sector bodies, including schools, community meals, visitor catering, staff restaurants. Hospitals, prisons and defence establishments are also amongst the sites potentially able to access the new agreement.

The agreement will cover all parts of the UK, but will be awarded on a regional or sub-regional basis. Several suppliers will be appointed for each region, from amongst whom individual public sector client bodies will select their particular contractor when they need to do so (using secondary competitions).

Given that the estimated total public sector spend on catering services is some £1.3 billion per year, we believe the new framework represents a potentially valuable opportunity for suppliers. By splitting the UK into relatively small regional units, however, we aim to encourage all types and sizes of catering business, including small and medium sized enterprises, to apply.

Cooperating in the tender process are government departments such as DfE and Defra, and non-governmental bodies such as NACC and the School Food Trust. Local government is also involved, particularly other large regional procurement organisations which make up the Pro5 group.

A framework agreement of up to four years' duration is anticipated, commencing spring 2011. Organisations interested in tendering may obtain documentation free of charge from ESPO. Please contact Pola Walecka at ESPO, Barnsdale Way, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1ES,or email p.walecka@espo.org quoting ESPO reference 704.
The closing date for the submission of completed tenders is Monday 24 January 2011 (5pm).