St Joseph Catholic MAT Framework Catering Tender 2026/27
- Buyer
- RPJ3 Group
- Value
- £1,250,000
- Closes
- 19 November 2026
- Where
- Wirral, the North West
- Type
- Sets up a framework (suppliers apply to join)
In plain English
St Joseph Catholic Multi-Academy Trust (a group of schools) is setting up a framework, which is a pre-approved list of catering suppliers, to provide school catering. It will start with one school, with 1 to 3 providers selected, and other schools in the trust may use it later. The contract is planned to start in April 2027 and runs for 3 years, with options to extend by 1 year twice (5 years in total).
What the buyer wants
• Provide full catering services for the initial school, with full tender costings and proposals for a contract starting in April 2027. • Show best value, flexibility in how the service is delivered, and an approach that supports each school's needs and ethos, backed by good local infrastructure and reliable labour and relief cover. • Hold minimum employer's (compulsory) liability insurance of £10,000,000, complete a pre-qualification questionnaire, attend site surveys and a tender briefing (planned for late November 2026), submit a tender by late December 2026, and attend interviews in early January 2027.
Requirements
What could rule a small business out: The £10 million minimum employer's liability insurance requirement is the most likely barrier for a small business, alongside the need to demonstrate good local infrastructure and labour and relief cover.
Always check the tender documents.
How to bid
This is a framework: the buyer picks a set of suppliers now and awards work to them over several years. If you are not on it when it is awarded, you usually cannot win work from it until it is re-tendered, so this is the window to bid.
Where to apply
The notice doesn't name a website for bids. Ask the buyer how to apply, using the contact on the official notice.
Questions about this tender? The official notice gives the buyer's contact.
Similar open catering contracts
- Ice Cream Concession, Towneley Park, Burnley Borough Council, £320,000, closes 23 November 2026
- National Framework Agreement for Total Food Management, COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST, £45,000,000, closes 30 November 2026
- Wellacre Academy ~ Catering Tender, Wellacre Academy, £1,241,255, closes 5 February 2027
- St Michael's CE High School ~ Catering Tender, St Michael's CE High School, £3,000,000, closes 26 February 2027
- Interim Accommodation S188, Norwich City Council, £2,500,000, closes 10 November 2026
- Barnet Schools Cluster - Catering Tender apr27, Educo, £2,900,000, closes 11 November 2026
Check whether your business could win this, free
Get a plain-English bid plan for this tender with the bid coach