Contract Award Notice UK Published 29 May 2026

UK-Blackburn: School catering services.

The Litmus Partnership

Contracting Authorities




Contracting authority:

Star Academies


Public Procurement Organisation Number:

PWBT-5538-WMVJ


Address:


Shadsworth Road
Blackburn
BB1 2HT
UK


Contact name:

Not provided


Email:

tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk


Telephone:

Not provided


Website:

https://staracademies.org/


Organisation type:

REGIONAL_AUTHORITY


Devolved regulations that apply:

None




Procedure



Procedure type:


Competitive flexible procedure


Dynamic market OCID:

Not provided


Competitive flexible procedure description:

Please see PSQ document for further information.



Preliminary market engagement conducted:

Not provided


Dynamic market:

No


Tenders received:

0


Tenders assessed:

0


Tenders from SMEs:

0


Tenders from VCSEs:

0




Special regime:


None



Scope



Title:

Star Academies ~ Catering Tender


Reference number:

Not provided


Main procurement category:

SERVICES


Description:

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for Star Academies, at the following sites. The opportunity will be broken down into Lots according to Geographic location. Bidders may bid for individual Lots or all Lots.
Please note that bidders who intend to bid for more than one Lot will be required to submit a separate response for each Lot (links to each Lot are provided within the contract notice)
Lot 1 – North ~ £ 20.7 million
Eden Boys' School, Preston
The Olive School, Preston
Highfield Leadership Academy
The Valley Leadership Academy
Eden Boys' School, Bolton
The Olive School, Bolton
Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Manchester
Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Manchester
The Olive School, Manchester
Bay Leadership Academy
Star Salford Academy
Star Radcliffe Academy
Laisterdyke Leadership Academy
Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy
High Crags Primary Leadership Academy
Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy
Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Bradford
Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy
Lot 2 – Midlands ~ £ 16 million
Eden Boys' School, Birmingham North
The Olive School, Birmingham
Small Heath Leadership Academy
Eden Girls' School, Coventry
Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham East
Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Birmingham
The Olive School, Small Heath
Starbank, Birmingham (all through school with four sub divisions – 1x secondary and 3x primary across three sites)
Lot 3 London ~ £ 3.3 million
Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest
The Olive School, Hackney

Current Contract value = £5.6million per annum across all three Lots
The Trusts expects that additional schools may join the contract over the life of the contract. It is not expected that this growth will exceed 40% of the current contract value.
The Trust is looking to award a contract for each Lot or multiple Lots based upon a three-year contract with the option to extend for up to a further four years.

Please see PSQ Document for further information.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1039610544

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/GJZR747EA2





Total value (estimated):


GBP 40,000,000 excluding VAT

GBP 40,000,000 including VAT



Maximum number of lots a supplier can bid for:

Not provided


Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded:

Not provided


Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:

Not provided




Contract value:

GBP 40,000,000 including VAT



Contract Details



Contract 1


Title:

Lot 1 – North


Reference number:

1


Contract value:

GBP 20,700,000 including VAT


Below the relevant threshold:

No


Award decision date:

04/02/2026


Earliest date the contract will be signed:

10/06/2026


Contract dates (estimated):

01/09/2026 to 31/08/2033


Main procurement category:

SERVICES


CPV classifications:


55524000 - School catering services.



Delivery regions:


UKD - NORTH WEST (ENGLAND)



Assessment summaries sent:

04/02/2026



Supplier




Supplier:

Mellors Catering Services


Companies House:

07717083


Address:


West Lancs Technology Centre, White Moss Business Park, Moss Lane View
Skelmersdale
WN8 9TN
UK


Email:

tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk


Telephone:

01276673880


Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME):

No


Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE):

No


Supported employment provider:

No


Public service mutual:

No





Contract 2


Title:

Lot 2 – Midlands


Reference number:

2


Contract value:

GBP 16,000,000 including VAT


Below the relevant threshold:

Yes


Award decision date:

04/02/2026


Earliest date the contract will be signed:

10/06/2026


Contract dates (estimated):

01/09/2026 to 31/08/2033


Main procurement category:

SERVICES


CPV classifications:


55524000 - School catering services.



Delivery regions:


UKD - NORTH WEST (ENGLAND)



Assessment summaries sent:

04/02/2026



Supplier




Supplier:

Mellors Catering Services


Companies House:

07717083


Address:


West Lancs Technology Centre, White Moss Business Park, Moss Lane View
Skelmersdale
WN8 9TN
UK


Email:

tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk


Telephone:

01276673880


Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME):

No


Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE):

No


Supported employment provider:

No


Public service mutual:

No





Contract 3


Title:

Lot 3 - London


Reference number:

3


Contract value:

GBP 3,300,000 including VAT


Below the relevant threshold:

No


Award decision date:

04/02/2026


Earliest date the contract will be signed:

10/06/2026


Contract dates (estimated):

01/09/2026 to 31/08/2033


Main procurement category:

SERVICES


CPV classifications:


55524000 - School catering services.



Delivery regions:


UKI - LONDON



Assessment summaries sent:

04/02/2026



Supplier




Supplier:

Mellors Catering Services


Companies House:

07717083


Address:


West Lancs Technology Centre, White Moss Business Park, Moss Lane View
Skelmersdale
WN8 9TN
UK


Email:

tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk


Telephone:

01276673880


Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME):

No


Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE):

No


Supported employment provider:

No


Public service mutual:

No





Other organisations


Not provided