The Litmus Partnership: Star Academies ~ Catering Tender

Contracting authority

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.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://litmustms.co.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Blackburn:-School-catering-services./GJZR747EA2

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

Lots

Description:

Lot 1 – North
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

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.

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

No

Value (estimated):

GBP 20,700,000 excluding VAT

GBP 20,700,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

01/09/2026 to 31/08/2033

CPV classifications:

55524000 - School catering services.

Contract can be extended:

No

Delivery regions:

UKD - NORTH WEST (ENGLAND)

Award criteria:

Name: Criterion 1 / Weighting: 1

Name: Criterion 2 / Weighting: 2

Description:

Lot 2 – Midlands
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)

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.

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

No

Value (estimated):

GBP 16,000,000 excluding VAT

GBP 16,000,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

01/09/2026 to 31/08/2033

CPV classifications:

55524000 - School catering services.

Contract can be extended:

No

Delivery regions:

UKD - NORTH WEST (ENGLAND)

Award criteria:

Name: Criterion 1 / Weighting: 1

Name: Criterion 2 / Weighting: 2

Description:

Lot 3 London
Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest
The Olive School, Hackney

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.

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

No

Value (estimated):

GBP 3,300,000 excluding VAT

GBP 3,300,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

01/09/2026 to 31/08/2033

CPV classifications:

55524000 - School catering services.

Contract can be extended:

No

Delivery regions:

UKI - LONDON

Award criteria:

Name: Criterion 1 / Weighting: 1

Name: Criterion 2 / Weighting: 2

Documents

Associated tender documents:

Not provided

Technical specifications:

Not provided

Submission

Enquiry deadline:

15/08/2025 Time: 12:00

Tender submission deadline:

07/11/2025 Time: 12:00

Submission address and any special instructions:

Lot 1: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/GJZR747EA2
Lot 2: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/5RDEY23D5D
Lot 3: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/8836ATU3WW

An electronic auction will be used:

No

Languages that may be used for submission:

English

Award decision date (estimated):

26/01/2026

Other information

Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation:

Not provided

Technical ability conditions of participation:

Not provided

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP):

No

Government Procurement Agreement (GPA):

Yes

A conflicts assessment has been prepared and revised:

Yes

Other organisations