704_26 Outsourced Catering Services and Procurement Support

PRELIMINARY MARKET ENGAGEMENT (PME) NOTIFICATION - This is not a call for competition as THE TENDER DOCUMENTATION IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. However, interest (Expression of interest) can be registered here, and please refer to the UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice for further details on the Engagement process being undertaken (which includes two Request for Information with associated return deadline, see also below) - see 'https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067484-2025'. Note: the Expression of interest window is to be kept open beyond the Request for Information deadline and published Engagement period, to allow for new Expressions of interest to continue to be captured (Expressions of interest only need to be completed once per applicable contact/Workgroup e.g., please do not attempt to recomplete at a later date where already registered - see the first page of the attached guide as an example of Expressions of interest being registered when logged into your account on ProContract - and instead once completed please check or access your ‘Activities’ in this eProcurement Portal, or otherwise contact Proactis Supplier Support for any other system related help).

PLEASE ACCESS THE MESSAGES SECTION ON THE ACTIVITY DASHBOARD (ONCE AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST HAS BEEN COMPLETED) FOR ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS FOR THIS PRELIMINARY MARKET ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) DOCUMENTATION AND ASSOCIATED RESPONSE DEADLINE - the deadline for responding to the RFI questionnaires is 17:00 (5pm) on 17 December 2025. Note: Responses to the RFI questionnaires as well as any questions or clarifications MUST be received via the Messaging facility on this eProcurement Portal only (as also stated below).

ESPO are conducting preliminary market engagement with the intention of renewing its outsourced catering services framework, with the inclusion of a procurement and contract management support for outsourcing catering services. It is anticipated the new framework will be awarded during summer 2026.

The new Framework is expected to include the following Lots:

Lot 1. Education Outsourced Catering Services
Lot 2. Social Care Outsourced Catering Services
Lot 3. Public Sector Outsourced Catering Services
Lot 4. Procurement and Contract Management Support for Outsourced Catering Services

Prior to retendering, ESPO is seeking to engage with the market to help shape the new framework to ensure it meets the needs of both suppliers and customers.

The duration of the framework agreement is expected to be for 24 months, with the option to extend for up to a further 24 months.

The total estimated value stated includes the option to extend the framework as noted above.

For any questions relating to the operation of the Portal itself, ProContract, these should be submitted to Proactis, and the following links (URL's) can be used for this for supplier support and system technical queries: https://www.proactis.com/uk/support-login/ or via https://suppliersupport.proactisservicedesk.com/. OTHERWISE, ANY QUESTIONS RELATING TO THIS PME SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO ESPO by accessing the Messages section on the Activity dashboard screen once an Expression of interest has been registered.