Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
West Berkshire Council
Market Street
Newbury
RG145LD
UK
Contact person: Kristin Hurford
E-mail: kiki.hurford1@westberks.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ11
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://westberks.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Free School Meal Vouchers 2025-28
II.1.2) Main CPV code
30000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
Food vouchers issued to families during the School holidays to eligible children (in receipt of Free School meals)
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Lowest offer:
.01
GBP/ Highest offer:
1 400 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
30199770
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ1
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
West Berkshire is calling off a provider for the Free School Meals Vouchers Scheme.
This provides the facility for schools to be able to access food vouchers for use by parents/guardians of pupils who are eligible for FSM during 7 weeks-5days a week, of the school holidays each year.
This contract has been awarded as a call-off from the Crown Commercial Service Framework RM6248 Payment Solutions 2 Lot 3, following evaluation of the 5 Providers on the Crown Commercial Services Framework. Direct award followed the evaluation of the responses, without further competition.
The contract value specified in this notice is the anticipated upper amount payable for this service.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Meeting West Berkshire Specification
/ Weighting: 50%
Cost criterion: Price per voucher
/ Weighting: 50%
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
It is anticipated that the call off from the Framework will be for 3 years and 3 months. The call off allows multiple purchases throughout the year, depending on required need.
The Household support fund, which the purchase and contribution of the vouchers is depending on has been allocated again for the financial year 2025/26. Future funding and ongoing call off is pending.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority and in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the Directive
Explanation
Call off from Crown Commercial Service due to ongoing uncertainty of continuation of Household Support Funding
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
09/07/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Blackhawk Network EMEA Limited
04155659
Westside, London Road
Hemel Hempstead
HP3 9TD
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
Lowest offer:
.01
GBP
/ Highest offer:
1 400 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Crown Commercial Services
Office 212, The Mille, 1000 Great West Road
Brentford
TW89DW
UK
E-mail: info@crowncommercial.gov.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
29/07/2025