Prior information notice

This notice is for prior information only

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1) Name and addresses

I.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address

I.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.5) Main activity

Housing and community amenities

Section II: Object

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.2) Description

II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:

19/12/2023

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3) Additional information

LQ is a regulated charitable housing association and one of the UK's most successful social businesses. We're a long-term partner in the neighbourhoods where we work. We build aspiration, opportunity, and confidence for everyone in our communities.Our vision is that everyone deserves a quality home that provides them with the opportunity to live a better life. This echoes our purpose to provide homes and neighbourhoods that everyone can be proud of. We will do this by delivering safe, high-quality homes, services, and support for all our residents.As a regulated charitable housing association, all the money we make is reinvested into new and existing homes, creating successful communities, and providing services for our residents. L&Q is regulated by Homes England and the Regulator of Social Housing (registration number L4517), and is an exempt charity registered under the Co-operative & Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (registration number 30441R).LQ Living are our dedicated care and support team providing homes and services to than 10,000 people across London, the South East and North West of England.We directly support people with mental health illnesses, people with learning disabilities, and older and young people. We understand that everyone has different needs and tailor our care and support services to each person.Where we provide catering services in two of our extra care schemes based in East London and Essex, we’ve listened to resident feedback about improvements that could be made to our services and are now researching what may be possible. This is a market testing exercise. L&Q wish to engage with the market for feedback on solutions to support our in-house team engage with local SMEs and Catering Supply Providers in relation to supply of batched cooked re-heatable meals, chilled and ambient foods as well as other associated goods or supplies. L&Q are seeking solutions that can provide the following,• A catering model that represents value for money in terms of quality and cost.• Seasonal, sustainable and local produce/ main course meals and puddings that will be reasonably priced and appeal to all dietary requirements.• Reheatable meals that are batched cooked from scratch, can be delivered, and are compliant with all relevant regulation and legislation. • Innovation to reduce waste and support our environmental and sustainability goals. We are inviting interested parties to provide feedback to help us understand level of interest and viability in delivery of this service. Interested parties will be invited to participate in this market testing by completion of a questionnaire.Parties interested in this market testing exercise are invited to register their interest by email to, Jo Summers JSummers@lqgroup.org.ukNo later than 14:00 on Wednesday 31/01/2024A link to the market testing questionnaire will be provided by email. Responses to this notice and the questionnaire may be used to inform LQ’s strategy for procuring services; LQ may contact responding organisations directly to discuss or clarify their response.LQ reserves the right to amend what is set out in the market testing. Any procurement process that may be conducted subsequently to this market testing will only be in accordance with the procurement documents that are published.Participation or non-participation in this market testing shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the engagement shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process.Participants will not be prejudiced by any response, failure to respond to the market testing or failure to participate in any follow up activities that may be arranged at the absolute discretion of L&Q. Participation in this market testing will be at each organisation’s own cost. No expense in responding to this market testing will be reimbursed by L&Q.

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

19/12/2023