Summary
- OCID:
- ocds-h6vhtk-06c940
- Published by:
- Southend-on-Sea City Council
- Authority ID:
- AA82258
- Publication date:
- 14 July 2026
- Deadline date:
- -
- Notice type:
- UK5
- Has documents:
- No
- Has SPD:
- No
- Has Carbon Reduction Plan:
- N/A
Abstract
To provide catering service for both Chalkwell Junior School and Chalkwell Infant School, Leigh-on-Sea. The catering service replaces the current arrangement of inhouse catering to further support the Schools' commitment to providing healthy, nutritious, safe, and appealing meals that contribute positively to pupils' wellbeing, educational outcomes, and overall school experience.The service is valued at £678,000 over 3 years.
Full notice text
Scope
Procurement description
To provide catering service for both Chalkwell Junior School and Chalkwell Infant School, Leigh-on-Sea.
The catering service replaces the current arrangement of inhouse catering to further support the Schools' commitment to providing healthy, nutritious, safe, and appealing meals that contribute positively to pupils' wellbeing, educational outcomes, and overall school experience.
The service is valued at £678,000 over 3 years.
Contracting authority
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Identification register:
Address 1: Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend On Sea, Essex
Town/City: Southend-on-Sea
Postcode: SS2 6FA
Country: United Kingdom
Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJDT-6566-GZNX
NUTS code: UKH31
Email: procurementops@southend.gov.uk
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Supplier
Harrison Catering Services Limited
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Description of how these justifications apply
Southend-on-Sea City Council is publishing this notice on behalf of Chalkwell Hall Infant School and Chalkwell Hall Junior School, maintained schools within the local authority area.
The Schools require the continued provision of catering services to ensure uninterrupted delivery of school meals and compliance with School Food Standards from September 2026.
Prior to seeking an external provider, the Schools undertook three separate recruitment exercises to appoint a Head Cook and maintain an in-house catering service. These recruitment exercises were unsuccessful despite reasonable attempts to recruit suitably qualified staff. The Schools also undertook market engagement with a number of catering providers, with evidence retained within the procurement file.
In the absence of a viable in-house solution and to mitigate the risk of disruption to essential catering provision for pupils, the Schools determined that a direct award was necessary to secure service continuity and maintain operational delivery from the start of the academic year.
This notice is published through Southend-on-Sea City Council's procurement profile because the Schools are maintained schools and do not operate a separate contracting authority publication profile. The contract relates specifically to catering services for Chalkwell Hall Infant School and Chalkwell Hall Junior School.
Direct award justification
Urgency
Lots
Divided into 1 lots
Lot number: 1 Status: Complete Sustainability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contract
1
Status: Pending
Related lots
1
Date the contract will be signed (estimated)
24 July 2026, 23:59PM Value
542000 GBP Excluding VAT
678000 GBP Including VAT
CPV classifications
- 55500000 - Canteen and catering services
- 80100000 - Primary education services
Delivery regions
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Is the total value above threshold?
Above threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
01 September 2026, 00:00AM to 31 August 2029, 23:59PM
Documents
Document type
Conflict of interest
Description
Not published
Coding
Commodity categories
| ID |
Title
|
Parent category
|
| 55500000 |
Canteen and catering services |
Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services |
| 80100000 |
Primary education services |
Education and training services |
Delivery locations
| ID |
Description
|
|
There are no delivery locations for this notice.
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Alert region restrictions
The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.
| ID |
Description
|
|
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.
|
About the buyer
- Main contact:
- N/a
- Admin contact:
- N/a
- Technical contact:
- N/a
- Other contact:
- N/a
Further information
|
Date
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Details
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No further information has been uploaded.
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