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Catering Managed Services

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust · NHS and health

In brief

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has announced plans to buy catering work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The estimated value is £102,968,873 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 5 years, up to 7 years with extensions, starting 1 September 2027.

It is split into 3 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by
midday, Monday 23 March 2026
Express interest by
midday, Monday 30 March 2026

This is the first stage. You register interest now, and shortlisted suppliers are invited to bid later.

What the notice says

Overview Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSE) currently delivers catering services across three hospital sites: Basildon, Broomfield, and Southend. These services encompass both patient meal provision and retail restaurant catering outlets, delivered through a combination of in-house operations and contracted arrangements. Strategic Objective The Trust is embarking on a transformation of its catering provision to establish a future-proof, compliant, and sustainable service model. This initiative is driven by the following key factors: 1. Compliance and Standards: Alignment with NHS food safety, nutrition, and sustainability requirements. 2. Enhanced Patient Experience: Meeting rising expectations for choice, quality, and overall patient satisfaction. 3. Commercial and Operational Efficiency: Leveraging opportunities to improve financial performance and operational effectiveness within retail catering. 4. Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to Cabinet Office requirements for business case approval and ensuring full compliance under the Procurement Act 2023. Please Note: This notice is for market testing purposes only and does not represent a decision to outsource catering services or a commitment to any future procurement.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
  4. Send clarification questions before midday, Monday 23 March 2026.
  5. Register your interest before midday, Monday 30 March 2026. Shortlisted suppliers are then invited to bid.

Lots

LotTradeValue
Lot 1 - Broomfield Hospital Retail and Patient Catering Services
1 September 2027 to 31 August 2032
What this lot covers

Delivery of patient and retail catering services at Broomfield Hospital

Catering—
Lot 2 - Basildon Hospital Retail and Patient Catering Services
1 September 2027 to 31 August 2032
What this lot covers

Delivery of Retail and Patient Catering Services at Basildon Hospital

Catering—
Lot 3 - Southend Hospital Retail and Patient Catering Services
1 September 2027 to 31 August 2032
What this lot covers

Delivery of patient and retail catering services at Southend Hospital

Catering—

Timeline

  1. Planned procurement notice · UK3, notice 006266-2026

About the buyer

From notice 006266-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 23 January 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.