Open14 days left · express interest by midday, Friday 27 November 2026

Orbital South Colleges Catering Services: East Surrey College & John Ruskin College

East Surrey College · Education

In brief

East Surrey College is looking for suppliers for catering work (South East).

The estimated value is £1,900,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 3 years, up to 5 years with extensions, starting 1 April 2027.

This is the first stage: register your interest by midday, Friday 27 November 2026, and shortlisted suppliers are invited to bid.

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

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by
midday, Sunday 22 November 2026
Express interest by
midday, Friday 27 November 2026

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

How bids are scored

Quality 60% · Cost 30% · Clarifications/Presentations 10%

Quality matters most. You can win without being the cheapest.

Competition

Typical: a median of 5 bids per contract for catering contracts in this region (from 59 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

Orbital South Colleges (OSC) is a leading further education group comprising East Surrey College, John Ruskin College, Reigate School of Art and Orbital South Colleges University Centre. The Colleges provide an extensive range of vocational, technical and professional education, from entry level through to degree-level study, including apprenticeships, Higher National qualifications and professional courses. Teaching is delivered by experienced, industry-qualified staff and is supported by strong links with employers, careers services and local communities. OSC is undertaking this tender exercise to source a flexible and best value catering contractor with whom they can partner with to…Read the full description
Orbital South Colleges (OSC) is a leading further education group comprising East Surrey College, John Ruskin College, Reigate School of Art and Orbital South Colleges University Centre. The Colleges provide an extensive range of vocational, technical and professional education, from entry level through to degree-level study, including apprenticeships, Higher National qualifications and professional courses. Teaching is delivered by experienced, industry-qualified staff and is supported by strong links with employers, careers services and local communities. OSC is undertaking this tender exercise to source a flexible and best value catering contractor with whom they can partner with to achieve service excellence through the provision of a great tasting food, made with authentic recipes and ingredients. Healthy eating, service innovation and added value through food education and sustainability initiatives are equally as important. The successful contractor is to provide healthy and competitively priced meals for all students, staff and visitors, and always ensure that the outcome will provide best value to the Colleges. OSC is seeking a contractor who has a proactive approach to service development and innovation and will propose practical enhancements to the services as well as innovative ideas to develop and improve the services for all stakeholders. The contract being tendered for is to start from 1st April 2027 for an initial three-year term with the option to extend for up to two further one-year periods. Experience of similar large education-based multi-site operations is preferable. TUPE will apply.

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

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, Sunday 22 November 2026.
  5. Register your interest before midday, Friday 27 November 2026. Shortlisted suppliers are then invited to bid.

Timeline

  1. Tender notice · UK4, notice 103717-2026

About the buyer

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From notice 103717-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 2 November 2026. We last checked for changes on 2 November 2026.