Provision of an end-to-end Catering Services including product sourcing & procurement with associated supply chain management into service centres and final mile logistics (from receipt of goods into service centre through to delivery to train side).
Estimated value
£259.8m
Awarded value
—
Suppliers
0
Lots
1
Published
13 Aug 2025
Description
Procurement of Catering services to include: 1) New Product Development and Procurement for AWC Catering Sourcing and Management: Identify and procure food, drink, consumables, and equipment at the best value for money, ensuring competitiveness throughout the product lifecycle, and value chain. Supplier Assurance: Maintain a safe and responsible supplier base. Supplier Management: Oversee lower-tier food and product suppliers, whether sourced by the supplier or designated by AWC. Product Specification and Supply: Specify, order, and supply food and ancillary catering products. This includes creating documentation such as calorific and allergen information and maintaining the bill of materials. Inventory Accountability: Ensure the correct level of food and catering products are available for order and/or distribution to the final mile logistics supplier. 2) Logistics End-to-End Last Mile Delivery of Produce to Trains Warehouse Management: Ensure professional, safe, and efficient warehouse operations, including the use of relevant IT systems, ensuring 'best in class inventory management Availability and Waste Management: Maximise product availability while minimising waste. Delivery Coordination: Deliver products to trains, lounges, and other locations as per AWC's forecasts and orders. Premises and Asset Maintenance: Maintain AWC premises and assets. Safety Systems: Implement robust safety and food safety systems to manage, monitor, and minimize all safety risks. Supplier Staff Management: Engage and manage supplier staff to minimise sickness and turnover Note: TUPE applies for incumbent Supplier staff to the provision of Catering Services. Details on the T&Cs and the extent/nature of dialogue/negotiation during the process will be provided to down-selected bidders only during the ITN stage.
Scope
- Reference
- ocds-h6vhtk-05873b
- Total value
- £259,800,000 excluding VAT£311,760,000 including VATAbove the relevant threshold
- Commercial tool
- Standalone contract
- Contract dates
- 30 Jun 2026 to 30 Jun 2031Possible extension to 30 Jun 2033
The contract length is anticipated to be five (5) years with an option to extend for another 2 years (as a 1+1 option). The estimated contract value stated above is for the total term i.e. 7 years (5+2). Estimated Value below; 26/27 £34.3M 27/28 £35.7M 28/29 £36.2M 29/30 £37.3M 30/31 £38.0M 31/32 £38.8M 32/33 £39.6M The spend indicated within this tender process is not fully committed as the actual annual budgets will be subject to approval by Department for Transport from time to time, usually annually. Please note, we would reserve the right to reduce or increase the budgets as necessary at any point in time.
- Main category
- services
- CPV classifications
- 55522000
- Contract locations
- UK, United Kingdom
- Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Award criteria
Criteria the buyer will use to evaluate bids.
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative Weighting | 1 Contract Objectives 3% 2 Management & Staffing 2% 3 Safety 4% 4 Contracts & Contract Management 4% 5 Sustainability 4% 6 Embracing Digital Transformation and Automation 4% 7 New Product and Menu Development 4% 8 Procurement 4% 9 Food Safety 4% 10 Supplier Management 1% 11 Inventory Management 6% 12 Infrastructure 3% 13 Deliveries To Final Destination (trains, lounges etc) 6% 14 Contingency 2% 15 Mobilisation 4% | quality | 55.00% |
| Commercial | — | price | 40.00% |
| Contract Evaluation | — | quality | 5.00% |
Participation
Conditions suppliers must meet to bid.
This will be a two-stage process with a Pre-Qualification Stage (PQQ) followed by down-selection of a limited number of Applicants to proceed to an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) stage. AWC Procurement will manage the tender process, which will be carried out in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The process will not make use of an electronic auction. The Client reserves the right at its absolute discretion throughout the procurement process: 1. to amend and refine the award criteria, 2. to amend and refine the proposed procurement procedure prior to issuing the ITN, and 3. not to proceed with a contract award Following the evaluation of the PQQ responses, the Client will shortlist the applicants it will invite to tender in accordance with the terms of the PQQ. The Client reserves the right to limit the number of applicants that are invited to tender to a maximum of four (4) applicants. Only applicants that score a "pass" for all non-qualitatively scored questions in the PQQ will be considered and Applicants will then be ranked in order of highest to lowest score. The Client reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to invite more applicants into the ITN process if there is a tie in the scores between two (2) or more applicants for the final place. Those tenderers shortlisted from the PQQ stage will be invited to submit a proposal based on the ITN. Submissions will be evaluated during the ITN stage, allowing internal teams to select the most advantageous tender (MAT) based on both qualitative and cost evaluations, including final contract negotiations. All tenderers will be taken to a presentation stage to demonstrate their confidence in delivery. The procurement timeline will be published and aimed at appointing a new supplier by 1st April 2026 to allow for mobilisation, with the contract start date set for 1st July 2026. The existing suite of First Group systems (e,g, WAX Portal) will support the process, ensuring full transparency and auditability in accordance with the new Procurement Act 2023.