Virano Managed Service Catering Framework

What the buyer is asking for

Virano Frameworks Ltd is seeking to establish a single supplier framework agreement for the provision of managed catering services, primarily for education settings and other eligible contracting authorities. The framework is intended to support schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, colleges, universities and other educational bodies with the delivery of compliant, high-quality and value-for-money managed catering services. The framework will cover managed school catering and school meal services, including primary meal provision, secondary retail catering provision and mixed primary/secondary estate arrangements. Services may include menu development, food and ingredient supply, mobilisation, operational management support, compliance support, training, reporting, performance monitoring, contract management and continuous improvement under a managed service model. The framework will be awarded to one supplier only. Future call-off contracts may be awarded to the appointed supplier in accordance with the framework agreement and call-off methodology set out in the procurement documents. Appointment to the framework does not guarantee any minimum level of work, value, volume or exclusivity. Call-off contracts must remain within the scope of the framework, specification, pricing methodology and framework terms. The call-off process will be used to confirm customer-specific requirements, apply the approved pricing methodology, agree mobilisation and service-specific details and complete the relevant call-off contract. It must not be used to reopen competition or renegotiate framework terms. The framework is expected to commence on 2 November 2026 and will operate for four years. The procurement is being conducted under the Procurement Act 2023 using the open procedure and is considered suitable for the Light Touch Regime as its principal subject matter is the provision of managed school catering and school meal services.

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 60%qualityQuality AssessmentFramework Management 10.0% Framework Mobilisation 2.5% Proposed Managed Service Operating Model 15.0% Food Offering 10.0% Food Pricing Transparency and Value for Money 5.0% Call-Off Contract Management 10.0% Call-Off Contract Mobilisation & Risk Management 5.0% Sustainability 2.5%
• 12.5%pricePricePrimary food pricing methodology Scored commercial methodology response assessing the Tenderer’s ability to apply the primary cost-per-plate and three-week rolling menu model transparently, consistently and auditable at framework and call-off level, supported by mandatory pass/fail compliance requirements.
• 12.5%pricePriceSecondary food pricing methodology Scored commercial methodology response assessing the Tenderer’s ability to apply the secondary retail selling price, food supply charge and Authority retained margin model transparently, consistently and auditable at framework and call-off level, supported by mandatory pass/fail compliance requirements.
• 10%priceManaged Service FeeManaged service fee Price evaluation using the Tenderer’s fixed annual managed service fee rates for production kitchens and servery kitchens, applied to the model estate stated in the Invitation to Tender for evaluation purposes only. The submitted rates will become Framework rates and will be applied at call-off by reference to the actual number and type of schools included in the Call-Off Contract.
• 5%priceFood Margin & Supply Chain Benefit TransparencyScored commercial methodology response assessing the Tenderer’s approach to food margin transparency, supply chain benefit disclosure and value for money. The response will be evaluated on the clarity and credibility of the Tenderer’s food margin methodology, the disclosure of any material rebates, commissions, retrospective discounts, volume incentives or equivalent supply chain benefits, how those benefits are reflected in pricing, and the audit trail, reporting and open-book controls proposed to verify compliance at framework and call-off level. This component is supported by mandatory pass/fail requirements in Document 5.

What you must already have

Conditions of participation. These are pass or fail, so check them before writing anything.

• economic

  Financial Capacity Tenderers must demonstrate their economic and financial standing in accordance with the following: Due diligence checks will be undertaken on the preferred Tenderer’s accounts to determine a Tenderer’s financial standing. This will incorporate credit checks and a financial appraisal. Please refer to Appendix A of Document 1 Instructions & Information for the financial assessment process.

• technical

  To constitute a pass, the contract examples provided shall be relevant to the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer’s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts. The contracts must be within the education sector and similar complexity in delivering a managed catering service in a multi-site environment across a geographical area. Tenderers must provide a minimum of two and a maximum of three examples of contracts delivered within the last three years which demonstrate experience relevant to the Framework requirement. Where a Tenderer cannot provide a relevant contract example, or cannot provide the requested number of examples, alternative evidence demonstrating equivalent technical capability may be submitted and will be assessed by the Authority. Insurances: Required to confirm whether you already have, or can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below: a. Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £10m b. Public Liability Insurance = £10m c. Professional Indemnity Insurance = £1m d. Product Liability Insurance = £1m

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 13 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice publishedyesterday

   21 Sept 2026, 09:53 BST
2. Clarification questions byin 3 days

   25 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
3. Submission deadlinein 3 days

   25 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
4. Award decision expected byin 28 days

   19 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

2 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender

1. Tender notice14 Aug 2026, 15:28 BST077788-2026
2. Tender updated21 Sept 2026, 09:53 BST088968-2026

Payment terms

30 days from receipt of a valid invoice. Detailed payment arrangements are set out in the Framework Agreement and Call-Off Contract terms

Documents

• Tender notice on Find a Tender