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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Community Cafe at The Unity Centre

Northstowe Town Council · Tender notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 1 Oct 2026, 21:27.

Opportunity overview

Northstowe Town Council is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced commercial café operator to operate the café provision at The Unity Centre, Northstowe, Cambridge. The Unity Centre is a new and busy community facility managed by Northstowe Town Council. The café is intended to form an important part of the Centre's wider community offer, providing high-quality food, beverages and refreshments to Centre users, local residents, community groups, visitors and those using nearby facilities. The opportunity includes the use of the designated café space, adjacent kitchen and external seating area. The internal café area is approximately 92m², with an anticipated capacity of around 40 covers, and the kitchen area is approximately 16m². The operator will be expected to fit out the kitchen and servery/counter area at their own cost and provide a sustainable, inclusive and commercially viable café service. The Council is seeking an operator who can provide a friendly, efficient and flexible service, including healthy options, value for money, appropriate provision for dietary, religious and lifestyle requirements, and the ability to support events and community activity at the Unity Centre. The Council is particularly interested in proposals that demonstrate community benefit, environmental sustainability, reduced waste, no single-use plastics, and positive engagement with Northstowe's growing community. Tenderers are required to submit a business plan, catering offer, proposed opening hours, financial proposal and supporting business information. The Council is flexible as to the financial model proposed and will consider rent, fee, profit-share or other commercially appropriate arrangements. The proposed contract/lease will be for a minimum initial term of 10 years, with the option to extend annually for a further 2 years after the initial term. Mutual break clauses will be included at years 3 and 6. The award will be subject to contract and agreement of suitable lease terms. The tender will be evaluated on the basis of: Quality and Business Viability - 50% Financial Offer - 25% Community Benefit - 25% This procurement is reserved under Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note 11/20 and is open only to suppliers whose businesses are located within Cambridgeshire / the relevant local geographical area specified in the tender documentation.

Classification

  • CPV55300000 — Restaurant and food-serving services
  • CPV55400000 — Beverage-serving services
  • CPV55500000 — Canteen and catering services

Lots

  • Lot 1£6k · Including VAT

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-069b77
Status
active
Procurement Method
open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy
allowed

Languages

en

Tender Period

Ends
30 Jun 2026, 09:00

Enquiry period

Ends
30 Jun 2026, 09:00

Expected award period

Ends
28 Jul 2026, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes

Value

Including VAT
6,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
Quality and Business Viability

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
50
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Community Benefit
Description
Community benefit will be assessed as part of the technical evaluation. Tenderers should demonstrate how their proposed café operation will contribute positively to the Unity Centre and the wider Northstowe community, including social value, local employment or skills opportunities, sustainability, inclusion, community wellbeing, partnership working, support for community groups and events, and promotion of the Unity Centre as a welcoming community hub.

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
25
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 3
Type
price
Name
Financial

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
25
Weight
percentageExact

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Starts
3 Aug 2026, 00:00
Ends
3 Aug 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date
3 Aug 2032, 23:59

Renewal

Description
The contract will be for an initial minimum term of 10 years, with the option to extend on an annual basis for up to a further 2 years after the initial term. Any extension will be subject to the agreement of both parties and satisfactory performance by the operator. Mutual break clauses will apply at years 3 and 6.

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
55300000
Description
Restaurant and food-serving services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
55400000
Description
Beverage-serving services
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
55500000
Description
Canteen and catering services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKD
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKE
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 4
Region
UKF
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 5
Region
UKG
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 6
Region
UKH
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 7
Region
UKI
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 8
Region
UKJ
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 9
Region
UKK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Entry 2
Id
L-1
Document Type
technicalSpecifications
Entry 3
Id
A-16291
Document Type
biddingDocuments
Format
application/pdf
Entry 4
Id
045573-2026
Document Type
tenderNotice
Notice Type
UK4
Description
Tender notice on Find a Tender
Published
19 May 2026, 01:05
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Northstowe Town Council
Id
GB-PPON-PBBW-4991-PXHR

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PBBW-4991-PXHR

Address

Street Address
The Unity Centre
Locality
Northstowe
Postal Code
CB24 1FD
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKH12

Contact

Name
Jack Turner
Telephone
07700770141

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Northstowe · UKH12 · CB24 1FD · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKC · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKD · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKE · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKF · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKG · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKH · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKI · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKJ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

2 VERSIONS
  1. 045572-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·
  2. 045573-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·