AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy has announced a pending award for its school catering contract to COMPASS CONTRACT SERVICES (U.K.) LIMITED. The notice does not evidence that the contract has been signed; signature is scheduled for 16 November 2026.
Published outcomeAward 1 names COMPASS CONTRACT SERVICES (U.K.) LIMITED as supplier for Lot 1, covering school catering services in the North East of England.
Market significanceThe announced gross award value is £4.8 million. This is an above-threshold services procurement, with a three-year stated term and up to two optional one-year extensions.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
COMPASS CONTRACT SERVICES (U.K.) LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · 4800000 GBP · Pending award
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Award 1 names COMPASS CONTRACT SERVICES (U.K.) LIMITED as supplier and records a gross value of £4,800,000. The value is recorded at award level for the single listed supplier and Lot 1.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Published award notice
99% confidence19 October 2026
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Award notice document 098464-2026 was published on 2026-10-19T12:55:53+01:00.
Award status
99% confidencePending
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Award 1 is recorded with status 'pending'.
Standstill end
99% confidence28 October 2026, 23:59:59 UTC
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Award 1 standstillPeriod.endDate is 2026-10-28T23:59:59+00:00.
Scheduled signature date
99% confidence16 November 2026
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Award 1 milestone type futureSignatureDate is scheduled for 2026-11-16T23:59:59Z.
Stated contract start
99% confidence1 January 2027
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Award 1 contractPeriod.startDate is 2027-01-01T00:00:00Z.
VALUES
Published values explained
Award value
99% confidence£4,800,000 gross
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Award 1 value.amountGross is 4800000 GBP.
Process value ceiling in supplied process record
98% confidence£3,600,000 gross
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The supplied process-level value_max is 3600000 GBP.
Value consistency
99% confidenceInconsistent published values: award value is £4.8m while the supplied process record gives a £3.6m maximum.
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Award 1 value.amountGross is £4,800,000; process value_max is £3,600,000.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Tender notice publication
99% confidence20 May 2026
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Release history records tender notice 046021-2026 published on 2026-05-20T08:51:03+01:00.
Award decision date
99% confidence19 October 2026
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Award 1 date is 2026-10-19T00:00:00+01:00.
Assessment summaries sent
99% confidence19 October 2026
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Award 1 assessmentSummariesDateSent is 2026-10-19T00:00:00+01:00.
Scheduled signature
99% confidence16 November 2026
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Scheduled futureSignatureDate milestone is 2026-11-16T23:59:59Z.
Stated initial end
99% confidence31 December 2029
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Award 1 contractPeriod.endDate is 2029-12-31T23:59:59Z.
Maximum possible end
99% confidence31 December 2031
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Award 1 contractPeriod.maxExtentDate is 2031-12-31T23:59:59Z.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceSchool catering services
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Award item CPV 55524000 is described as 'School catering services'.
Lot structure
99% confidenceOne lot (Lot 1)
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Tender data lists Lot 1; Award 1 is related to Lot 1.
Delivery region
99% confidenceUKC14, United Kingdom
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Award 1 item delivery address specifies region UKC14.
Lot title and detailed specification
99% confidenceNot supplied in the published data
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Lot 1 has no title or description in the supplied record.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceCompetitive flexible procedure
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Tender procurementMethodDetails is 'Competitive flexible procedure'.
Procurement method
99% confidenceSelective
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Tender procurementMethod is 'selective'.
Evaluation stages described
98% confidenceSelection and shortlisting; ITT and shortlisting for presentation
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The tender description specifies these two stages.
Evaluation inputs described
98% confidenceWritten statements, presentations and supplier-reference checks
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The tender description states that the process would be moderated following these inputs.
Bid count, scores and award rationale
99% confidenceNot supplied in the published notice
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No bid totals, scores, ranking, pricing analysis or supplier-specific reasons for award are included in the supplied data.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Initial term
99% confidence1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029
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Award 1 contractPeriod gives these start and end dates.
Extension options
99% confidenceUp to two 12-month extensions
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Award 1 renewal description states that '2 x 12 month extensions are available if agreed in writing by all parties'.
Maximum term end
99% confidence31 December 2031
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Award 1 contractPeriod.maxExtentDate is 2029-12-31T23:59:59Z.
Contract conclusion
99% confidenceNot evidenced as concluded or signed
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The award remains pending and a future signature date is scheduled.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Award maturity
99% confidenceThe supplier should be treated as announced preferred awardee rather than confirmed contractor until the pending status changes and conclusion is evidenced.
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Award status is pending, standstill runs to 28 October 2026, and signature is scheduled for 16 November 2026.
Commercial term flexibility
99% confidenceThe published arrangement allows up to 24 additional months beyond the initial term, conditional on written agreement by all parties.
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The award renewal description provides for 2 x 12-month extensions if agreed in writing by all parties.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Award is pending
99% confidenceThe notice is an award announcement, not evidence of a signed or active contract.
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Award 1 status is pending and a future signature date is scheduled.
Published value discrepancy
99% confidenceThe £4.8m award value conflicts with the £3.6m maximum held in the supplied process record; neither figure has been substituted for the other.
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Award 1 value.amountGross is £4,800,000; process value_max is £3,600,000.
Limited competition data
99% confidenceInformation on bids, scores, ranking, award rationale and pricing is not supplied in the published notice.
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No such fields appear in the supplied tender or award data.
Limited lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no supplied title, description or separate value.
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The supplied lot record has null title, description and value.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The award remains pending; the notice does not evidence contract signature, conclusion or service commencement.
- The published award value (£4.8m gross) conflicts with the £3.6m maximum in the supplied process record.
- Information not supplied in the published notice includes bid count, bidder identities, evaluation scores, ranking, detailed award rationale, pricing structure and savings.
- Lot 1 has no published title, description or individual lot value beyond its association with the sole award.
- The notice does not provide an extension decision date or guarantee that either extension will be exercised.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Lord Lawson of Beamish AcademyCOMPASS CONTRACT SERVICES (U.K.) LIMITEDschool catering servicescatering contractFind a Tendercompetitive flexible procedure
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who was named in the Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy catering award?
COMPASS CONTRACT SERVICES (U.K.) LIMITED was named as the supplier for Award 1 and Lot 1.
Is the catering contract signed?
The supplied notice does not evidence signature. The award is pending and shows a scheduled signature date of 16 November 2026.
What is the stated value of the award?
Award 1 states a gross value of £4.8 million. The supplied process record separately shows a £3.6 million maximum, creating a published value discrepancy.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.