✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 5 Oct 2026, 14:16.
Opportunity overview
The objectives of this project are to have successfully procured a school meals service which meets the needs of governors, schools, pupils and their families by the deadline agreed with governors and schools.
Funding for this contract is made up as follows:
Paid Meals: Meal price collected from parents directly by contractor.
Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM): schools are allocated £2.61 per pupil/per day and calculations are based on census day uptake. Schools are invoiced directly by the contractor.
Pupil Premium Free School Meals (FSM): schools are allocated the meal price (currently £523.28 per pupil per annum), and calculations are based on census day uptake. Schools are invoiced directly by the contractor.
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
2 VERSIONS
1
093788-2026Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ·
2
093791-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-stage planned procurement by Reading Borough Council for a school meals service. The service is intended to meet the needs of governors, schools, pupils and families. Bidding is not yet open and the timetable, final scope and submission requirements are unknown.
Who this may suit
Relevant to suppliers of school catering and school-meal services able to collect paid-meal income from parents and invoice schools for UIFSM and pupil-premium free school meals.
Key points identified
Service objectiveProcure a school meals service meeting the needs of governors, schools, pupils and their families.Evidence: "successfully procured a school meals service which meets the needs of governors, schools, pupils and their families"
Paid meals payment collectionContractor to collect meal prices directly from parents.Evidence: "Paid Meals: Meal price collected from parents directly by contractor."
UIFSM invoicingContractor to invoice schools directly for Universal Infant Free School Meals.Evidence: "Schools are invoiced directly by the contractor."
94% approved-analysis confidence7 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Early-stage planned procurement by Reading Borough Council for a school meals service. The service is intended to meet the needs of governors, schools, pupils and families. Bidding is not yet open and the timetable, final scope and submission requirements are unknown.
Who this may suit
Relevant to suppliers of school catering and school-meal services able to collect paid-meal income from parents and invoice schools for UIFSM and pupil-premium free school meals.
Key deliverables
School meals service for participating schools
Collection of paid-meal prices directly from parents
Direct invoicing of schools for Universal Infant Free School Meals
Direct invoicing of schools for pupil-premium free school meals
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
7 criteria identified
Service objective
98% confidence
Procure a school meals service meeting the needs of governors, schools, pupils and their families.
View supporting evidence
"successfully procured a school meals service which meets the needs of governors, schools, pupils and their families"
Paid meals payment collection
99% confidence
Contractor to collect meal prices directly from parents.
View supporting evidence
"Paid Meals: Meal price collected from parents directly by contractor."
UIFSM invoicing
98% confidence
Contractor to invoice schools directly for Universal Infant Free School Meals.
View supporting evidence
"Schools are invoiced directly by the contractor."
Pupil-premium FSM invoicing
98% confidence
Contractor to invoice schools directly for Pupil Premium Free School Meals.
View supporting evidence
"Schools are invoiced directly by the contractor."
Supplier eligibility requirements
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No eligibility, financial standing, technical capacity or exclusion requirements are stated in the pipeline notice.
SME suitability
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
The source field for SME suitability is not stated.
VCSE suitability
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
The source field for VCSE suitability is not stated.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Estimated total value
95% confidence
Up to £14,700,000 GBP.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity value_max: 14700000 GBP.
Paid meals funding
99% confidence
Meal price collected from parents directly by the contractor.
View supporting evidence
"Paid Meals: Meal price collected from parents directly by contractor."
UIFSM funding
99% confidence
Schools are allocated £2.61 per pupil per day, calculated using census-day uptake; schools are invoiced directly by the contractor.
View supporting evidence
"Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM): schools are allocated £2.61 per pupil/per day and calculations are based on census day uptake. Schools are invoiced directly by the contractor."
Pupil Premium FSM funding
99% confidence
Schools are allocated the meal price, currently £523.28 per pupil per annum, calculated using census-day uptake; schools are invoiced directly by the contractor.
View supporting evidence
"Pupil Premium Free School Meals (FSM): schools are allocated the meal price (currently £523.28 per pupil per annum), and calculations are based on census day uptake. Schools are invoiced directly by the contractor."
Contract duration and payment terms
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No contract dates, duration or detailed payment terms are stated.
Delivery
Delivery area
90% confidence
UKJ11; individual delivery locations are not stated.
View supporting evidence
Delivery location is recorded as region "UKJ11" with no locality or postal code.
Buyer location
99% confidence
Reading, RG1 2LU, United Kingdom.
View supporting evidence
Buyer location record: Reading, RG1 2LU, United Kingdom.
Contract start and end dates
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No contract start or end dates are supplied.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Procurement status
99% confidence
Upcoming planned procurement; bidding is not yet open.
View supporting evidence
Display status: "upcoming"; source status: "planned"; notice type: "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender".
One planned lot is recorded; no lot title or description is stated.
View supporting evidence
Lots data contains planned lot "1" with no title or description.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Early-stage scope risk
99% confidence
This is a pipeline notice; final scope, participating schools and service specification are unknown.
View supporting evidence
Notice type is "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender" and no lot description is provided.
Commercial volume risk
98% confidence
UIFSM and pupil-premium FSM calculations are based on census-day uptake, which may affect funded meal volumes.
View supporting evidence
Both UIFSM and pupil-premium FSM funding descriptions state calculations are based on census day uptake.
Parent payment collection risk
97% confidence
Supplier is expected to collect paid-meal charges directly from parents; operational, debt and payment-processing arrangements are not stated.
View supporting evidence
"Meal price collected from parents directly by contractor."
Timetable risk
99% confidence
Procurement and contract dates are unknown.
View supporting evidence
Tender start, submission deadline, contract start and contract end fields are not supplied.
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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