Strategic Catering Partner for Catering Venues across County Durham

Durham County Council (DCC) is seeking to secure one strategic partner, following a corporate wide catering review, to deliver catering services across a wide range of public facing venues. The Council currently has 15 customer-facing venues across a diverse portfolio of leisure, cultural, heritage and visitor locations. Existing operational arrangements include internally managed sites and third-party operated venues. This has resulted in a wide range of service approaches and financial profiles, presenting opportunities to enhance service alignment, scale efficiencies and elevate customer experience. The Council has developed a strong vision for this Procurement. Bidders will be invited to propose solutions, throughout the various stages of the procurement process, which align with this vision: 'To deliver a modern, financially sustainable and customer‑focused catering service that enhances the experience of residents and visitors, champions local suppliers and ensures high‑quality and nutritious, venue-appropriate food across in-scope venues.' The procurement will be a multiple stage Competitive Flexible procedure pursuant to the section 20 2(b) of PA23, comprising of 5 stages, including multiple competitive dialogue sessions.