Please email your interest to Head of Contracts Nicola Mellor ([email protected]), with the below information:
- Institution name
- Contact name, email and phone number
- Which framework you're interested in
- Current supplier details including whether they're on a TUCO framework
- Your current contract end date
- Value of spend if known
We will assess the information provided and get back to you regarding next steps.
A free, personalised procurement service for TUCO members
Your catering and procurement teams are highly skilled and knowledgeable, but we know how stretched public sector teams can be. Running fully compliant procurement exercises while still driving additional value can be tough.
That’s where TUCO’s Further Competition Service can make a real difference.
How our free service supports you:
✓Generate additional savings
✓Maximise value from TUCO frameworks
✓Remain fully compliant with UK procurement legislation
✓Reduce pressure on internal teams
We provide as much or as little support as you need:
→ Initial Consultation
We meet with you to understand your requirements and identify the most appropriate call-off mechanism.
→ Structured Project Plan
A clear timetable outlining responsibilities and key milestones from the outset.
→ Bespoke, Legally Compliant Documentation
Tailored call-off documents aligned to your needs, drawing on TUCO’s category expertise, legal knowledge and market insight.
→ Process Management
We issue documentation to framework suppliers and manage clarifications, receipting and communications.
→ Robust Evaluation & Award Recommendation
Pricing evaluation, moderation support and a comprehensive award recommendation report.
→ Fully Compliant Contract Award
Your call-off is awarded in line with UK procurement legislation, including PCR 2025 or PA23.
“At the University of Brighton, TUCO’s free Further Competition Service has provided invaluable support to our catering and procurement teams. Acting as a true extension of our in-house resources, the TUCO team were friendly, approachable, and highly effective—helping us analyse spend, challenge the market through a compliant mini-competition, and identify tangible savings opportunities.
The process was efficient, transparent, and far less demanding than running a full tender, enabling our team to focus on other priorities. TUCO’s specialist food and beverage knowledge, combined with their data-led and practical approach, gave us confidence that we were achieving best value while maintaining quality and service standards. We would highly recommend the Further Competition Service to other public sector institutions.”
- Stephen Lambert, Campus Hospitality Manager, University of Brighton
Specialist knowledge
TUCO’s CIPS-qualified procurement team have in-depth category understanding and can quickly provide the specific food and beverage market intelligence and procurement advice you need.
Maybe you have a question about a particular area of the market or perhaps you want advice on how to manage challenges within the supply chain.
Whatever your request, our CIPS-qualified staff can help. They can quickly provide the catering industry research, data and insight you need.
“Our team of professionally qualified category managers and data analysts have the experience and food and beverage industry knowledge to help education institutions drive down their costs further. We’d love to support your organisation to generate added value – let us know what type of assistance you need.”
- Nicola Mellor, Head of Contracts, TUCO
Low operating costs
As a not-for-profit organisation, TUCO reinvests its surplus into member benefits. Having no shareholders to pay dividends to means we have lower operating costs. Being owned by you, our members, means we only ever act in your best interests, with transparency and integrity.
Please email your interest to Head of Contracts Nicola Mellor ([email protected]), with the below information:
- Institution name
- Contact name, email and phone number
- Which framework you're interested in
- Current supplier details including whether they're on a TUCO framework
- Your current contract end date
- Value of spend if known
Your information will be assessed and someone will get back to you regarding next steps.
