Catering services

Tender description

The successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services at the The Sixth Form College Farnborough. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1.8.2016 to 31.7.2019, however please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis. The Sixth Form College Farnborough is a statutory sixth form college corporation with charitable status. It specialises in 16-18 year-olds who are all full time day students. There is no adult provision or evening classes. Being on the border of 3 counties, students enrol from Berkshire and Surrey as well as from Hampshire secondary schools. The format of sixth form provision in specialist colleges is well-liked by students, so numbers have increased year-on-year since incorporation and enrolment in September 2015 totalled over 3 700. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the students on roll and 300 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of student tastes and dietary requirements. The College would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1.8.2016 to 31.7.2019 and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the College a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with the College for the duration of this contract. The College year is based on a calendar of 195 days but because of the nature of the studies at College, there is a staged enrolment process at the start of the year. Similarly at the year end, second year students finish earlier for study before their exams. This means that the full cohort of student are in together for about 170 days per annum with a mixture of first year students and second year students during other days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the College, which currently includes morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. Whilst the College prioritises value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, the College is not obliged to accept the lowest price. The value of the current contract (2014/15) is: Cash sales 585 000 GBP Hospitality 22 000 GBP Total 607 000 GBP. The College expects the successful contractor to enable the continued development of catering through the provision of an innovative, healthy food service, with fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients being prepared on-site. The College expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values. The College believes that success should be celebrated and that students should enjoy their time at college; if lessons are stimulating and challenging then students will love learning. Much time therefore, is spent reviewing and planning schemes of work to ensure that they are differentiated to meet the needs of all students. As a result, the College are very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Contractor. As a College who are continually seeking ways to improve and develop the ethos and environment for students and staff, to give them the facilities they deserve and need to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, any consideration regarding inward capital investment as part of the Contractor's tender submission would be welcomed. The College would wish for the Contractor to look at making this investment within the existing dining area.