School catering services

Tender description

The successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services at Cottesbrooke Junior School and Robin Hood Academy. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of services within the existing facilities for the 359 students on roll at Cottesbrooke Junior School and the and 17 teaching and 21 FTE support staff and the current 570 students on roll at Robin Hood Academy (rising to 600 in September 2016) and the 32 teaching and 29 FTE support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Schools would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is for 3 years in duration from January 2017 and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract. The contract being tendered is for 3 years in duration from January 2017 and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the Schools a guaranteed cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the meal tariff is to remain with the Schools for the duration of this contract. Each School year is based on a calendar of 195 days. 5 days are to be used for staff professional development which means that Schools will be open to receive students for the legal minimum of 190 days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the Schools, which currently includes lunch and all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. Whilst the Schools prioritise value for money as a key objective of the competitive tender process, the Governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price. Estimated income at Cottesbrooke Junior School 2016 / 2017: KS2 (FSM): 13 032 GBP; Paid Meals: 38 354 GBP; Total: 51 386 GBP. Estimated income at Robin Hood Academy 2014 / 2015: KS1 (UIFSM and FSM): 47 905 GBP; Paid Meals: 44 000 GBP; Total: 91 905 GBP. The Schools expect 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 Schools expect the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Keeping Children Safe in Education. The Schools believe that success should be celebrated and that pupils should enjoy their time at School; 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 Schools are very enthusiastic curriculum link proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Contractor. As Schools 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 Schools would wish for the Contractor to look at making this investment within the existing dining areas, with attention being given to counter layouts and furnishings and the implementation of a procedure that would assist in producing a reduction of current queuing times. The Schools' objectives: — To increase the standards of fresh food provision; — To increase the standard of service for all customers; — To receive a consistently high-quality catering provision; — To generate an improved dining environment for all students; — To receive proactive management support for the catering staff; — To hold regular review meetings with the successful contractor; — To achieve overall value for money.