Catering services for other enterprises or other institutions

Tender description

The successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The catering service provision at the School has been operated ‘in-house’ and has not been market tested for many years. To ensure Best Value principles are applied the School have made a decision to tender the catering service. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is a world-leading centre for research and post-graduate education in public and global health, with over 4 000 students and more than 1 000 staff working in 100 countries. The School's mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice. There is approximately 1 000 full-time students, 3 000 distance learner students and 1 000 students on short courses. The School offers a refectory style service in Keppel Street to the students and staff on site only. Current turnover is 325 000 GBP per annum. The refectory is open 8:00 - 16:00 Monday-Friday. It also offers significant amounts of hospitality in the building. There is a licensed bar which opens on a Friday evening with a current turnover of 15 000 GBP per annum. The coffee shop in Tavistock Place has been previously leased to another operator. From the start of this contract the coffee shop in Tavistock Place will be included in the tender. The School is expecting this open to the staff / students and the general public 7 days a week. There are currently 9 staff working full-time in the catering department, employed by the School, and 1 person eligible to transfer under TUPE in Tavistock Square. These staff will transfer under TUPE to the successful contractor. The School will be commencing a building project to the Tavistock Square coffee shop and bar area in Keppel Street to improve the facility in time for the commencement of the contract. The School does not anticipated any financial contribution from the successful contractor; it is looking for considerable input in the design and style of service. The School is ISO 14001 and EcoCampus Platinum certified; it is important that any contractor be similarly certified. The School wishes to offer healthy eating options within the menu with minimal use of disposables. The menu should be based on the use of fresh ingredients and bakery products. Working with the local community is something that the School strives to do at all times and to this end we would like to ensure that all your fresh produce is sourced from local suppliers (within a 20 mile radius of the School): details should be included within your submission. There are also several other objectives which the School wishes to achieve as a result of this tender process: 1. The provision of a healthy balanced menu that meets nutritional guidelines and is enjoyed by our students and staff. 2. Better value for money to be provided to the School ensuring that the students are provided with a variety of quality food with reasonable portion sizes. 3. Innovation and flexibility with the ability to ‘move with the times’ and recommend new service initiatives. 4. An effective marketing campaign should be implemented including the organisation of a series of theme days throughout the year. 5. There needs to be total transparency with accounts that are clear and easy to understand. 6. To ensure that all hospitality is provided strictly at net cost of ingredients. 7. The School is committed to ensuring that the London Living Wage is paid to all staff, with a salary for the catering manager that is competitive within the industry. The School are looking to increase the choice and variety to attract more users of the catering service. The chosen company will have, as a minimum, an ethical and sustainable certificate and policy to include bottled water, organic produce, food miles and waste policy. The School has a well-equipped production kitchen. The School does not anticipate the need for any financial investment in the kitchen but would be looking for advice and discussion regarding any requirements and decide how and who pays for it. The new contract will commence on 1.8.2017, for an initial 3 year term with the option of an additional 2 x 1 year extension.