School catering services

Tender description

The successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services at Woodfield Academy and Oak Hill First School, Redditch. The catering service provision at the Schools has not been market tested for many years and to ensure Best Value principles are applied the Head teacher and School Governors have made a decision to tender the catering service. Woodfield Academy currently provides conveyed hot meals to Oak Hill First School, which does not have its own kitchen. The schools are situated less than half a mile apart. The new contract will commence on 1.8.2016, for an initial 1 year term with the option of an additional 2 x 1 year extension. The current value of the contract is approximately 125 000 GBP per annum, which includes children and adult meals, direct staff costs and sundries. Woodfield Academy is a middle school (years 5-8) with 559 pupils (2015/6 roll) and on site. Its ethos is: A happy, successful, safe environment where learning and achievement are valued and children prepare to become confident global citizens. A place where learners are taught to make informed choices and to be responsible for their own actions. Woodfield Academy 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. 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 ~ a minimum of two each term. 5. There needs to be total transparency with accounts that are clear and easy to understand. 6. To ensure that all Free School Meals, and hospitality is provided strictly at net cost of ingredients. 7. The school is committed to ensuring that the national living wage is paid to all staff, with a salary for the catering manager that is competitive within the industry. Oak Hill First School operates a very flexible lunch service and the children can either opt to have a school meal every day, on specific days each week, or on an ad-hoc basis (taking meals as and when they choose) or bring a packed lunch. There are two different school meal choices each day or jacket potato. The School are looking to increase the choice and variety to attract more users of the catering service. The schools wish the successful contractor to introduce a system of online payment for meals, similar to ParentPay and operated by the contractor. The chosen company will have as a minimum The Soil Association Food for Life Silver Catering Award and aspire to reach gold standard within 12 months. Woodfield Academy 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 advise and discussion regarding any requirements and decide how and who pays for it. Oak Hill First School has 446 children on its roll, 66 children are entitled to FSM and 229 children are entitled to KSI FSM. Eleven staff are currently employed by the incumbent contractor including 2 FSA AT Oak Hill to manage and oversee the catering service and therefore TUPE Regulations will apply to this contract.