School catering services

Tender description

The successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services for the S4S School Cluster (the Client) at the following locations: — Newcastle Academy ~ ST5 2QY http://www.newcastleacademy.org/ — Clayton Hall Academy ~ ST5 3DN http://www.claytonhallacademy.org/ — Sir Thomas Boughey High School ~ ST7 8AP http://www.sirthomasboughey.staffs.sch.uk/ — Merridale Primary School ~ WV3 0UP http://www.merridaleprimary.co.uk/ — Lanesfield Primary School ~ WV4 6BZ http://www.lanesfieldprimary.co.uk/ — Uplands Junior School ~ WV3 8BA http://www.uplandsjuniorschool.org.uk/ — Bantock Primary School ~ WV3 0HY http://www.bantockprimaryschool.co.uk/ S4S have been commissioned by the Cluster to coordinate this project to ensure best value principles are achieved. The Litmus Partnership are working in partnership with S4S to manage the tender process and to assist with protocols that need to be in place throughout the tender management process. The catering services provision at all seven schools has not been market tested in recent years and to ensure best value principles are applied the Headteachers and School Sponsors / Governors of each school have made a decision to tender their catering services. All schools have their own kitchen facilities and it is expected all food served to students will be freshly prepared and produced on site. Current pupil roll numbers across all seven sites is circa 3 274: — Newcastle Academy ~ 383; — Clayton Hall Academy ~ 980; — Sir Thomas Boughey High School ~ 608; — Merridale Primary School ~ 173; — Lanesfield Primary School ~ 353; — Uplands Junior School ~ 380; — Bantock Primary School ~ 397 including Reception. Current turnover value across all seven locations is circa 630 000 GBP per annum including Free School Meals. Current uptake levels across all sites average out at circa 60 % and the schools firmly believe that with improved choice and quality there is a real opportunity to increase this level of uptake, especially across the Wolverhampton schools. For the avoidance of doubt TUPE Regulations will apply to this contract and some of the current catering staff are in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Both Newcastle Academy and Clayton Hall Academy currently manage their catering services with an in-house operation; all the Wolverhampton schools currently use the local DSO. The catering service provision at Sir Thomas Boughey High School is currently operated by an external catering contractor. The successful contractor will be expected to deliver a concise and detailed method of management reporting at the end of each month, thus updating the Client on contract performance. It is imperative that an open book policy is offered to ensure that each school has total clarity on financial performance. The Client is seeking both innovation and the application of current food trends within the tender submissions and would expect as a result of this to be able to identify ‘best value’ and work in partnership with the chosen contractor going forward. The Client has set 7 key objectives which should be focused upon throughout the tender process. They are: — All children enjoy a healthy, well balanced meal at lunch times ensuring meals fully comply with school meal nutritional standards. — The service provision must be based on best value principles. — Maximise the use of fresh food produce and minimise the use of convenience food products. — Meet the cultural needs of all pupils and staff. — Provide a more appetising range of food for the children to choose from. — The successful contractor must offer a high quality, cost effective and flexible catering service which meets all the children's needs and reinforces a consistent message of health lifestyles. — The successful contractor must fully understand and implement safeguarding principles whilst carrying out the service provision. The contract term will be for an initial period of 3 years and will be fixed price during the contract term and if any improvements to financial surpluses are generated then the contractor shall share these on an agreed percentage return. Free School Meals uptake and any ad hoc catering requirements will be invoiced on a monthly basis and detailed backup will be part of the accounting system. Please note: Although this project is being advertised as a single lot contract each School, at its own discretion, will have the option of awarding the contract to its preferred bidder.