School catering services

Tender description

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services at Guilsborough Academy. Guilsborough Academy is a secondary school situated in the rural village of Guilsborough on the Northamptonshire/Leicestershire border. The school converted to academy status in 2011 and formed a Multi Academy Trust with Naseby Church of England Primary Academy in 2014. We believe that learning should be enjoyable and challenging. This belief, combined with the excellent teaching skills and commitment of our staff and the enthusiasm and hard work of our students, lies at the heart of our success. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Supplier whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 1338 students on roll and 134 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Client would wish the successful Supplier to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is for 3 years in duration from 1.8.2018 to 31.7.2021 and will operate as a guaranteed performance contract, with the successful Supplier offering the Client a guaranteed return/cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with the Client for the duration of this contract. The academic year is based on a calendar of 195 days. 5 days are to be used for staff professional development which means that School will be open to receive students for the legal minimum of 190 days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all school catering services, which currently includes morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School Meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption, with free meals at a margin and hospitality at net food cost. Whilst the Client prioritises value for money as a key objective of the competitive tender process, the governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price. The Client expects the successful Supplier 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 Client expects the successful Supplier to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Every Child Matters. The Client believes 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 Client is very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Supplier. As a school 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 Supplier’s tender submission would be welcomed. The Client would wish for the Supplier to look at making this investment within the existing dining area. Please be advised that: 1) this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis; 2) there are currently 11 staff employed to deliver the catering service; 3) there are no current catering staff in the LGPS; 4) the catering service is currently contracted to Chartwells who are part of the Compass Group; 5) Guilsborough Academy is part of a Multi-Academy Trust of two schools at this present time; however, the number of schools in the Trust may increase. Although this tender process is for Guilsborough Academy, any other schools in the Trust (whether currently in the Trust or that may join over the course of the contract being let) may join this contract at the Trust’s discretion; 6) please be advised that the Client will only accept bids with a guaranteed return to the school per annum.