School catering services

Tender description

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services to Aurora Academies Trust at the following schools: — Glenleigh Park Primary Academy, — Heron Park Primary Academy, — King Offa Primary Academy, — Oakwood Primary Academy. Aurora Academies Trust currently operates six schools across East Sussex, Brighton and Hove and West Sussex. There are 4 primary schools in East Sussex, 2 in Bexhill-on-Sea and 2 in Eastbourne. There is a primary school in Brighton and Hove and an all-through school from ages 5 to 16, in Crawley. The Trust was formed in September 2012, with the 4 primary schools in East Sussex. The Gatwick School, in Crawley joined the Trust in October 2016. It is a free school and is only half full at present because it grows by 2 year groups each year. It currently has no kitchen facilities and prepared meals are brought to the school by vehicle. It is expected that the school kitchen facilities will be available during the academic Year 2019/20 and the Trust would expect this school to join the contract at that time. City Academy Whitehawk, in Brighton and Hove, joined the Trust in September 2017 and is expected to join the contract in September 2019. Note: The Gatwick School is part of the Trust and is an ‘evolving’ school that currently has delivered-in meals, but is expected to ultimately become part of the managed services during the lifetime of the contract. The Trust expects to continue to grow during the contract period within the existing geographical areas; it already has agreement to open a new free school in Horley, Surrey in close proximity to The Gatwick School, in September 2020, which would also be expected to join the contract. The Trust strategic plan is to grow the Trust in the existing regional clusters to between ten and 15 schools. 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 1 600 students on roll, 220 nursery children and 250 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Trust would wish the successful Supplier to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1.1.2019 to 31.12.2021 and will operate as a guaranteed performance contract, with the successful supplier offering the Trust a guaranteed return/cost per annum for the provision of catering services. The academic year is based on a calendar of 195 days. 5 days are to be used for staff professional development which means that Trust 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 4 Trust schools, which currently includes morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School Meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. Whilst the Trust prioritises value for money as a key objective of the competitive tender process, the Trust Board is not obliged to accept the lowest price. The value of the current contract is: 2016/17: Cash sales: 56 559 GBP Free School Meals: 247 407 GBP Hospitality: 3 374 GBP Total: 307 340 GBP 2017/18 (period to May): Cash sales: 55 424 GBP Free School Meals: 219 287 GBP Hospitality: 1 231 GBP Total: 275 942 GBP. Aurora Academies Trust 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 Trust expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Every Child Matters. The Trust 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 Trust is very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful supplier.