School-meal services

Tender description

Portsmouth City Council, ‘the Council’ has awarded a contract to Cater Link Ltd for the provision of a fully managed school catering service. The new service will enable the supplier to work in close partnership with the council on its vision for improving healthy eating for young people and continuous improvement of the service delivery. Portsmouth City Council ‘the Council’ has awarded a contract for the provision of a fully managed school catering service to a single provider. The service will be delivered to a mixture of standalone kitchens, production kitchens and serveries for primary, junior, secondary and special schools. The key deliverable are as follows: — the provision of a high quality catering service in accordance with the council's or governing body's duty, — free school meals — the council or governing body must provide a free school meal (FSM) for children who register as eligible for FSM, — promotion of a variety of healthy eating choices to children by offering a nutritious and appealing food service which provides good value for money and meets the requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 and the School Food Standards 2015, — provision of a service which accounts for the individual schools' and pupils' diverse cultural needs and works in partnership with the Council to deliver their requirements, — increase the sustainability of the school meal service, — increase school meal uptake, — social value — contribute to creating employment opportunities for local people e.g. through provision of apprenticeships or providing opportunities for disadvantaged groups, — Delivery of meals within the lunchtime period as specified by individual schools. The contract also allows for other services that may be required on the school sites, such as: — breakfast service, — break-time service, — after school clubs.