Catering Services

Tender description

UK Biocentre’s laboratories in Milton Keynes are being used to analyse swab samples to support the national effort against the coronavirus pandemic. They are one of the three Lighthouse Labs – the biggest network of diagnostic testing facilities the UK has ever seen. Operations have expanded rapidly to analyse swab samples to determine whether Covid-19 is present, and capacity requirements are continuing to increase over time. We have repurposed existing laboratories and built new ones to provide the capacity required for such a significant undertaking. In order to achieve the sample throughput required, laboratory operations are 24/7. To reduce the requirement for staff to leave site and maximise productivity, UKBC provide staff with food and drink and set times throughout the day. Lot 1: UKBC is seeking the provision of a catering service in Milton Keynes for UKBC staff. UK Biocentre requires a service provider to deliver sufficient meal options to meet the demand forecast each day, to (at least) the standards set out in this specification (available via the link in I.3) Communication). Meal options are required to be provided at set intervals each day: 12.00; 17.00; 19.30 and 21.30. Set up for meals to be completed a minimum of 15 minutes prior to serving times. Flexibility is required to enable meal quantities to be increased or decreased as required, with communication from UK Biocentre to the service provider each Friday for the week commencing on the following Monday. It is anticipated that volumes required will be in the region of: 280 meals at 12.00, 250 meals at 17.00, 210 meals at 19.30 and 210 meals at 21.30 each day, 7 days a week (please note that no projected forecasts of meals required (whether set out in this Contract Notice or otherwise) are either warranted or guaranteed by UK Biocentre). These services fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended)/Annex XIV of Direct 2014/24/EU; UKBC is following an award process similar to the open procedure set out in Regulation 27/Article 27 respectively.