School catering services

Description

The successful supplier will be required to provide catering services at the following eight locations: • Penn Hall Special School — WV4 5HP, • Graiseley Primary School — WV2 4NE — delivered service, • PRU Lawnswood Campus — WV4 6SR — delivered service, three catering outlets, • Stowlawn Primary School — WV14 6EH — shared kitchen with Green Park Special School, • Green Park Special School — WV14 6EH, • Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School — WV14 7PD, • Castlecroft Primary School — WV3 8HS, • Jesson's Church of England Primary School — DY1 2AQ. Full details in relation to these schools can be found on their individual websites. Services 4 Schools (S4S) Ltd have been commissioned by the school cluster clients 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 provisions at all eight schools have not been market tested in recent years and to ensure best value principles are applied the clients have made the decision to tender their catering services. Not all of the schools have their own kitchen facilities, as detailed above and it is expected that the successful supplier will have the experience and ability to offer this type of service. In addition to this, three of the schools have SEN requirements and this should be taken into account when completing the tender submission. The PRU Lawnswood Campus also requires both a primary and secondary meal provision due to the age range of its students. Current pupil roll numbers across all eight sites is circa 1 600. Approximate daily meal numbers served are circa 900 including cash and free school meals. The estimated annual turnover value based on the current universal free school meal allowance across all eight locations is circa GBP 393 000 per annum including universal free school meals, free school meals and cash sales. Current uptake levels vary across all sites and the clients firmly believe that with improved choice and quality there is a real opportunity to increase levels of uptake. For the avoidance of doubt TUPE Regulations including pension rights will apply to this contract where applicable. The successful supplier will be expected to deliver a concise and detailed method of management reporting at the end of each month, thus updating the clients 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 clients are 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 supplier going forward. The clients have set the following key objectives which should be focused upon throughout the tender process. They are: • all children enjoy a healthy, well balanced meal at lunchtimes ensuring meals fully comply with school meal nutritional standards; • the service provision must be based on best value principles; • wherever possible cost savings are to be made during the contract term; • to maximise the use of fresh food produce and minimise the use of convenience food products; • meet the cultural needs of all pupils and staff; • the successful supplier must fully understand and be able to deliver site specific requirements regarding the SEN schools; • provide an appetising range of food for the children to choose from; • the successful supplier must fully understand and implement safeguarding principles whilst carrying out the service provision. Specific objectives from each school will be included within the tender specification to ensure their individual needs are fully understood and catered for. The contract term will be for an initial period of 3 years and will commence in April 2020. A further 2-year extension will be considered by the clients depending service deliverability of the successful supplier during the initial term. The basis of the contract will be fixed price during the contract term and if any improvements to financial surpluses are generated then the supplier 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: this contract will be awarded as a single lot.