School catering services

Description

Beaumont School is an 11-18 mixed, community school with Academy status located on the east side of St Albans in Hertfordshire with specialisms in languages, mathematics and computing. The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in March 2014. The school currently employs 150 teaching and support staff and has 1325 students on roll, which includes 371 students in the Sixth Form. As the school yearly intake increased to 7 Form Entry from September 2018, student numbers will continue to increase each year by approximately 30 students for the next few years. Verulam School is an 11-18 boys’ only school which takes girls in the Sixth Form with Academy status. The school was rated Good by Ofsted in October 2018. The school currently employs 125 teaching and support staff and has 1095 students on roll (expected to rise to 1142 next year), which includes 225 students in the Sixth Form (expected to rise to 252 next year). The tender project is seeking to appoint a supplier/suppliers whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Clients will wish the successful supplier/s to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The existing kitchen and servery facilities at Verulam School need updating and the school has applied for CIF funding for this project. The outcome of the CIF bid will be known in April 2019. The successful catering contractor will be required to contribute to an investment in the new facilities. The contract/s being tendered is for 3 years in duration from 1.8.2019 to 31.7.2022; please note this will be on a 3 + 2 years basis. Verulam School is one of 3 schools within the AAT Trust where there may be the opportunity of all 3 schools in the Trust tendering their catering contracts together in 2021. This is a growing Trust where there are very likely to be further schools under the AAT by this time. The contract will operate as a guaranteed performance contract, with the successful supplier/s offering the clients a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. There is also a requirement to offer a profit share agreement for any financial performance betterment to budget. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with the clients for the duration of this contract. The academic year is based on a calendar of 195 days. A number of days are to be used for staff professional development which means that the school will be open to receive students for a minimum of 189 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 will be charged at a margin based on consumption and hospitality will be charged at net food cost. Whilst the clients prioritise value for money as a key objective of the competitive tender process, the governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price. The clients expect the successful supplier/s 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 clients expect the successful tenderer/s to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement their values. 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, consideration regarding inward capital investment as part of the supplier’s tender submission would be required. Beaumont School currently has 4 catering outlets, but given its increasing roll it is likely that there will be a need for further development of catering facilities. At Verulam School there is currently one catering outlet plus vending in the 6th form. There is a requirement for an improved 6th form offer to include hot and cold food and drinks, where currently the offer for the 6th formers is vending only. The successful contractor will be expected to consider this requirement as part of their tender bid. Please be advised that there are currently 10 staff employed to deliver the catering service at Beaumont School, where Chartwells are the incumbent contractor. There are currently 4 staff employed at Verulam School, where the service is run in house at present. There are no current catering staff in the LGPS at Beaumont School; however, there are 3 members of staff in the LGPS at Verulam School. Further information is provided in the tender documents. The tender project is seeking to appoint a supplier/suppliers whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The clients will wish the successful Supplier/s to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The existing kitchen and servery facilities at Verulam School need updating and the school has applied for CIF funding for this project. The outcome of the CIF bid will be known in April 2019. The successful catering contractor will be required to contribute to an investment in the new facilities. The contract/s being tendered is for 3 years in duration from 1.8.2019 to 31.7.2022; please note this will be on a 3 + 2 years basis. Verulam School is one of 3 schools within the AAT Trust where there may be the opportunity of all 3 schools in the Trust tendering their catering contracts together in 2021. This is a growing Trust where there are very likely to be further schools under the AAT by this time. The contract will operate as a guaranteed performance contract, with the successful supplier/s offering the clients a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. There is also a requirement to offer a profit share agreement for any financial performance betterment to budget. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with the clients for the duration of this contract. The academic year is based on a calendar of 195 days. A number of days are to be used for staff professional development which means that the school will be open to receive students for a minimum of 189 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 will be charged at a margin based on consumption and hospitality will be charged at net food cost. Whilst the clients prioritise value for money as a key objective of the competitive tender process, the governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price. The clients expect the successful supplier/s 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 clients expect the successful tenderer/s to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement their values. 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, consideration regarding inward capital investment as part of the supplier’s tender submission would be required. Beaumont School currently has 4 catering outlets, but given its increasing roll it is likely that there will be a need for further development of catering facilities. At Verulam School there is currently one catering outlet plus vending in the 6th form. There is a requirement for an improved 6th form offer to include hot and cold food and drinks, where currently the offer for the 6th formers is vending only. The successful contractor will be expected to consider this requirement as part of their tender bid. Please be advised that there are currently 10 staff employed to deliver the catering service at Beaumont School, where Chartwells are the incumbent contractor. There are currently 4 staff employed at Verulam School, where the service is run in house at present. There are no current catering staff in the LGPS at Beaumont School; however, there are 3 members of staff in the LGPS at Verulam School. Further information is provided in the Tender Documents.