School catering services

Description

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for The Jo Richardson Community School (JRCS). JRCS is a maintained secondary comprehensive school in Barking and Dagenham which opened in 2002. In September 2005, the school moved from temporary accommodation to its permanent home, a PFI building on the Castle Green site. 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 1452 students on roll 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 school roll will increase by 60 students in the academic year 2018/19 and by another 60 students in the academic year 2019/20. In September 2019 we predict the school roll will be in excess of 1,700 students including the 6th Form. The Client would wish the successful Supplier to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is for 3 years in duration from 1.8.2018 to 31.7.2021 and will operate as a guaranteed performance contract, with the successful Supplier offering the Client a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with the Client for the duration of this contract. The academic year is based on a calendar of 195 days. Five days are to be used for staff professional development which means that the school will be open to receive students for the legal minimum of 190 days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all school catering services, which currently includes breakfast service, morning break, 2 lunch sittings, after school service, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School Meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption, with free meals at a margin and hospitality at net food cost. Whilst the Client prioritises value for money as a key objective of the competitive tender process, the governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price. The Client 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 Client expects the successful Supplier to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Every Child Matters. The Client 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 Client is very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Supplier. 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, any consideration regarding inward capital investment as part of the Supplier’s tender submission would be welcomed. The Client would wish for the Supplier to look at making this investment within the existing dining area. Please be advised that: 1) Contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis; 2) There are currently 13 staff employed to deliver the catering service; 3) There are 10 current catering staff in the LGPS; 4) The catering service is currently run by the Barking and Dagenham local authority.