The Thinking Schools Academy Trust - Tender for Catering Services

Description

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for The Thinking Schools Academy Trust at the following schools: - All Faiths Children's Academy, - Cedar Children's Academy, - Goodwin Academy, - Holcome Grammar School, - Isambard Brunel Junior School, - Meon Infant School, - Meon Junior School, - Moorings Way Infant School, - New Horizons Children's Academy, - Newbridge Junior School, - Penhale Infant School, - The Gordon Children's Academy, - The Portsmouth Academy, - The Rochester Grammar School, - The Victory Academy. The Thinking Schools Academy Trust, ranked the best multi-academy trust (MAT) in the country for the performance of its secondary schools by the DfE, is made up of a family of schools that work together to "improve the life chances" of all our children and young people. 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, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Trust would wish the successful Supplier to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1.9.2019 to 31.8.2022 and will operate as a guaranteed performance contract, with the successful Supplier offering the Trust schools a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with the schools 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 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 morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School Meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. Whilst the Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust 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. Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis. (Further information is provided in the SQ Documentation.) Additional information: Interest in the selection process should be expressed via email only to pqq@litmuspartnership.co.uk clearly stating within this email which contract / notice you are referring to. Please also provide, as a minimum, a contact name, full company postal address and telephone number. The Selection Questionnaire and associated documents can be obtained at: http://www.litmuspartnership.co.uk/project/the_thinking_schools_academy_trust__catering_services The closing date for receipt of the Selection Questionnaire is 2.11.2018 (12:00). Suppliers are required to ensure that documents are obtained and returned to The Litmus Partnership Limited, by email to pqq@litmuspartnership.co.uk by the above closing date and time. Documents in respect of economic / financial standing (where indicated in the Selection Questionnaire) shall be returned to The Litmus Partnership Limited, by email to pqq@litmuspartnership.co.uk by the above closing date and time. It will be the Supplier's responsibility to obtain any necessary documents in order to submit a response by the closing date and time. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award any or part of the contract which is the subject of this Contract Notice and reserves the right to terminate the procurement process at any time. The contracting authority will not be liable for any costs incurred by those expressing an interest in tendering for this contract opportunity. The contracting authority will consider variant bids, evaluating them (so far as the variant or the evaluation of the variant is in the opinion of the contracting authority practicable) on the same basis as a conforming bid, but shall not be obliged to accept any such bid in preference to a conforming bid even if the variant bid scores more highly. No variant will be considered unless the bidder simultaneously submits a conforming bid.