UK-East Sussex: School catering services.

Section I: Contracting Authority

I.1) Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
Aurora Academies Trust
c/o Glenleigh Park Primary Academy, Gunter's Lane, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, TN39 4ED, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 1276673880, Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Main Address: https://www.auroraacademies.org/
NUTS Code: UKJ22

I.2) Joint procurement:
The contract involves joint procurement: No
In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not Provided
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No

I.4)Type of the contracting authority:
Body governed by public law

I.5) Main activity:
Education

Section II: Object Of The Contract

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.1.1) Title: Aurora Academies Trust ~ Catering Tender
Reference number: Not Provided

II.1.2) Main CPV code:
55524000 - School catering services.


II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES

II.1.4) Short description: Aurora Academies Trust was established in 2012 and currently operates seven schools across East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, West Sussex and Surrey providing education to around 3,000 pupils. Aurora is determined to provide the best possible standard of education to pupils in our nursery, primary and secondary academies across the south-east of England. We are determined that every child in our academies benefits from a challenging and knowledge rich curriculum that is expertly taught so that regardless of starting points, pupils are well equipped to be successful at the next stage of their education or transition to employment. Please see the SQ document for more information.

II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No

II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value: 3,072,785

Currency:GBP

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s):
Not Provided

II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code:
UKJ22 - East Sussex CC

Main site or place of performance:
East Sussex CC


II.2.4) Description of the procurement: Aurora Academies Trust was established in 2012 and currently operates seven schools across East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, West Sussex and Surrey providing education to around 3,000 pupils. Aurora is determined to provide the best possible standard of education to pupils in our nursery, primary and secondary academies across the south-east of England. We are determined that every child in our academies benefits from a challenging and knowledge rich curriculum that is expertly taught so that regardless of starting points, pupils are well equipped to be successful at the next stage of their education or transition to employment. Aurora schools are unique and serve their own communities. Thus, our schools keep their own name, choose their own uniform and logo and ensure that they serve the needs of the pupils and families who attend them. However, because of the very collaborative manner in which our schools work together, best practice has emerged and so there are things that all of our schools do collectively. This is particularly true in relation to our reading curriculum and the work we have recently completed on the curriculum for foundation subjects. Our schools promote equality and diversity and place great emphasis on teaching respect and tolerance of others’ cultures and beliefs. The six primary schools also all have an onsite nursery provision for around 200 pupils from ages 2-4, included in the numbers above. *Westvale Park opened in September 2020 and will grow by 60 pupils each year, to 450 pupils by Sep 2026. Trust would look to incorporate any new schools joining within the contract period into this contract. The Trust is expecting to grow within the contract period and any new schools would be incorporated in the tender, depending on existing catering contracts. Gatwick School is an All through primary school, with capacity for 420 primary children (age 4-11) and 600 secondary pupils (11 – 16) The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 3,000 pupils on roll and 430 teaching and support staff, 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 contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly to reflect any changes to cost of living, ensuring the menu offer is varied and food is good quality. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2026 and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the Trust a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with Aurora Academies Trust for the duration of this contract. The School year is based on a calendar of 195 days. Five days are used for Trust wide staff professional development and each school has up to a further five INSET days which means that School will be open to receive students for a minimum of 185 days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the Trust, which currently includes morning break, lunch, 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 Trust Board is not obliged to accept the lowest price and the tender will consider quality as part of the scoring process. Aurora Academies Trust expects the successful contractor 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. Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis.

II.2.5) Award criteria:
Not Provided

II.2.11) Information about options
Options: No


II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


II.2.14) Additional information: Please note, this is a Contract Award Notice. This contract has already been awarded.


Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

IV.1.1)Type of procedure: Restricted


IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement: No
A dynamic purchasing system was set up: No

IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction
An electronic auction has been used: No

IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

IV.2) Administrative information

IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJEU: 2023/S 000-017131



IV.2.9) Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice
The contracting authority will not award any further contracts based on the above prior information notice: No

Section V: Award of contract

Award Of Contract (No.1)

Contract No: Not Provided
Lot Number: Not Provided
Title: Not Provided

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes


V.2) Award of contract

V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract: 22/11/2023

V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
Number of tenders received from SMEs: Not Provided
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: Not Provided
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: Not Provided
Number of tenders received by electronic means: Not Provided

V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

Contractor (No.1)
Aspens Services Ltd, 06561073
Ground Floor, Teme House, Whittington Hall, Whittington Road, Whittington, WR5 2RY, United Kingdom
NUTS Code: UKG12
The contractor is an SME: No

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: 3,368,450
Total value of the contract/lot: 3,072,785
Currency: GBP

V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted: No

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3) Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement. 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.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=843314808

VI.4) Procedures for review

VI.4.1) Review body
Aurora Academies Trust
East Sussex, TN39 4ED, United Kingdom

VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures: Not Provided

VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Not Provided

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice: 16/02/2024