UK-Hereford: School catering services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Royal National College for the Blind
College Road, Hereford, HR1 1EB, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 1276673880, Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Main Address: https://www.rnib.org.uk/
NUTS Code: UKG11
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.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://litmustms.co.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Hereford:-School-catering-services./E2BA4PTFXZ
Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: Royal National College for the Blind
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: The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) is honoured to be the UK’s leading specialist residential College of further education for people with a visual impairment. Since 1872, RNC have been building on their expertise and successes, which enable the College to offer a variety of products and services to a diverse audience. It’s not all about education for the 80 or so learners who come through the doors each year – the College also offer specialist training and support to businesses and other education providers and specialist professionals working with visually impaired people.

The successful tenderer will be required to provide all catering services at Royal National College for the Blind, and to develop and significantly grow the food and beverage provision at the Pod therefore increasing its profitability.
II.1.5) Estimated total value:
Value excluding VAT: 720,500
Currency: GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots:
This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
Not Provided
II.2.3) Place of performance:
UKG11 Herefordshire, County of

II.2.4) Description of procurement: The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) is honoured to be the UK’s leading specialist residential College of further education for people with a visual impairment. Since 1872, RNC have been building on their expertise and successes, which enable the College to offer a variety of products and services to a diverse audience. It’s not all about education for the 80 or so learners who come through the doors each year – the College also offer specialist training and support to businesses and other education providers and specialist professionals working with visually impaired people.

From philanthropic beginnings in London to Shropshire, via a brief stay in Kent as World War II broke, to finally settling in Hereford, RNC has remained a beacon for people with a variety of visual impairments to increase their independence, build confidence and to learn academically, vocationally and socially.

The Royal National College for the Blind is a College with a difference and their aim is simple: to empower their Students with the skills, confidence and independence they need to realise their potential and take the next step towards their future.
RNC is big enough to provide all the opportunities, resources and support Students are looking for, but small enough to offer an individual and special learning experience.

The Royal National College for the Blind is the UK’s leading specialist residential College for people aged 16+ who are blind or visually impaired. With over 140 years’ experience, the College stands firm in its original aim to enable each and every student to achieve their potential and engage fully in their community.

RNC Vision People with visual impairment have true equality.

RNC Mission Education, employment and empowerment for people with a visual impairment.

Since 2007 the College has owned and operated a sports centre and gym that is open seven days a week to members of the public. As part of this facility there is a Pod area serving food and beverages to the users of the centre, staff and students, and visitors to the College.

The College also run a number of conferences and events during the year for which the successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services.
The successful tenderer will therefore be required to provide all catering services at Royal National College for the Blind, and to develop and significantly grow the food and beverage provision at the Pod therefore increasing its profitability.

The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1 June 2021 until 31 May 2024, with the option to extend the contract term for a further term of up to two years and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the College a guaranteed cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with Royal National College for the Blind for the duration of this contract.

The College year is based on a calendar of 36 weeks for students, however the sports centre and gym are open to the public 52 weeks. The catering service for students can be reduced in non-term time, however a service will be required for any conferences and events, and a full service will still be required for catering to the public from the Coffee Pod.

There are up to 80 students who are residential students and who reside within the College for five or seven days per week, over 36 weeks per annum.
These students will receive, as part of their daily meal entitlement, the following provision:

• Lunch

• Evening Meal

In addition, student self-catering Breakfast Provisions are sent to the halls, which are to be supplied by the successful contractor.

Approximately 20 students receive a self-catering allowance for an evening meal with approximately half of them having an additional allowance for two lunchtime meals at a weekend.

Please download the SQ document for more information.
II.2.5) Award criteria:
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value:
Value excluding VAT: 720,500
Currency: GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
Start: 01/06/2021 / End: 31/05/2026
This contract is subject to renewal: No
Description of renewals: Not provided
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited:
Envisaged minimum number: 5
/ Maximum number: 10
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: Minimum of 5 suppliers and a maximum of 10 suppliers will be taken forward to the tender stage of the process. Where less than 5 suppliers meet the minimum standards, only those that meet the minimum standards will be taken through to the tender stage. Where more than 5 suppliers meet the minimum standard, those suppliers with the highest scores will proceed to the tender stage.
II.2.10) Information about variants:
Variants will be accepted: Yes
II.2.11) Information about options:
Options: No
Description of options: Not provided
II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: 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
Identification of the project: Not provided
II.2.14) Additional information: Not provided


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
Not Provided
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Not Provided
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :
Not Provided
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Not Provided
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :
Not Provided
III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)
The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No
The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No

III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:
Not Provided
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Not Provided
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: No

Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description RESTRICTED
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
The procurement involves the setting up of a dynamic purchasing system - NO
In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided


IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
An electronic auction will be used: No
Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
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 OJ S: Not provided
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date: 11/12/2020 Time: 12:00
IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates: 18/01/2021
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: Not Provided


Section VI: Complementary Information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not provided
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used No
Electronic invoicing will be accepted No
Electronic payment will be used No
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.
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.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://litmustms.co.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Hereford:-School-catering-services./E2BA4PTFXZ

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/E2BA4PTFXZ
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body:
Royal National College for the Blind
College Road, Hereford, HR1 1EB, United Kingdom
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
Not Provided
VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 12/10/2020

Annex A