The Litmus Partnership: Royal National College for the Blind

UK-Hereford: School catering services.

Section I: Contracting Authority

   I.1) Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
       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.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: 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.1.6) Information about lots
         This contract is divided into lots: No
            
      II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
          Value: 720,500
                  
         Currency:GBP            

   II.2) Description

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

      II.2.3) Place of performance
      Nuts code:
      UKG11 - Herefordshire, County of
   
      Main site or place of performance:
      Herefordshire, County of
             

      II.2.4) Description of the 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:
       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: Not Provided


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: 2020/S 202-492101
      
   

   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: 492101    
   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: 27/04/2021

      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: 4

      V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

      The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
         
         Contractor (No.1)
             BaxterStorey, 01962583
             Earley West, 300 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, RG6 1PT, United Kingdom
             NUTS Code: UKJ11
            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: Not Provided          
         Total value of the contract/lot: 720,595
         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.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=595907223

   VI.4) Procedures for review

      VI.4.1) Review body
          Royal National College for the Blind
          College Road, Hereford, HR1 1EB, United Kingdom

      VI.4.3) 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: 21/05/2021