The Litmus Partnership: St Mary's Catholic School ~ Catering Tender

UK-Hertfordshire: School catering services.

Section I: Contracting Authority

   I.1) Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
       St Mary's Catholic School
       Windhill, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 2NQ, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1276673880, Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
       Main Address: https://www.stmarys.net/
       NUTS Code: UKH23

   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: St Mary's Catholic School ~ 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: The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for St Mary’s Catholic School.

      II.1.6) Information about lots
         This contract is divided into lots: No
            
      II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
          Value: 804,810
                  
         Currency:GBP            

   II.2) Description

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

      II.2.3) Place of performance
      Nuts code:
      UKH23 - Hertfordshire
   
      Main site or place of performance:
      Hertfordshire
             

      II.2.4) Description of the procurement: St. Mary’s Catholic School in Bishop’s Stortford is an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ secondary school of approaching 1,150 students (Sept 2021) and 150 staff. Over the last 6 years the school has gone from strength to strength in exam results (year on year setting new records), securing a fantastically strong financial position, pupil expansion and growth (rolling forward from 5FE to 6FE and now 7FE), securing over £7m in Capital Bids, and achieving Outstanding in every category of its most recent inspection (2018). However, what St. Mary’s is most proud of is the safe, happy and friendly feel that every visitor always remarks upon: St. Mary’s Catholic School are proud of the holistic focus of the school in order to develop students academically, spiritually, emotionally and physically. There is a true sense of community, where every student and member of staff can feel valued and plays their part.

The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing school facilities for pupils, staff and guests. The school is co-ed with year groups 7 – 11, plus a 6th form for years 12 and 13. There will be 1,150 students on roll and 150 teaching and support staff for September 2021. The school expects a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The School would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The winning contractor will also enjoy the benefit of a brand new fully refurbished dining room, ready to open in September 2021.

The contract being tendered is for two years in duration 1st September 2021 to 31st August 2023 with the option to extend for up to a further 3 years at the discretion of the client.

St. Mary’s is in the final stages of becoming a Multi Academy Trust with 7 other schools. As a 8 school Trust, there is a possibility that all 8 schools may look to tender their catering services under one Trust wide contract for 1st September 2023 (yet to be confirmed)

This contract will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the School a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with the School for the duration of this contract.
The School 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 catering services within the School, which currently includes morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals are to be charged based on consumption and at net food cost and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost.

Whilst the School 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 value of the current contract is determined by sales: -
ANNUAL SALES FROM April 19 – March 2020
Pupil meals income£158,739 approximately
Adult meals income£2,223 approximately
Total sales £160,962 approximately

The figures above show the last full annual period not affected by COVID19 restrictions.

Therefore the value of the term of the contract is approximately £804,810 (total annual sales as above x 5, reflecting the maximum 5-year contract term).

However, the catering facility is not at present operating at full efficiency, and that is part of the reason for tender. It should be expected that an efficient operation would bring this contract well in excess of £1million.

Please see the SQ documents for more details.

      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: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/8NZGZ2ZVZ4


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: 2021/S 000-006013
      
   

   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: 006013    
   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: 29/06/2021

      V.2.2) Information about tenders
         Number of tenders received: 5
         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: 5

      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 Limited, 06561073
             Teme House, Whittington Road, Whittington, WR5 2RA, 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: Not Provided          
         Total value of the contract/lot: 1,340,000
         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=614948452

   VI.4) Procedures for review

      VI.4.1) Review body
          St Mary's Catholic School
          Windhill, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 2NQ, 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: 29/07/2021