The Litmus Partnership: Aurora Academies Trust ~ Catering Tender

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