The Litmus Partnership: The Weald Community School and 6th Form ~ Catering Tender

UK-Billingshurst: School catering services.

Section I: Contracting Authority

   I.1) Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
       The Weald Community School and 6th Form
       Station Road, Billingshurst, RH14 9RY, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1276673880, Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
       Main Address: https://www.theweald.org.uk/
       NUTS Code: UKJ2

   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: The Weald Community School and 6th Form ~ 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 Weald Community School is a vibrant Local Authority maintained Secondary School based in Billingshurst in West Sussex, which was founded in 1956. We are proud to be a beacon of our community and offer ample opportunities for all our students throughout their school career from volunteering to enrichment trips and projects. Last Summer we achieved our best ever GCSE and A level results that we are extremely proud of, opportunity and community is what we are all about and it runs through everything we do, both academically, and pastorally to ensure our young people are prepared for adulthood and their journey beyond 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: 3,365,791
                  
         Currency:GBP            

   II.2) Description

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

      II.2.3) Place of performance
      Nuts code:
      UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
   
      Main site or place of performance:
      Surrey, East and West Sussex
             

      II.2.4) Description of the procurement: The Weald Community School and 6th Form Scope of opportunity statement - Catering Provision

The Weald Community School is a vibrant Local Authority maintained Secondary School based in Billingshurst in West Sussex, which was founded in 1956. We are proud to be a beacon of our community and offer ample opportunities for all our students throughout their school career from volunteering to enrichment trips and projects. Last Summer we achieved our best ever GCSE and A level results that we are extremely proud of, opportunity and community is what we are all about and it runs through everything we do, both academically, and pastorally to ensure our young people are prepared for adulthood and their journey beyond school
The tender project is seeking to appoint an established Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 1484 lower school students and 305 sixth form students on roll. Also to provide a catering service for the 250 teaching and support staff onsite day to day, with 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 contract being tendered is for three years in duration from September 2025 to August 2028 and 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 Weald Community 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 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 as best value where student meals are concerned incorporates more than just price.


The value of the current contract is: -
FY 22/23 FY 23/24FY 24/25
Cash sales (includes hospitality)£429,979£474,646£455,000 (projected)
Free School Meals £43,768£57,699£61,623 (projected)
Total£473,747£532,345£516,623
The Weald School 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. The School expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Opportunity and Community for every student.
The School believes that success should be celebrated and that pupils should enjoy their time at school; if lessons are stimulating and challenging then students will love learning. Much time therefore, is spent reviewing and planning schemes of work to ensure that they are differentiated to meet the needs of all students. As a result, the Weald is very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Contractor in these areas.

See 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: 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: 2025/S 000-001818
      
   

   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: 13/06/2025

      V.2.2) Information about tenders
         Number of tenders received: 6
         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)
             abm catering limited, 04168334
             Eagle Court, Warwick, CV34 4AF, United Kingdom
             Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
             NUTS Code: UKG13
            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: 2,583,115          
         Total value of the contract/lot: 3,365,791
         Currency: GBP

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

   VI.3) Additional information: Please note, this is a contract award notice, this contract has already been awarded.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=965372792
   VI.4) Procedures for review

      VI.4.1) Review body
          The Weald Community School and 6th Form
          Station Road, Billingshurst, RH14 9RY, 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: 11/07/2025