The Litmus Partnership: Royal National College for the Blind ~ Catering Tender

UK-Hereford: School catering services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             Royal National College for the Blind
             Venns Ln, Esh Plaza, Sir Bobby Robson Wa, Hereford, HR1 1DT, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 1276673880, Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
             Main Address: https://www.rnc.ac.uk/
             NUTS Code: UKG1
      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/respond/U7PPC4H77N
      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 ~ 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 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.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 1,020,000       
      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:
      UKG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
      
      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.
The College is proud of its history of over 140 years and the pioneering work it continues to do, including sports, lobbying, work based learning and independent living skills. Partnerships with key organisations, businesses and individuals enables the student body to participate in a range of activities from Duke of Edinburgh Awards to national elite sports events – amazing experiences that students feel really add to and change their lives. 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 Aug 2025 until 31 July 2028, with the option to extend the contract term for a further term of up to two, one 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 100 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.

Please see 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: 1,020,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Start: 01/08/2025 / End: 31/07/2030       
      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: A 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: 31/01/2025 Time: 12:00
      IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates: 03/03/2025       
      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 Yes       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted Yes       
   Electronic payment will be used Yes       
   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./U7PPC4H77N

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/U7PPC4H77N
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             Royal National College for the Blind
       Venns Ln, Esh Plaza, Sir Bobby Robson Wa, Hereford, HR1 1DT, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1276673880, Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
   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: 16/12/2024

Annex A