Bushey St James Trust ~ Catering Services Tender

The Bushey St James Trust is an exciting multi academy trust in Bushey, Hertfordshire made up of three academy schools, Bushey Meads Secondary School, Little Reddings Primary School and Hartsbourne Primary School.

In February 2012 Bushey Meads Secondary School and Little Reddings Primary School formed the Multi Academy Trust and the purpose behind the joint application was to develop links between primary and secondary phase education. The MAT expanded to three schools with Hartsbourne Primary School joining in December 2017. The long-term vision of the Trust is to expand further to included other local schools.

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 1262 students and 150 teaching and support staff at Bushey Meads School, the 301 students and 50 staff at Little Reddings Primary School and the 202 students and 25 staff at Hartsbourne Primary School 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 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2025 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 Bushey St James Trust 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. Please refer to (Appendix A) for the value of the current contracts.

Bushey St James 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. The School expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Every Child Matters.

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 School are very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Contractor.

As a school who are continually seeking ways to improve and develop the ethos and environment for students and staff, to give them the facilities they deserve and need to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, any consideration regarding inward capital investment as part of the Contractor’s tender submission would be welcomed. The School would wish for the Contractor to look at making this investment within the existing dining area.

Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis.

Please see SQ Document for further details.