Catering and Corporate Hospitality Services

Ulster University has appointed a Contractor that will enable the University to deliver the best possible student, staff and visitor experience of Catering and Corporate Hospitality Services across our campuses and who has the experience, creativity and ability to deliver the type of service requirements outlined below to the highest standards.

The Contractor will be required to deliver a high quality, innovative and competitively priced catering offer across three key areas as follows:

1. Catering Services including:

• Retail catering / cafes / coffee shops (to include all outlets and UUSU catering spaces

where food and drinks are paid for at the point of sale); and

• Ulster University Students' Union (UUSU) bars, events and entertainment.

2. Vending Services.
3. Corporate Hospitality Services, including

• Corporate hospitality; and
• Conference and event catering (including mobile kiosks / street food vans to support events as required).

The Contractor will deliver the Services across Belfast, Coleraine and Magee campuses (and vending and limited occasional ad hoc event catering from September 2022 also at Jordanstown campus).

The Contractor will deliver the Services to ensure value for money for customers, provide a commercial return for the Contractor and allow for a financial return to the University.

It is anticipated that the University will be relocating the majority of the existing Jordanstown student and staff population to the new enhanced Belfast campus from January – August 2022 and therefore on-going catering provision at Jordanstown campus shall be reduced from May 2022 onwards, although vending and limited ad hoc corporate event catering will be required for the 2021-2022 academic year in Semesters Two and Three. The University and the successful Contractor will enter into an agency agreement. Under this, the successful Contractor shall be appointed as an agent by the University to provide the Services for and on behalf of the University. The Contractor will purchase foodstuffs and other consumables as principal and provide the services in its capacity as an agent.

Update regarding preparations for the return to all campuses and phased onboarding to new Belfast campus.

In summary:

• The University will adhere to all guidance provided in relation to the NI Executive Roadmap to Recovery.
• The University anticipates that during the 2021-2022 academic year , the majority of teaching that was due to take place in Blocks BC and BD on the Belfast campus will begin on our Jordanstown campus .
• By the beginning of Semester One of the 2022-2023 academic year it is anticipated that all lectures, tutorials and all other teaching that was scheduled to transfer to the Belfast campus in September 2021 shall be transferred to our Belfast campus.

The consequence is there will be a requirement for additional Catering services at the Jordanstown campus for the 2021-2022 academic year. There will also be limited requirement for Catering Services on the Belfast campus in the 2021-2022 academic year.

This briefing will have an impact on the delivery of Catering and Corporate Hospitality Services for this Contract. If the appointed Contractor wishes to provide Catering and Corporate Hospitality Services at Jordanstown campus for the 2021-2022 academic year, the University will work with the appointed Contractor to update the mobilisation plan to allow service provision at Jordanstown for the 2021-2022 academic year and a smooth transition to the Enhanced Belfast Campus (EBC) during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Any costs of providing services at Jordanstown that are not included as Direct Costs of Catering will be met by the University. Any transition costs from relocating services from Jordanstown campus to Belfast campus (EBC) will be met by the University.

Further details were provided in the published tender clarifications and procurement documents. Additional information: The estimated total value stated above in Section II.1.7 includes the initial 7 year contract period and the option to extend the contract for any periods up to and including 60 months.