Discovery Educational Trust - Catering Tender

Discovery Educational Trust is a Multi Academy Trust, based in South Essex and currently comprising five schools – Chase High School in Southend, Hogarth Primary School, Kelvedon Hatch Community Primary School, Larchwood Primary School and St. Martin’s School, all in Brentwood.

We aim for each of our schools to become the school of choice within the community, offering a broad and exciting range of extracurricular activities to enhance the opportunities within their formal curriculum. More information with regards to the Trust can be found here: www.discoveryeducationaltrust.co.uk ↗

The successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services to all five schools currently within the Discovery Educational Trust.

The contract term being tendered is for three years, 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2028. There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31st August 2030.

The contract offers an excellent opportunity to review and propose enhancements to the current catering services at the Schools. This includes but is not limited to; breakfast, morning break, lunchtime and after school services, over the academic year of 190 days.

The schools are keen to secure a high quality catering service including fresh locally sourced ingredients prepared on site, with a menu design that is flexible to suit the requirements of the schools’ specific students. The schools are proud of their ‘family ethos’ and expects both a tightly managed service and a management style delivered by the successful contractor that supports, encourages and develops the catering staff.

The schools are not obliged to accept the lowest price submitted for this tender, rather they are keen to secure ‘best value’ from this contract and to deliver ‘best value’ to their students. Innovative and creative ideas as to how the services can be developed and value added, will be welcomed. The schools seeks a contractor that is keen to work in partnership and who will deliver to its highest abilities, at all times

The annual value of the current contract is £1,251,514 (the total sales per annum over the last annual period, for all schools added together)

Therefore the value of this contract is £6,257,570 (total annual costs as above x 5 as this contract is for a maximum of 5 years)

The contract shall be a fixed price contract with invoices raised monthly to the school.

Additional requirements and information:

•The School has a minimum requirement for a contractor’s employers' liability and public liability insurance of £5 million

•The minimum annual turnover that your company must have achieved to be considered for this opportunity is £1 million

•It is anticipated that some employees may be members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and therefore the successful contractor in that instance would be expected to gain Admitted Body Status (ABS) in order to continue contributing to the scheme.

•The winning bidder is required to pay the tender fee directly to RIVA Partnership, upon contract award

•This is a growing Trust. During the tenure of this catering contract - any further schools that join this Trust may join this catering contract, at the discretion of the client.