East Midlands Academy Trust ~ Catering Tender

The Trust is an established Multi Academy Trust (MAT) which currently includes the following academies where the successful contractor will be required to deliver a service and meet the requirements of the specification from the contract commencement. The schools which currently form the Trust are: Northampton International Academy Castle Academy Hardingstone Academy Stimpson Avenue Academy Prince William School Orchard Academy Shepherdswell Academy Seven schools are part of this tender and are split into two hubs (please see above) we are seeking tender submissions on a hub-by-hub basis or for the whole contract (two hubs), however the East Midlands Academy Trust reserves the right to award the contract should it be deemed prudent in lots of one or two The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1 September 2023 until 31 August 2028, there will be the option to extend the contract for a further period of three years on a 1 + 1 + 1 basis on the same terms and conditions excluding the right to further extend beyond six years in duration. The contract being offered and will be guaranteed performance in nature. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of all catering services within the Trust. The high-quality service levels proposed, should maintain excellent standards throughout, resulting in a new food service offer with consistent high standards of food operations across all Schools. These new standards of operation should meet the needs of the pupils in both the Pre School, Primary and Secondary Schools moving forwards into this contract term, recognising that different food offers and menus will be required for each sector. It is our aim to enhance the use of local suppliers for all fresh foods which should include, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, eggs, meat and bakery products. The current range of foods needs to be expanded. Regular customer engagement will be required to ensure this is the case moving into the contract term. The contract will operate on guaranteed cost or surplus per year for each school with all universal free school meals, free school meals and hospitality being charged based on consumption and at net food cost. The approximate cost of the contract per annum is £500,000.00 plus VAT (please note that this was for 2020/2021 which wasn’t necessarily a representative year). The successful contractor will be expected to put forwards both innovation and their proposals for making this contract more environmentally sensitive and carbon neutral moving into this contract term both by way of contract delivery, and also within the successful contractor’s organisation, thus working to deliver the East Midlands Academy Trust’s environmental policies. Your approach to sustainability should mirror that of the East Midlands Academy Trust. The terms and conditions of employment and recognition offered to the catering operatives should be both progressive and forward thinking ensuring that the staffing establishment is complete at all times and staff turnover is kept to a minimum. The Trust is expected to grow in the number of schools during this contract period, and the provision of catering services within these schools when they have joined the Trust will fall under the scope of this contract. The successful contractor will be expected to provide this service within these additional schools using the same costing model, ratios etc. that they applied to their successful tender submission for The Trust at the point of tender submission. The duration of contract for these schools will not be increased and they will join the contract for the remaining contract period that exists at the point of entry into the Trust. Please see the SQ document for more information. Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/39CAERKF6Z