Holy Cross MAC - Catering Services Tender

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 teaching and support staff and students on roll, all of whom have a focus on the introduction of exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements. The schools would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the schools, which currently includes breakfast, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals, Universal Free School meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. The MAC 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 MAC expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Keeping Children Safe in Education. The MAC 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. Due to the recent establishment that capital depreciation constitutes an embedded finance lease, inward capital investment is not a requirement of this tender. Finance leases are strictly prohibited by the Academies Handbook and thus entering into such an agreement would mean that Schools are in breach of their funding agreements. It is appreciated that a level of investment may be identified as a requirement of your bid and therefore bidders are encouraged to provide details of such requirements by providing detailed information of the equipment necessary within their tender response, to include the equipment make, model and cost and also a justification of how this equipment will assist in fulfilling the proposal and potential of the service. As a MAC 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 MAC would wish for the Contractor to look at making this investment within the existing dining areas, with attention being given to the upgrade of the current cashless systems and introduction of new systems where none are currently installed, the upgrade of the counter layouts and furnishings and the implementation of a procedure that would assist in producing a reduction of current queuing times. See Selection Questionnaire for more details.