Kingfisher Schools Trust ~ Cleaning Tender

The successful Supplier will be required to provide cleaning services for Kingfisher Schools Trust.

This procurement is being conducted under a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Following the initial selection stage, the Contracting Authority intends to invite up to five suppliers to participate in the tender stage. Selection will be based on the criteria set out in the PSQ/tender documents and will be applied in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. Suppliers must meet the minimum conditions of participation in order to progress to the tender stage.

Contract value is likely to be around £600,000 per annum

Kingfisher is a new trust providing direction, support and challenge to six schools in Suffolk and Norfolk. They have a mission to provide exceptional education for our pupils. They seek to have a deep understanding of our local communities but to have ambitions for young people equal to those of the very best schools and academy trusts anywhere in England.

In scope for this project are 6 of the Trust’s schools;

•Alde Valley Academy – Secondary – currently contracted out – Approx 7298sqm

•Northgate Primary School – Primary – currently in-house cleaning – Approx 1572sqm

•Roman Hill Primary School – Primary – currently in-house cleaning – Approx 2800sqm

•Snape Primary School – Primary currently contracted out – Approx 309sqm

•Southtown Primary School – currently contracted out – Approx 834sqm

•Stowmarket High School – currently contracted out – Approx 7158sqm

As can be seen from the above schools in scope, there is currently a mixed economy of contracted and in-house services. There is one further school in the trust that will remain in-house for the time being, but may well come into scope in the contract term if the partnership develops as hoped.

The school project stakeholder’s aims for this process are as follows:

•Consistency of cleanliness across the schools

•Quality of local and off-site supervision (auditing/ training/ communication/ recruitment)

•Improving communication between the service provider and school stakeholders and between the service provider and the trust

•Upgrade of machinery and technology and review of chemicals used

•Disciplined reporting and adherence to the meeting cycle to assure that reactive and proactive works are prioritised and completed

•Improved and social value and environmental activity and reporting

•Development true sense of partnership with the successful service provider

•To improve the flexibility and mobility of employees to proactively and reactively support absence across the estate

The basis and rationale that the Client requires the successful Supplier to operate to at all times is being able to provide a school cleaning service that is fit for purpose and that the Supplier is proactive in the management of the contract, thus ensuring that all specifications are achieved and that the frequency of cleans is as detailed within the tender specification.

The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from August 2026 until end July 2029 with the option to extend upon agreement with the Client, for a further two-year period (awarded in singular years). The contract will be fixed price in nature, with the Supplier invoicing the Client for one-twelfth of the annual cost on a monthly basis, however the successful supplier will be expected to return any hours not worked to the trust.

Please see PSQ Document for more information.