Loreto College ~ Catering Tender

Loreto College is an 11-18 comprehensive academy in St Albans, which is tendering the catering services for contract commencement 11th February 2023. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Supplier whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the students and teaching and support staff. A focus is required on both exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements and strong management of the contract, developing a true partnership relationship with Loreto College. The Client would wish the successful Supplier to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is from 11th February 2023 to 31st July 2026 with the option to extend for a maximum of a further 2 years at the discretion of the client. This contract will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the School a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with The Academy for the duration of this contract. The School year is based on a calendar of 195 days. Five days are to be used for staff professional development which means that School will be open to receive students for the legal minimum of 190 days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the School, which currently includes morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals are to be charged based on consumption with a margin attached and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. Whilst the School prioritises value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, the Governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price. The total annual sales pre pandemic were circa £250k per annum and therefore the value of the contract is £1,364,583 (total annual sales as above x 5 for the 5years and 5.5-month maximum year contract term). Loreto College 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 School expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Every Child Matters. The School 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. As a school 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 improvements here as part of the Contractor’s tender submission would be welcomed.

• Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 years and 5.5 months + 2 years basis.
• Please be advised that there are currently 8 employed to deliver the catering service
• Please be advised that there are not current catering staff in the Local government pension scheme (LGPS)
• Please be advised that the catering service is currently contracted to Aspens Services
• Please be advised that the School has a minimum requirement for a contractor’s employers liability/ public liability and professional indemnity insurance of £10 million
• The minimum annual turnover that your company must have achieved to be considered for this opportunity is £1 million. Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: litmustms.co.uk/respond/C6N9639976 ↗