Orwell Multi Academy Trust ~ Catering Tender

Catering at Orwell Multi Academy Trust (OMAT) is generally regarded by stakeholders as being at even keel, with a settled workforce and safe systems of work being applied. The catering service does seem to be lacking in confidence and style and in consistency from school to school, which should be standard components, post Covid for a MAT with good facilities and relatively close locality. The reason for this accelerated process is the incumbent service provider’s desire to exit the contract a term early due to a reassessment of operating priorities. The Trust expects the successful Supplier to enable the continued development of catering through the provision of an innovative, healthy food service, with fresh, seasonal, with ideally some locally sourced ingredients being prepared on-site. The Trust expects the successful Supplier to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Every Child Matters. Every child matters link: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/s… ↗ The Trust believes that school meals should be accessible for all children and would love every child to have the value and benefit from a hot meal daily, and if not a hot meal then a nutritionally balanced and controlled cold offer from the ‘pick and mix’ menu. As a Trust who are continually seeking ways to improve and develop the ethos and environment for pupils 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 Supplier’s tender submission would be welcomed. The facilities are generally good with functioning and well maintained core equipment – some of the more obvious (and significant) equipment gaps are noted in the kitchen snapshot part of the data pack. The trust would also welcome bidders to create an as environmentally friendly provision as possible. The trust intends the contract to give as much cost certainty as possible, through potential guaranteeing maximum key cost lines, cost of labour, management fee and elements of sundry spend, however the trust would expect any profit share scheme proposed to be with each individual school as opposed to trust level, therefore rewarding local best practices. The core objectives of the trust for the catering service are as follows:

• To provide a food offer that fuels and inspires it’s pupils and staff with quality and consistency
• To find a service partner that proactively develops the menu and takes ownership of service development
• To develop the skills, competence and confidence of the loyal existing workforce to help raise quality and drive standards and consistency from school to school Full details in relation to Orwell Multi Academy Trust and the latest Ofsted report findings may be obtained by visiting: Home | Orwell Multi Academy Trust (omat.org.uk) The contract being tendered is for three years and one term in duration - from April 2023 to 31st August 2026 with the option to extend for a further two years, the extension would only be for 1 year at a time and is expected to operate as a cost plus with guarantees contract, with the successful Supplier offering the Trust guaranteed lines or the caterer offering a guaranteed annual return for the provision of catering services. The school will maintain sovereignty of tariff throughout the contract and will work in partnership with the contractor to address any operational issues. The trust has a realistic approach to the current issues of food cost price inflation and Labour rate rises and will work in partnership with the chosen service partner to accommodate budgetary adjustments if they are required. See SQ document for further details. Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: litmustms.co.uk/respond/C2M4533J28 ↗