Plashet School ~ Catering tender

Plashet School is a maintained girl’s secondary school in East Ham, London, within the Borough of Newham. The school operates on a split site, joined by a short footbridge over Plashet Grove. The North site kitchen caters for years 7 and 8, the South side for years 9 to 11.

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 1500 students on roll and 189 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The School would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly.

The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from Jan 2022 to Dec 2024 with the option to extend for up to 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 Plashet School 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 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 value of the current contract is: -

Apr 18 Mar 19 Apr 19-Mar 20 Apr 20- Mar 21

Core pupil sales£190k£231kFSM pack lunches only

Free School Meals £84k£84kDue to Covid 19

Hospitality £13k£7k

Total £287k£322k

Total contract value is £322k x max 5 years = £1,610,000

Plashet School 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 in this regard as part of the Contractor’s tender submission would be welcomed.

Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis.

Please be advised that there are currently 11 staff employed to deliver the catering service

Please be advised that there are current catering staff in the LGPS

Please be advised that the catering service is currently contracted to Olive Dining

The minimum annual turnover that your company must have achieved to be considered for this opportunity is £1m