Samphire Star Education Trust ~ Catering Services Tender

Samphire Star Education Trust. Our Trust began working together in 2007 as a maintained federation and converted to an academy trust in 2012. In 2022 we have rebranded as we look towards the future and reaffirm the values that drive us in striving to provide achievement for all those learning or working in the Trust. Our trust is a family of schools working in collaboration as one entity to improve and maintain high educational standards. Our trust has a single legal and moral purpose: to advance education for the public benefit. We are currently 4 schools, 1 Secondary and 3 Primaries working closely together to ensure the best outcomes for the children in our care. 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 1,585 students on roll and 210 teaching and support staff, with a focus on food concepts to satisfy pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Trust 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 April 2023 to April 2026 and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the Trust a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. The Trust year is based on a calendar of 195 days. Five days are to be used for staff professional development which means that Schools 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 Schools, which currently includes morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. Whilst the Trust prioritises value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, the Trustees are not obliged to accept the lowest price. The value of the current contract is: - 2021/22 Total sales were £350,178 The Trust 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 Trust expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of the Trust. The Trust 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. We work closely with external partners to ensure that we give the best opportunity and chances to our students and this, in turn, enables us to access new and exciting projects and programmes that further enrich the learning experience we offer. As a Trust who are continually seeking ways to improve and develop the ethos and environment for students and staff, to give them the facilities they deserve any consideration regarding inward capital investment as part of the Contractor’s tender submission would be welcomed. The Trust would wish for the Contractor to look at making this investment within the existing dining area. Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis. See SQ Document for further details.