Sir Thomas Fremantle School - Catering Tender

STFS is a welcoming and caring school with a strong sense of community and ambition. We pride ourselves on delivering an exceptional experience for our students, combining high standards of academic rigour with outstanding pastoral care. Our vibrant school environment is built on respect, aspiration, and a commitment to excellence.

Students at STFS benefit from highly qualified and dedicated staff who create a positive and engaging atmosphere for learning. We foster strong relationships and ensure every student feels valued and motivated to succeed. Our facilities and resources support a dynamic school life, with a wide range of activities and events that bring our community together. We are on track to reach full capacity in the 2026–27 school year, reflecting our growing reputation and demand. We are committed to providing an environment where learners thrive and teachers inspire.

Further information regarding the School can be obtained here: www.sirthomasfremantle.org ↗

Tender information:

The successful tenderer will be required to provide excellent catering services to Sir Thomas Fremantle School, which has 683 pupils and 102 teaching and support staff.

The contract term being tendered is for three years, 1st Sept 2026 – 31st August 2029. There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31st August 2031.

The contract offers an excellent opportunity to review and propose enhancements to the current catering services at the School. This includes but is not limited to; breakfast, morning break, lunchtime over the academic year, plus hospitality services upon request.

The school is keen to secure a high quality catering service including fresh locally sourced ingredients prepared on site, with a menu design that is flexible to suit the requirements of the school’s specific students. The school is proud of its ‘family ethos’ and expects both a tightly managed service and a management style delivered by the successful contractor that supports, encourages and develops the catering staff.

The school is not obliged to accept the lowest price submitted for this tender, rather the school is keen to secure ‘best value’ from this contract and to deliver ‘best value’ to its students. Innovative and creative ideas as to how the services can be developed and value added, will be welcomed. The school seeks a contractor that is keen to work in partnership and who will deliver to its highest abilities, at all times.

Competitive Flexible Procedure

This procurement will be run under the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This will follow a two stage approach, with stage 1 being the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). Here a minimum of 5 candidates (or less, in the event less than 5 meet the minimum criteria) and a maximum of 10 candidates, will progress to stage 2. Any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement and a minimum score of 60% must be achieved.

Selected tenderers will then be invited to stage 2, the Invitation To Tender (ITT). Here, the evaluation of tender response will be set as 35% price and 65% quality.

Value of contract:

The annual value of the current contract is £205,842 (the total sales including fsm, in the last contract year)

Therefore the value of this contract is £1,029,210 (above total x 5 as this contract is for a maximum of 5 years)

The contract shall be a guaranteed performance contract with any hospitality requirements billed separately.

The tender process will be run under a two stage Competitive Flexible procedure.

Additional requirements and information:

•The school has a minimum requirement for a contractor’s employers' liability and public liability insurances of £5 million

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

•There are not incumbent catering staff currently within the Local Government Pension Scheme

•The catering services are currently contracted to Aspens