South West Essex Community Education Trust ~ Catering Tender

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for three secondary schools within the South West Essex Community Education Trust. The following trust secondary schools are included within this contract; •William Edwards School •Marshalls Park Academy •Orsett Heath Academy – a new school The tender project is seeking to appoint a single Supplier whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 3 Secondary schools in scope. By September 2022, between the three schools, there will be approximately 2810 students enrolled, along with approximately 250 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Trust would wish the successful Supplier to review the current range of services offered, as well as to looking at the delivery of the current catering service and make recommendations accordingly. Pupil, staff and support staff numbers at William Edwards School and Marshalls Park Academy are expected to remain at 1250/ 115 and 1200/115 with Orsett Heath Academy increasing annually with additional intakes to a combined total of 3650 /330 by September 2026. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2025 with the option to extend for a further two years, the extension would only be for 1 year at a time and will operate as a cost plus with guarantees contract, with the successful Supplier offering the Trust some guaranteed lines for the provision of catering services. The trust will maintain sovereignty of tariff throughout the contract. Moneys collected through payment systems in place will go directly to each school and be reconciled by caterer’s invoice. The academic year is based on a calendar of 190 days. Five days are to be used for staff professional development which means that the schools will be open to receive students for 185 days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the schools, which currently includes breakfast services, 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. The successful Supplier will be expected to maximise the sourcing of fresh produce on a local basis, as well as provide support on educating the pupils in healthy eating and where food comes from. Whilst the Trust 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 sales value of the current contract (at pre Covid sales rates per pupil and current pupil numbers) is circa £850k p.a and through the additional pupil numbers incoming at Orsett Heath should generate annual revenues significantly above £1m. See SQ Document for further information.