The Cheshire Collaborative Primary School Group Catering Framework Tender

The Collaborative Cheshire Primary School Group (CCPSG) are seeking to procure a number of providers for a multi-supplier framework for catering services. The main objective of this procurement exercise is to deliver the procurement of a framework that will enable CCPSG to source catering services for its schools. There are initially 24 schools in this framework, however, other schools may call off later. It should be noted that it is not mandatory for CCPSG schools to use this framework. Schools will only call off from this agreement if they have a requirement to do so. It is envisaged the number of caterers on the framework will be between 1 and 3 The provision of the service must demonstrate the best value approach and be flexible in its delivery and operation to ensure that the needs and ethos of individual schools are supported. This framework process is targeted to have a catering contract in place to commence in January 2025 for the initial 24 schools, however, this may be moved back to April 2025. Please note that this process covers all catering services within all CCPSG schools with full tender costings and proposals for the schools for a contract start in January 2025. These details will be further explained in the ITT documents. The process will include the creation of a select bidder list following analysis of SQ documents (within which the scoring criteria is included). The nature of the contract demands a good local infrastructure to provide and maintain the level and standard of catering service and support required by the schools. Labour resource/relief cover is very important. We have set a minimum level of turnover for this tender at 250,000 GBP which takes into account the contract turnover and cash flow associations. This is a discretionary pass/fail question on the basis that we will consider any additional guarantees and formal assurances such as parent company guarantors or similar which must be included to support any submission. We have set a minimum Employer's (compulsory) liability insurance of 10,000,000 GBP Following the analysis of SQ’s the selected bidders will be invited to attend site surveys and tender briefing initially planned for July 2024. Tender responses deadline is planned for August 2024 and it is envisaged that interviews will take place in late September 2024. The contract will be for a 3 +1 +1 period (5 years in total including the option to extend for 1 + 1years).