The Litmus Partnership: Thornton Primary School ~ Catering Tender

UK-Birmingham: School catering services.

Section I: Contracting Authority

   I.1) Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
       Thornton Primary School
       Thornton Road, Birmingham, B8 2LQ, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1276673880, Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
       Main Address: https://www.thornton.bham.sch.uk/website/contact/143142
       NUTS Code: UKG31

   I.2) Joint procurement:
      The contract involves joint procurement: No          
      In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not Provided
      The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No

   I.4)Type of the contracting authority:
      Body governed by public law

   I.5) Main activity:
      Education

Section II: Object Of The Contract

   II.1) Scope of the procurement

      II.1.1) Title: Thornton Primary School ~ Catering Tender            
      Reference number: Not Provided

      II.1.2) Main CPV code:
         55524000 - School catering services.


      II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES

      II.1.4) Short description: The successful Supplier will be required to provide Catering services for Thornton Primary School.

      II.1.6) Information about lots
         This contract is divided into lots: No
            
      II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
          Value: 892,480.6
                  
         Currency:GBP            

   II.2) Description

      II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s):
      Not Provided

      II.2.3) Place of performance
      Nuts code:
      UKG31 - Birmingham
   
      Main site or place of performance:
      Birmingham
             

      II.2.4) Description of the procurement: The successful Supplier will be required to provide Catering services for Thornton Primary School.
The catering service provision at the schools has been operated by Miquill and has not been market tested for 3 years. To ensure Best Value principles are applied the Headteacher and School Governors have made a decision to tender the catering service.
Thornton Primary School has 480 pupils (2024-25 roll); there are entitled to 240 FSM
The Vision:
At Thornton Primary School every child is just as important as the next. In short, every child matters. Everyone at Thornton is committed to providing a caring and friendly school, a happy place to learn because happy children make engaged learners.
Thornton Primary School is an inclusive community and we promote tolerance and respect for all. We value the individual contributions our pupils bring to school and we encourage and support them to fulfil their potential.
Our aim as a school is to provide a warm, friendly, atmosphere in a safe, caring environment, where children will be happy and successful. To achieve this, it is important that the school and home work positively together in partnership. This partnership is built through a regular dialogue between parents, child and school.
The School wishes to offer healthy and nutritious eating options within the menu, to include equally for all diets in terms of quality and choice, encompassing omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan and halal diets. The menu should be based on the use of fresh ingredients and bakery products.
There are other objectives which the schools wish to achieve as a result of this tender process:
1.The provision of a healthy balanced and flexible menu that meets nutritional guidelines and reflects the school’s diversity. enjoyed by our students.
2.Increase the take up of meals for all, including paid meals and FSM.
3.An effective marketing campaign should be implemented including the organisation of a series of theme days throughout the year ~ a minimum of two each term.
4.Attend termly parent evenings to promote the catering service.
5.To ensure that all hospitality is provided strictly at net cost of ingredients.
6.Provide a pre order service for the school staff.
The new contract will commence on 1 September 2025, for an initial 3year term with the option of additional 2 x 1 year extensions.
The staff are currently employed by Miquill, to manage and oversee the catering service and therefore TUPE Regulations including pension rights will apply to this contract.
The current value of the contract is approximately £150,000 per annum, which includes children, adult meals, and limited hospitality

See SQ document for more information.

      II.2.5) Award criteria:
                  
      Price - Weighting: 100
            

      II.2.11) Information about options
         Options: No
         

      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
         The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
         

      II.2.14) Additional information: Please note, this is a Contract Award Notice - this contract has already been awarded.


Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

   IV.1.1)Type of procedure: Restricted


   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
      The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement: No       
      A dynamic purchasing system was set up: No

   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction
      An electronic auction has been used: No

   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

IV.2) Administrative information

   IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
       Notice number in the OJEU: 2024/S 000-038051
      
   

   IV.2.9) Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice
      The contracting authority will not award any further contracts based on the above prior information notice: No

Section V: Award of contract

Award Of Contract (No.1)

   Contract No: Not Provided    
   Lot Number: Not Provided    
   Title: Not Provided

   A contract/lot is awarded: Yes


   V.2) Award of contract

      V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract: 16/05/2025

      V.2.2) Information about tenders
         Number of tenders received: 5
         Number of tenders received from SMEs: Not Provided          
         Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: Not Provided          
         Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: Not Provided          
         Number of tenders received by electronic means: Not Provided

      V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

      The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
         
         Contractor (No.1)
             MiQuill Catering Ltd, 06886456
             Suite 109, 79 Friar Street, Worcestershire, WR1 2NT, United Kingdom
             NUTS Code: UKG1
            The contractor is an SME: Yes

      V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
         Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: 750,000          
         Total value of the contract/lot: 750,000
         Currency: GBP

      V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
         The contract is likely to be subcontracted: No
         
Section VI: Complementary information

   VI.3) Additional information: To view this notice, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=966755750
   VI.4) Procedures for review

      VI.4.1) Review body
          Thornton Primary School
          Thornton Road, Birmingham, B8 2LQ, United Kingdom

      VI.4.3) Review procedure
         Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures: Not Provided

      VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
         Not Provided

   VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice: 17/07/2025