The Litmus Partnership: University Schools Trust ~ Catering Tender

UK-London: School catering services.

Section I: Contracting Authority

   I.1) Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
       University Schools Trust
       UST House, Limehouse Causeway, London, E14 8AQ, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1276673880, Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
       Main Address: https://www.ust.london/
       NUTS Code: UKI

   I.2) Joint procurement:
      The contract involves joint procurement: Yes          
      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: University Schools Trust ~ 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: University Schools Trust (UST) seeks to appoint a Contractor whose skills, experience and attributes align with the Trusts Vision and Values. As a small Trust of 4 Schools, the Trust is actively looking to grow and are engaged in discussions with a range of schools’. Community is at the heart of our culture and ensuring our pupils have access to good, well prepared, nutritious food. As UST has grown we are moving towards a more centralised Procurement Model, appointing the services of a single catering contractor is a vital part of achieving this goal. Whilst the Trust currently benefits from localised contract arrangements, we would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly.

      II.1.6) Information about lots
         This contract is divided into lots: No
            
      II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
          Value: 5,566,156
                  
         Currency:GBP            

   II.2) Description

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

      II.2.3) Place of performance
      Nuts code:
      UKI - LONDON
   
      Main site or place of performance:
      LONDON
             

      II.2.4) Description of the procurement: University Schools Trust (UST) seeks to appoint a Contractor whose skills, experience and attributes align with the Trusts Vision and Values. As a small Trust of 4 Schools, the Trust is actively looking to grow and are engaged in discussions with a range of schools’. Community is at the heart of our culture and ensuring our pupils have access to good, well prepared, nutritious food. As UST has grown we are moving towards a more centralised Procurement Model, appointing the services of a single catering contractor is a vital part of achieving this goal. Whilst the Trust currently benefits from localised contract arrangements, we 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 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2028 and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the school a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with University Schools Trust for the duration of this contract. The intention is the contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis.
The School year is based on a calendar of 195 days. Five days are to be used for staff professional development which means that School 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 School, 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 School prioritises value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, the Governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price.
As an organisation we encourage our specialist partners to challenge our approach to innovation and investment whilst also considering decarbonisation. The Trust would therefore welcome consideration of inward capital investment as part of the Contractor’s tender submission, where some elements of equipment or due to reach end of lifecycle.

Vision and Values
Our overriding purpose as a Multi-Academy Trust is driven by our vision and values.
Vision: Where collaboration breeds transformation
Guided by and working with our Trust Partners.
The Trust is a family of inclusive schools where collaborative partnerships deliver a transformational education which empowers our pupils and the communities, they come from to realise their full potential. A culture of high expectations nurtures a drive to achieve excellence and to take ownership of future academic and vocational learning paths in order to equip our pupils as global citizens and inspire their communities.
Values: The UST Guarantee
Achieving Excellence through Transformational Education that Empowers Communities.
Achieving Excellence
The Trust inspires each member of our learning community to be ambitious, to realise their potential and to succeed academically and vocationally.

Transformational Education
The Trust ensures that the dynamic curricula and pastoral offers of our schools are enriched by the civic leadership and research from our university, public and private Trust partners.
See SQ Document for more information.

      II.2.5) Award criteria:
       Not Provided

      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: 2025/S 000-003943
      
   

   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: 17/07/2025

      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)
             Olive Dining Ltd, 08093774
             Tandridge District Council Offices, 8 Station Road East, Oxted, RH8 0BT, United Kingdom
             Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
             NUTS Code: UKI
            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: 5,989,955          
         Total value of the contract/lot: 5,566,156
         Currency: GBP

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

   VI.3) Additional information: Please note, this is a contract award notice, this contract has already been awarded.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=969874901
   VI.4) Procedures for review

      VI.4.1) Review body
          University Schools Trust
          UST House, Limehouse Causeway, London, E14 8AQ, United Kingdom
          Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk

      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: 31/07/2025

ANNEX A

   I) Address of the other contracting authority on behalf of which the contracting authority is purchasing   
   1: Contracting Authority
       Cyril Jackson Primary School
       51 Three Colt Street, Limehouse, London, E14 8HH, United Kingdom
       Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
       Main Address: https://www.cyriljackson.towerhamlets.sch.uk/
       NUTS Code: UKI
   
   2: Contracting Authority
       St Pauls Way
       125 St Paul's Way, Bow, London, E3 4FT, United Kingdom
       Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
       Main Address: https://www.spwt.net/
       NUTS Code: UKI
   
   3: Contracting Authority
       Sir William Burrough School
       Salmon Lane, London, E14 7PQ, United Kingdom
       Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
       Main Address: https://sirwilliamburrough.info/
       NUTS Code: UKI
   
   4: Contracting Authority
       Royal Greenwich Trust School
       765 Woolwich Road, London, SE7 8LJ, United Kingdom
       Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
       Main Address: https://www.rgtrustschool.net/
       NUTS Code: UKI