The Litmus Partnership: The Astley Cooper School ~ Catering Tender

UK-Hemel Hempstead: School catering services.

Section I: Contracting Authority

   I.1) Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
       The Astley Cooper School
       St Agnells Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7HL, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 1276673880, Email: tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
       Main Address: https://www.astleycooper.herts.sch.uk/
       NUTS Code: UKH23

   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: The Astley Cooper 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 Astley Cooper School is a Secondary School in Hemel Hempstead. The school was formed following the merger of The Grove Hill School with The Highfield School in the late 1980’s. The school has grown in pupil numbers in recent years following an Ofsted rating of Good and continues to go from strength to strength. The school will also benefit from a multi-million-pound new build that is due to commence in the summer of 2021 with completion in 2023.

      II.1.6) Information about lots
         This contract is divided into lots: No
            
      II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
          Value: 985,155
                  
         Currency:GBP            

   II.2) Description

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

      II.2.3) Place of performance
      Nuts code:
      UKH23 - Hertfordshire
   
      Main site or place of performance:
      Hertfordshire
             

      II.2.4) Description of the procurement: The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for The Astley Cooper School.
The Astley Cooper School is a Secondary School in Hemel Hempstead. The school was formed following the merger of The Grove Hill School with The Highfield School in the late 1980’s. The school has grown in pupil numbers in recent years following an Ofsted rating of Good and continues to go from strength to strength. The school will also benefit from a multi-million-pound new build that is due to commence in the summer of 2021 with completion in 2023.
The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 800 students on roll (expected to grow year on year) and 84 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The School 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 April 2021 to 31st March 2024 with the option to extend for up to a further 2 years at the discretion of the client. This contract 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 the School for the duration of this contract.
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 are to be charged based on consumption and at net food cost 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.
The value of the current contract is: -
Last full year sales
Months (Sept 19– July 20)
Core pupil sales£121,000.00
Free School Meal sales£52,731.00
Hospitality sales£2,300.00
Staff Sales£21,000.00
Total sales £197,031.00
Therefore, the value of the term of the contract is £985,155 although this is expected to be higher as the sales above include the COVID shutdown period, plus the school is expecting growth in pupil numbers.
The school expects the successful contractor to enable the continued development of catering through the provision of an innovative, healthy food service, with fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients being prepared on-site. The School expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Every Child Matters.
The School believes that success should be celebrated and that pupils should enjoy their time at school; if lessons are stimulating and challenging then students will love learning.
As a school who are continually seeking ways to improve and develop the ethos and environment for students and staff, to give them the facilities they deserve and need to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, any consideration regarding inward capital investment as part of the Contractor’s tender submission would be welcomed.
Please be advised that there are currently 7 staff employed to deliver the catering service
Please be advised that there are no current catering staff in the Local government pension scheme (LGPS)
Please be advised that the winning contractor of this tender will be required to pay Litmus the tender fee of £4,750 upon contract award.

      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: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://litmustms.co.uk/tenders/UK-Hemel-Hempstead:-School-catering-services./93E7NABWZM


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: 2020/S 195-473208
      
   

   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: 473208    
   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: 26/02/2021

      V.2.2) Information about tenders
         Number of tenders received: 4
         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: 4

      V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

      The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
         
         Contractor (No.1)
             Aspens Services Limited, 06561073
             Suite 5 Offerton Barns Business Centre, Offerton lane, Hindlip, WR3 8SX, United Kingdom
             NUTS Code: UKG12
            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: Not Provided          
         Total value of the contract/lot: 490,020
         Currency: GBP

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

   VI.3) Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=584183173

   VI.4) Procedures for review

      VI.4.1) Review body
          The Astley Cooper School
          St Agnells Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7HL, 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: 07/04/2021