Ashford & St Peters Hospital NHS - Staff & Visitor Catering & Retail Services

The Trust is tendering the catering & retail services across both sites. Due to a land sale opportunity for the Trust at St Peters Hospital there is an opportunity to re-design the front entrance where the retail outlets are located. Also the existing staff restaurant is due to be demolished and this will be relocated. The proposed new scheme will facilitate co-located Catering & Retail outlets within this reconfigured area. There is a strong focus on employee welfare and this development is seen as a key driver in the Trust's staff retention strategy.

At Ashford Hospital, the catering services will also be tendered although change will be more subtle. The procurement of the retail contract will form an integral part of a complex chain of events as part of the land sale. Board approval of this procurement must take place in February 2019 to allow the new retail contract to start on 1st April 2019 with the new build also starting on this date.

This process will be undertaken as a Competitive Dialogue procedure and governed by the requirements of the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016. Further information on this procedure is available from the Crown Commercial Service. The style of contract will be a lease and concession agreement with a minimum guaranteed return (base rent) and turnover based top-up rent linked to turnover. The Trust is seeking a mix of brands, 'Operators Choice' (mix of local SME, Social Enterprise offers) and an appealing staff food offer.

The procedure will run through ISOS, ISDS & ISFT stages with elements of dialogue as required to deliver the most economically advantageous tender. It is anticipated that lease terms will be finalised with the preferred bidder prior to appointment.