Little Heath School - Tender for Catering Services.

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for Little Heath School (the Client).

Little Heath School is a voluntary-aided co-educational comprehensive secondary school. The school is located in the Little Heath area of the Reading suburb of Tilehurst, in Berkshire. Founded in 1963, the school is managed by West Berkshire Local Authority, but serves communities in both West Berkshire and Reading. A mixed 11-18 school, it has approximately 1 650 students on roll, with almost 400 of these in the Sixth Form.

The tender project is seeking to appoint an experienced and innovative Supplier for the provision of a catering service for the students on roll and 200 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Client would wish the successful Supplier to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly.

The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1.8.2017 to 31.7.2020 and will operate as a guaranteed performance contract, with the successful Supplier offering the Client a guaranteed return per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with the Client for the duration of this contract.

The school year is based on a calendar of 195 days. The equivalent of 5 days are to be used for staff professional development which means that the school will be open to receive students for the legal minimum of 190 days.

The contract offered covers the provision of a full range of catering services within the school, which currently includes breakfast, morning break, lunch, some hospitality and all free issue requirements. Free School Meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. The school has biometric cashless catering in place.

Whilst the Client 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 Client expects the successful Supplier 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 Client expects the successful Supplier to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Every Child Matters.

(Further information is available within the procurement documents.)