The Palmer Catholic Academy ~ Catering Tender

{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PJYD-1885-ZZJM",
    "name": "The Palmer Catholic Academy"
  },
  "date": "2025-12-05T19:05:26Z",
  "id": "080384-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f03f",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Essex",
        "postalCode": "IG3 8EU",
        "region": "UKI53",
        "streetAddress": "Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk",
        "telephone": "01276 673896"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government",
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ]
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PJYD-1885-ZZJM",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PJYD-1885-ZZJM",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "The Palmer Catholic Academy",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-05-18T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "description": "The Palmer Catholic Academy ( TPCA) is  an 11-18 Catholic secondary school located in Seven Kings, Ilford in the Diocese of Brentwood.\n\u2018The Palmer Catholic Academy is a voluntary aided co-educational Academy for students aged 11 to 18. Founded in 1961 by Canon Patrick Palmer in 1961 as Canon Palmer Catholic School with the aim of serving the Catholic community in Ilford, the academy has grown in numbers and stature.  In 1961 the school educated 300 students as opposed to 1,100 today.  The academy has undergone many changes over the years, but at the heart, all we do has remained the same.  We are a modern academy with traditional values.\u2019\nThe school is presenting an exciting opportunity to partner with a specialist Supplier who is able to deliver their vision of promoting the health and wellbeing of their circa 1100pupils and 140 staff through the catering provision.\nCurrent catering sales revenue is in excess of \u00a3300k per annum, over three services \u2013 breakfast, morning break and lunchtime. Currently there are 5 service points, all replicating the same service offer where possible \u2013 with some segregation of year groups. At lunchtime main meals vary daily but will include hot entrees with appropriate accompaniments, vegetarian alternatives, jackets \u0026 fillings and a selection of hot and cold sandwiches. Each entr\u00e9e is bundled with Drink and dessert to make up the meal deal. A Halal alternative is always available.\nThe Client would like to see innovative delivery of emerging food trends that are seen on the high-street and in supermarkets that pupils frequent and therefore need to be reflected in the school dining environment. There is a need to maximise sales and uptake to contribute against overheads \u2013 this can be achieved by offering a dynamic and bespoke food offering at the two main food services \nThe key areas of focus for the successful service provider will include;\n\uf0d8Fresh and innovative menus that are nutritionally balanced and appealing with regular healthy alternatives;\n\uf0d8The best use of fresh produce and prime cooking;\n\uf0d8Efficient and consistent speed of service with great student and staff interaction;\n\uf0d8Catering staff integration with the School community and support with Curriculum activities.\n\uf0d8Identifying and potential funding of appropriate additions to the existing offer through focused investment\n\uf0d8Enhancement of the current skill level of the team and more investment in on-site leadership\nThe Client expects the successful Supplier to evidence, through their bid, how they will deliver consistently in these focus areas through the contract term.\nThe existing team have resilience and consistency in day to day production, indeed with the prime cooking equipment currently available, they are being very productive, but in order to produce the innovative and dynamic food offer required they will need to be supported by an engaged operational team that can demonstrate and upskill menu content to provide services that meet expectation. \nAside from the food, the front of house environment in which the pupils engage with the catering offer is adequate but lacks some definition and merchandising, so the bidders will need to consider what the requirements are to drive the whole pupil experience in the dining hall and other service areas.\nWith a contract start date of Summer 2026, the Supplier will need to consider how they will manage the mobilisation and launch the service in what should be a good length of mobilisation/ remobilisation period.\nThe Client is seeking a catering service partner that has the ability and appetite to work flexibly and with complete transparency to deliver an exceptional standard of service and take on the development of a loyal and dedicated team. The contract will be for an initial three year-term, with likely potential for further extensions of 1+1 years.\nThe catering tender presents an exciting time for the School and the Client group  is looking forward to developing a successful partnership with a service provider demonstrating the right cultural fit as well as hunger and appetite for continuous improvement.\nPlease see PSQ Document for more information.\nFor more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: \nhttps://litmustms.co.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Essex:-School-catering-services./N297664866\nTo respond to this opportunity, please click here: \nhttps://litmustms.co.uk/respond/N297664866",
    "documents": [
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "datePublished": "2025-12-05T19:05:26Z",
        "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "tenderNotice",
        "format": "text/html",
        "id": "080384-2025",
        "noticeType": "UK4",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080384-2025"
      }
    ],
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-01-16T12:00:00+00:00"
    },
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f03f",
    "items": [
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "School catering services",
            "id": "55524000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom",
            "region": "UKH3"
          }
        ],
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "name": "Criterion 1",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 30,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "cost"
            },
            {
              "name": "Criterion 2",
              "numbers": [
                {
                  "number": 70,
                  "weight": "percentageExact"
                }
              ],
              "type": "quality"
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2029-07-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "maxExtentDate": "2031-07-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2026-08-01T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "id": "1",
        "renewal": {
          "description": "1+1\nPlease see PSQ Document for more information."
        },
        "status": "active",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
        },
        "value": {
          "amountGross": 1500000.0,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procedure": {
      "features": "Please see PSQ document for more information."
    },
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/N297664866",
    "submissionTerms": {
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "notAllowed",
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-03-20T12:00:00+00:00"
    },
    "title": "The Palmer Catholic Academy ~ Catering Tender",
    "value": {
      "amountGross": 1500000.0,
      "currency": "GBP"
    }
  }
}