Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Weald Community School and 6th Form
Station Road
Billingshurst
RH14 9RY
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Telephone
+44 1276673880
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/84HNGWCZMN
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
The Weald Community School and 6th Form ~ Catering Tender
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 55524000 - School catering services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
he Weald Community School is a vibrant Local Authority maintained Secondary School based in Billingshurst in West Sussex, which was founded in 1956. We are proud to be a beacon of our community and offer ample opportunities for all our students throughout their school career from volunteering to enrichment trips and projects. Last Summer we achieved our best ever GCSE and A level results that we are extremely proud of, opportunity and community is what we are all about and it runs through everything we do, both academically, and pastorally to ensure our young people are prepared for adulthood and their journey beyond school.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £2,583,115
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
Main site or place of performance
Surrey, East and West Sussex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Weald Community School and 6th Form Scope of opportunity statement - Catering Provision
The Weald Community School is a vibrant Local Authority maintained Secondary School based in Billingshurst in West Sussex, which was founded in 1956. We are proud to be a beacon of our community and offer ample opportunities for all our students throughout their school career from volunteering to enrichment trips and projects. Last Summer we achieved our best ever GCSE and A level results that we are extremely proud of, opportunity and community is what we are all about and it runs through everything we do, both academically, and pastorally to ensure our young people are prepared for adulthood and their journey beyond school
The tender project is seeking to appoint an established Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 1484 lower school students and 305 sixth form students on roll. Also to provide a catering service for the 250 teaching and support staff onsite day to day, 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 September 2025 to August 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 The Weald Community 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 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 best value where student meals are concerned incorporates more than just price.
The value of the current contract is: -
FY 22/23 FY 23/24FY 24/25
Cash sales (includes hospitality)£429,979£474,646£455,000 (projected)
Free School Meals £43,768£57,699£61,623 (projected)
Total£473,747£532,345£516,623
The Weald 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 Opportunity and Community for every student.
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. Much time therefore, is spent reviewing and planning schemes of work to ensure that they are differentiated to meet the needs of all students. As a result, the Weald is very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Contractor in these areas.
See SQ document for more information.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,583,115
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 September 2025
End date
31 August 2030
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 5
Maximum number: 10
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
A minimum of 5 suppliers and a maximum of 10 suppliers will be taken forward to the tender stage of the process. Where less than 5 suppliers meet the minimum standards, only those that meet the minimum standards will be taken through to the tender stage. Where more than 5 suppliers meet the minimum standard, those suppliers with the highest scores will proceed to the tender stage.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: Yes
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/84HNGWCZMN
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
19 February 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
3 March 2025
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.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.It will be the supplier's responsibility to obtain any necessary documents in order to submit a response by the closing date and time.
The contracting authority reserves the right not to award any or part of the contract which is the subject of this contract notice and reserves the right to terminate the procurement process at any time.
The contracting authority will not be liable for any costs incurred by those expressing an interest in tendering for this contract opportunity.
The contracting authority will consider variant bids, evaluating them (so far as the variant or the evaluation of the variant is in the opinion of the contracting authority practicable) on the same basis as a conforming bid, but shall not be obliged to accept any such bid in preference to a conforming bid even if the variant bid scores more highly. No variant will be considered unless the bidder simultaneously submits a conforming bid.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://litmustms.co.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Billingshurst:-School-catering-services./84HNGWCZMN
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/84HNGWCZMN
GO Reference: GO-2025120-PRO-29176405
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Weald Community School and 6th Form
Station Road
Billingshurst
RH14 9RY
Country
United Kingdom