Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Equa Mead Trust
Lavington School, The Spring, Market Lavington
Devizes
SN10 4EB
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Telephone
+44 1276673880
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Bellefield Primary and Nursery School
Windermere Road
Trowbridge
BA14 8TE
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
Lavington School
The Spring, Market Lavington
Devizes
SN10 4EB
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
St Nicholas C of E Primary School
The Leaze, Bromham
Chippenham
SN15 2EY
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.1) Name and addresses
The John of Gaunt School
Wingfield Road
Trowbridge
BA14 9EH
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/4W5PM65539
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 Equa Mead Trust ~ Catering Tender
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 55524000 - School catering services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
EQUA Mead Learning Trust is a Multi Academy Trust based around the Trowbridge and Devizes areas in Wiltshire. The trust started in 2019 and has now increased in size to 19 Schools, consisting of 17 Primary and 2 Secondary schools. In addition, three more additional schools are currently in the process of joining and are likely to convert in September 2025, taking the to 22 schools.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £3,033,060
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Main site or place of performance
Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
EQUA Mead Learning Trust is a Multi Academy Trust based around the Trowbridge and Devizes areas in Wiltshire. The trust started in 2019 and has now increased in size to 19 Schools, consisting of 17 Primary and 2 Secondary schools. In addition, three more additional schools are currently in the process of joining and are likely to convert in September 2025, taking the to 22 schools.
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, initially for the two secondary schools, Lavington and The John of Gaunt along with one primary school St Nicholas in Bromham who between them have will have approximately 2350 students and 275 teaching and support staff as at 1 September 2025, one further primary school will join in 2026 when their current contract ends and further joiners from the trust will likely follow.
A focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of student tastes and dietary requirements is important. The trust would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly.
Initially the contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1 September 2025 to 31 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 trust 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. Within the 195 days, the Trust will require hospitality for various networks, meetings and events that it hosts. We are also keen for the contractor to implement where required a breakfast and after school option. 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 Trustees are not obliged to accept the lowest price.
The trust 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 the trust sites. The School expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Keeping Children Safe in Education.
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 trust Schools are very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Contractor.
As a trust 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. The trust would wish for the Contractor to look at making this investment within the existing dining areas.
Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis.
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: £3,033,060
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
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
7 March 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
7 April 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-Devizes:-School-catering-services./4W5PM65539
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/4W5PM65539
GO Reference: GO-2025131-PRO-29275270
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Equa Mead Trust
Lavington School, The Spring, Market Lavington
Devizes
SN10 4EB
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Telephone
+44 1276673880
Country
United Kingdom