Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Discovery Educational Trust
St Martin's House, St Martin's School, Hanging Hill Lane
Hutton
CM13 2HG
Contact
Rachel OGrady
Telephone
+44 1252977017
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.discoveryeducationaltrust.co.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.discoveryeducationaltrust.co.uk/
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Hutton:-School-catering-services./J7A2Q7SP79
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
Discovery Educational 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
The supplier will provide excellent catering services to the Discovery Educational Trust a Multi Academy Trust, based in South Essex and currently comprising five schools – Chase High School in Southend, Hogarth Primary School, Kelvedon Hatch Community Primary School, Larchwood Primary School and St. Martin’s School, all in Brentwood.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £6,257,570
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
Main site or place of performance
Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Discovery Educational Trust is a Multi Academy Trust, based in South Essex and currently comprising five schools – Chase High School in Southend, Hogarth Primary School, Kelvedon Hatch Community Primary School, Larchwood Primary School and St. Martin’s School, all in Brentwood.
We aim for each of our schools to become the school of choice within the community, offering a broad and exciting range of extracurricular activities to enhance the opportunities within their formal curriculum. More information with regards to the Trust can be found here: https://www.discoveryeducationaltrust.co.uk
The successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services to all five schools currently within the Discovery Educational Trust.
The contract term being tendered is for three years, 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2028. There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31st August 2030.
The contract offers an excellent opportunity to review and propose enhancements to the current catering services at the Schools. This includes but is not limited to; breakfast, morning break, lunchtime and after school services, over the academic year of 190 days.
The schools are keen to secure a high quality catering service including fresh locally sourced ingredients prepared on site, with a menu design that is flexible to suit the requirements of the schools’ specific students. The schools are proud of their ‘family ethos’ and expects both a tightly managed service and a management style delivered by the successful contractor that supports, encourages and develops the catering staff.
The schools are not obliged to accept the lowest price submitted for this tender, rather they are keen to secure ‘best value’ from this contract and to deliver ‘best value’ to their students. Innovative and creative ideas as to how the services can be developed and value added, will be welcomed. The schools seeks a contractor that is keen to work in partnership and who will deliver to its highest abilities, at all times
The annual value of the current contract is £1,251,514 (the total sales per annum over the last annual period, for all schools added together)
Therefore the value of this contract is £6,257,570 (total annual costs as above x 5 as this contract is for a maximum of 5 years)
The contract shall be a fixed price contract with invoices raised monthly to the school.
Additional requirements and information:
•The School has a minimum requirement for a contractor’s employers' liability and public liability insurance of £5 million
•The minimum annual turnover that your company must have achieved to be considered for this opportunity is £1 million
•It is anticipated that some employees may be members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and therefore the successful contractor in that instance would be expected to gain Admitted Body Status (ABS) in order to continue contributing to the scheme.
•The winning bidder is required to pay the tender fee directly to RIVA Partnership, upon contract award
•This is a growing Trust. During the tenure of this catering contract - any further schools that join this Trust may join this catering contract, at the discretion of the client.
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: £6,257,570
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:
Only candidates that meet the minimum selection criteria will progress to tender stage. A minimum of 5 candidates (or less, in the event less than 5 meet the minimum criteria) and a maximum of 10 candidates, will progress.
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 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
4 April 2025
Local time
12:00pm
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.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.
The contracting authority reserves the right not to appoint as a result of this tender process and/ or to cancel this tender process at any time. Please note this is a growing Trust and any other schools that may join the Trust during the tenure of this new catering contract may, at the Trust’s discretion, be added to this contract.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Hutton:-School-catering-services./J7A2Q7SP79
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/J7A2Q7SP79
GO Reference: GO-2025221-PRO-29524026
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Discovery Educational Trust
St Martin's House, St Martin's School, Hanging Hill Lane
Hutton
CM13 2HG
Country
United Kingdom