Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Northern Star Academies Trust
SGHS Business Centre, Gargrave Road
Skipton
BD23 1QN
Contact
Liz Ellory-Hoare
Telephone
+44 1423810985
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKE22 - North Yorkshire CC
Internet address(es)
Main 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
Northern Star Academies Trust Framework Agreement Catering Tender
Reference number
2021/S 000-018392
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 55524000 - School catering services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Northern Star Academies Trust wish to be at the forefront of School catering and as such
require a modern, branded offer that reflects the leading trends in the industry.
At this time, the Trust's wish is to commence a catering contract, with a partner who shares
their vision for a customer-focused service that attracts the maximum number of students
while driving for some radical environmental aspirations. The meals that are to be provided
must be appealing to customers, imaginative, provide good value for money and comply with
the national Standards for School Lunches.
Beyond this however, the Trust are looking to provide a consistent Trust wide narrative to
promote healthy and sustainable practices, while developing ways to engage stakeholders in
the vision of greener attitudes, local provenance and food that looks fresh and has a story.
The Trust has collaborated through a series of workshops, to create a Food and Catering
Charter which collates the vision for catering within the Trust.
Pupil and staff feedback has focused on speed of service, single use plastics and removing
unhealthy options. For full feedback please see the included survey responses from Primary,
Secondary and Staff stakeholders.
Therefore, the aim of this tender is to find a commercially realistic partner, who is forward
thinking and collaborative in their approach. The Trust have determined to utilise the charter
below which incorporates this feedback, when measuring the prospective partners for this
Contract.
The Contractor shall acknowledge that TUPE will apply to this contract.
It is requirement of the Contractor that an on-site area management support function is
available from the start of the contract for a minimum of one month. The Contractor shall
ensure that the current catering team's strengths and weaknesses are assessed immediately
at the start of the contract and provide tailored training to address their development needs.
The Contractor will provide regular management support on an on-going basis including
training, marketing and HR for the duration of the contract.
It is a requirement that the Contractor must provide an ABS pension for the contract, which
will allow staff who TUPE to retain access to their LGPS pension.
The Contractor must ensure that equality of service provision is provided through menu
choice ensuring particular requirements are met for religious and dietary requirements e.g.,
Halal, vegetarian, vegan, medical diets.
Skipton Girls, Harrogate High and New Park Schools have a requirement for an HFA Halal
provision. They would not like HFA meat to be the basis of the menu, but simply an additional
choice. Consideration of food separation and preparation will need to be shown.
Eastwood and Holycroft Primaries both have a requirement for HMC Halal provision for the
majority of pupils.
The Contractor should ensure that their purchasing for all produce, which is to be used in
Halal meals, conforms to the HMC requirements for these sites and that this can be easily
and readily demonstrated to the students and their parents and guardians. Food preparation
and delivery must also conform to Halal requirements.
Where HMC cannot be provided at these Schools, the Trust will require some detail for
alternative solutions.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £229,500
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 15894210 - School meals
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
Main site or place of performance
Northern Star Academies Trust
Skipton Girls High School
Harrogate High School
Greatwood Primary School
New Park Primary School
Hookstone Primary School
Eastwood Community Primary School
Holycroft Primary School
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
3 year Framework Agreement with two optional 1 year extensions for Catering Services at Northern Star Academies Trust
1st January 2022- 31st December 2024
Skipton Girls High School
Harrogate High School
Greatwood Primary School
New Park Primary School
Hookstone Primary School
1st April 2022- 31st December 2024
Eastwood Community Primary School
Holycroft Primary School
Tender Schedule
Issue of Invitation to Tender 2nd August 2021
Bidding companies to visit The Schools 10th and 11th August 2021
Deadline for return of Tender Responses 15th September 2021
Presentation by shortlisted Bidders to The Trust 6th October 2021
References site visits week commencing w/c 11th October 2021
Contract award by Monday 18th October 2021
Mobilisation Meeting TBC
Contract commencement 1st January 2022 for Harrogate and Skipton
1st September 2022 for Keighley (amended)
Site Visits Breakdown
Skipton Girls High School at 9:30am on Tuesday 10th August 2021
Greatwood Primary School at 11:30am on Tuesday 10th August 2021
Eastwood Primary School at 1:00pm on Tuesday 10th August 2021
Holycroft Primary School at 2:00pm on Tuesday 10th August 2021
Hookstone Primary School at 9:30am on Wednesday 11th August 2021
Starbeck Primary School at 10:30am on Wednesday 11th August
Harrogate High School at 11:30am on Wednesday 11th August 2021
New Park Primary School at 1:00pm on Wednesday 11th August 2021
All of the tenders will be subject to a detailed evaluation process, which will be based on an appropriate balance between sound commercial principles, technical expertise and a firm commitment to meeting all of the Trust's requirements. The Evaluation Matrix below, details the requirements of this tender including weighting. The Trust shall be under no obligation to accept the lowest of any tender prices submitted hereunder.
The Trust will be utilising a partnership document to evaluate Contractors and gauge how the services will align with the vision for all customers and stakeholders. This a long with the commercial considerations, will be measured to shortlist Catering partners.
You will see that the corresponding Food and Catering Vision (below) details the service vision as formulated by leaders, senior leaders and pupils. We are inviting Contractors to commit to as many of the elements as possible within their submission, through the Food and Catering Charter which we have used to formulate our Qualitative evaluation.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Norther Star Academies Trust Catering
Profit/Subsidy
Investment
Total Score for Commercial Section 150
Quality
Food Quality/Provenance
Menu Offer
Special Dietary and Religious Provisions
Culture and Environment Service Quality
Contract Management
Staffing
Food Safety & HSE
Pensions and approach to TUPE
Mobilisation
Continuity of Service
Total Score for Quality Section 400
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 optional 1 year extensions
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2021/S 000-018392
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
29 October 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Aspens Services Ltd
Conyngham Hall
Knaresborough
HG5 9AY
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £172,500
Lowest offer: £140,000 / Highest offer: £320,880 taken into consideration
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Red Box Consultancy Services Ltd
3 Sceptre House, Hornbeam Park North
Harrogate
HG2 8PB
Country
United Kingdom