Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Acer Trust
Arnolds Way
Oxford
OX2 9JE
Contact
Ben Jones
Telephone
+44 1256467107
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
Education Institute
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Acer Trust - Catering Services (2024)
Reference number
MPN-10299
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 55524000 - School catering services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £7,780,980.83
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 2 - Icknield Community College
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 55524000 - School catering services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Main site or place of performance
Full details in tender documentation
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: All criteria are stated only in the procurement documents / Weighting: 90
Price - Weighting: 10
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.
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
The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 5 - Wood Green School
Lot No
5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 55524000 - School catering services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Main site or place of performance
Full details in tender documentation
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: All criteria are stated only in the procurement documents / Weighting: 90
Price - Weighting: 10
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.
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
The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1 - Botley School, Chalgrove Community Primary School, Stadhampton Primary School and Watlington Primary School
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 55524000 - School catering services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Main site or place of performance
Full details in tender documentation
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: All criteria are stated only in the procurement documents / Weighting: 90
Price - Weighting: 10
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.
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
The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 3 - Matthew Arnold School
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 55524000 - School catering services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Main site or place of performance
Full details in tender documentation
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: All criteria are stated only in the procurement documents / Weighting: 90
Price - Weighting: 10
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.
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
The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 4 - The Cooper School and Glory Farm Primary School
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 55524000 - School catering services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Main site or place of performance
Full details in tender documentation
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Acer Trust is currently out to tender for the provision of a full daily catering service.The services at the Trust schools are a mix of in-house and outsourced provision.The Contractor will be responsible for the provision of a full school food catering service for the pupils and staff at the Trust schools. This will consist of breakfast and morning breaks at some sites and full lunch service for each school day at all sites. The catering facilities at the school include the main dining areas and servery, plus some sites also have a hot and cold Grab and Go section in the main servery as well as separate servery areas such as a food truck and/or pod to alleviate queuing issues. All outlets are available to all pupils.Across the Trust there are currently 5,688 pupils on roll for the academic year 2024/25. Of this figure, 368 pupils are entitled to UIFSM and a further 670 to Free School Meals.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: All criteria are stated only in the procurement documents / Weighting: 90
Price - Weighting: 10
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years with two possible extensions of 12 months meaning a maximum contract length of five years.
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
The duration detailed above includes the initial term of three years as well as the two optional contract extension periods of 12 months each.
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: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-037064
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
Acer Trust
Lot No
1
Title
Catering Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Aspens Services Ltd
Ground Floor, Teme House, Whittington Hall
Whittington
WR5 2RY
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG12 - Worcestershire
Internet address
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: £990,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,315,157.22
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
Acer Trust
Lot No
2
Title
Catering Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Dolce Ltd
Lowton Business Park, Newton Road
Lowton
WA3 2AN
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD4 - Lancashire
Internet address
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £1,050,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,280,841.91
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
Acer Trust
Lot No
3
Title
Catering Services
A contract/lot is awarded: No
five.1) Information on non-award
The contract/lot is not awarded
No tenders or requests to participate were received or all were rejected
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
Acer Trust
Lot No
4
Title
Catering Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Dolce Ltd
Lowton Business Park, Newton Road
Lowton
WA3 2AN
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD4 - Lancashire
Internet address
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £1,230,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £2,555,877.02
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
Acer Trust
Lot No
5
Title
Catering Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Culinera Limited
12 The Broadway
Amersham
HP7 0HP
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ13 - Buckinghamshire CC
Internet address
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £1,725,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £2,629,104.68
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Acer Trust incorporated a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract was communicated to tenderers. That notification provided full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which was for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provided time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract was entered into. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).