Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Royal National College for the Blind
Venns Ln, Esh Plaza, Sir Bobby Robson Wa
Hereford
HR1 1DT
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Telephone
+44 1276673880
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG1 - Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
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/U7PPC4H77N
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
Royal National College for the Blind ~ 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 Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) is honoured to be the UK’s leading specialist residential College of further education for people with a visual impairment.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,020,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG1 - Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Main site or place of performance
Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) is honoured to be the UK’s leading specialist residential College of further education for people with a visual impairment. Since 1872, RNC have been building on their expertise and successes, which enable the College to offer a variety of products and services to a diverse audience. It’s not all about education for the 80 or so learners who come through the doors each year – the College also offer specialist training and support to businesses and other education providers and specialist professionals working with visually impaired people.
The College is proud of its history of over 140 years and the pioneering work it continues to do, including sports, lobbying, work based learning and independent living skills. Partnerships with key organisations, businesses and individuals enables the student body to participate in a range of activities from Duke of Edinburgh Awards to national elite sports events – amazing experiences that students feel really add to and change their lives. The Royal National College for the Blind is a College with a difference and their aim is simple: to empower their Students with the skills, confidence and independence they need to realise their potential and take the next step towards their future. RNC is big enough to provide all the opportunities, resources and support Students are looking for, but small enough to offer an individual and special learning experience.
The Royal National College for the Blind is the UK’s leading specialist residential College for people aged 16+ who are blind or visually impaired. With over 140 years’ experience, the College stands firm in its original aim to enable each and every student to achieve their potential and engage fully in their community.
RNC Vision People with visual impairment have true equality.
RNC Mission Education, employment and empowerment for people with a visual impairment
Since 2007 the College has owned and operated a sports centre and gym that is open seven days a week to members of the public. As part of this facility there is a Pod area serving food and beverages to the users of the centre, staff and students, and visitors to the College.
The College also run a number of conferences and events during the year for which the successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services.
The successful tenderer will therefore be required to provide all catering services at Royal National College for the Blind, and to develop and significantly grow the food and beverage provision at the Pod therefore increasing its profitability.
The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1 Aug 2025 until 31 July 2028, with the option to extend the contract term for a further term of up to two, one years and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the College a guaranteed cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with Royal National College for the Blind for the duration of this contract.
The College year is based on a calendar of 36 weeks for students; however, the sports centre and gym are open to the public 52 weeks. The catering service for students can be reduced in non-term time, however a service will be required for any conferences and events, and a full service will still be required for catering to the public from the Coffee Pod.
There are up to 100 students who are residential students and who reside within the College for five or seven days per week, over 36 weeks per annum.
These students will receive, as part of their daily meal entitlement, the following provision:
•Lunch
•Evening Meal
In addition, student self-catering Breakfast Provisions are sent to the halls, which are to be supplied by the successful contractor.
Please 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: £1,020,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 August 2025
End date
31 July 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
31 January 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-Hereford:-School-catering-services./U7PPC4H77N
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/U7PPC4H77N
GO Reference: GO-20241216-PRO-28904934
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal National College for the Blind
Venns Ln, Esh Plaza, Sir Bobby Robson Wa
Hereford
HR1 1DT
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Telephone
+44 1276673880
Country
United Kingdom