Contract

The Circle Trust - Catering Tender

  • The Circle Trust

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-055518

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04b709 (view related notices)

Published 10 September 2025, 4:05pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

The Circle Trust

The Oval Offices c/o St Crispin’s School, London Road

Wokingham

RG40 1SS

Contact

Rachel OGrady

Email

tenders@rivapartnership.co.uk

Telephone

+44 1252977017

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ11 - Berkshire

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://thecircletrust.co.uk

Buyer's address

https://thecircletrust.co.uk

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 Circle 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 contract requires excellent catering services to be delivered to all schools within The Circle Trust (8 primary and 2 secondary schools at present) - based in Wokingham

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: £8,140,445

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ11 - Berkshire
Main site or place of performance

Berkshire

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Circle Trust is an educational charity, that exists to do one thing, to promote education for the public benefit. We are a community of schools that have shared values and an essential common ethos and vision for education and learning.

We seek a catering contractor who will work in partnership with us and who will mirror our highest standards.

More information with regards to Circle Trust can be obtained here: https://thecircletrust.co.uk/

Our Schools: 1.Badgemore Primary School. 2.Emmbrook Infant School. 3.Emmbrook Junior School. 4.Nine Mile Ride Primary School. 5.Shinfield Infant and Nursery School. 6.St Crispin’s Secondary School. 7.The Emmbrook School (Secondary). 8.Wescott Infant School. 9.Westende Junior School. 10.The Hawthorns Primary School

All 10 schools listed above (two secondary and 8 primary schools) - are participating in this tender. Please note this is a growing Trust where one additional schools may join during this tender process. Please note that any other schools not listed above that may join the Trust during the tenure of this new catering contract may, at the Trust’s discretion, be added to this contract.

Tender information:

The successful tenderer will be required to provide excellent catering services to the Schools. 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. (Please note that Emmbrook Infant School, Emmbrook Junior School and The Hawthorns Primary School will commence their new contract one month earlier on 1st August 2025) The contract offers an excellent opportunity to review and propose enhancements to the current catering services at all of the Schools within the Trust. This includes but is not limited to; breakfast, morning break, lunchtime and after school services, over the academic year of 190 days. The Trust is keen to secure one provider to deliver catering services to all schools. The Trust requires continuity of excellence in both service delivery and management across all schools, with the bespoke requirements of each unique school taken into account and accommodated in the offer. The Trust is 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 each of the school’s specific students. The Trust is proud of it’s ‘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 Trust is not obliged to accept the lowest price submitted for this tender, rather the school is keen to secure ‘best value’ from this contract and to deliver ‘best value’ to it’s students. Innovative and creative ideas as to how the services can be developed and value added, will be welcomed. The Trust seeks a contractor that is keen to work in partnership and who will deliver to it’s highest abilities, at all times

The value of this contract is £6,141,755. The contract shall be a guaranteed performance contract with any hospitality requirements billed separately

Additional requirements and information:

•The Trust 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

•There are not any incumbent catering staff currently within the Local Government Pension Scheme at the schools

•The catering services are currently provided by: The School Lunch Company for Badgemore Primary School, Dolce for Emmbrook Infant School, Emmbrook Junior School and The Hawthorns Primary School, Aspens for all other schools

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Criterion 1 / Weighting: 70

Cost criterion - Name: Criterion 1 / Weighting: 30

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

two.2.14) Additional information

To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/355J96W4XR


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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2024/S 000-037089


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

12 May 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 5

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: 5

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

Rose House, Old Saw Mill Place, Little Chalfont, Amersham

Buckinghamshire

HP6 6FA

Email

sales@culinera.co.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ13 - Buckinghamshire CC
National registration number

12382186

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: £8,140,445

Total value of the contract/lot: £8,140,445


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

To view this notice, please click here:

https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=974269790 GO Reference: GO-2025910-PRO-32261981

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The Circle Trust

The Oval Offices c/o St Crispin’s School, London Road

Wokingham

RG40 1SS

Country

United Kingdom