Tender

ACES Academies trust ~ Catering Tender

ACES ACADEMIES TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

04 Feb 2025 at 19:05

Summary of the contracting process

The ACES Academies Trust has initiated a tender process for a catering services contract, valued at £2,500,000, under a restricted procedure. The procurement is intended for the Trust's schools in Cambridgeshire, including Hinchingbrooke School and four primary schools within a 5-mile radius of Huntingdon. The procurement stage is active, with the deadline for submission on 14th March 2025. The contract, starting on 1st August 2025, will initially run for three years, concluding on 31st July 2028, with an option to extend for an additional two years. The procurement category is services, specifically school catering services, and it aims to consolidate catering operations under a single supplier for operational and commercial efficiency.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses with expertise in school catering, especially those that can demonstrate innovation and a strong understanding of the educational environment. SMEs and companies experienced in managing both primary and secondary school catering are particularly well-suited to compete. The contract entails providing comprehensive catering services, including hospitality and free issue requirements, with a focus on utilising seasonal products and ensuring customer engagement for continuous service improvement. Businesses with local operations will benefit from logistical advantages, ensuring effective contract management and support. Additionally, contractors with capital investment capabilities can propose longer contract terms, creating further growth and partnership opportunities.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

ACES Academies trust ~ Catering Tender

Notice Description

ACES Academies Trust currently comprises one large secondary School (Hinchingbrooke School) and four primary school (Cromwell Academy, Godmanchester Bridge Academy, Godmanchester Community Academy and Spaldwick Primary school), all situated on the western approaches to Huntingdon and within a 5-mile radius.

Lot Information

Lot 1

ACES Academies Trust currently comprises one large secondary School (Hinchingbrooke School) and four primary school (Cromwell Academy, Godmanchester Bridge Academy, Godmanchester Community Academy and Spaldwick Primary school), all situated on the western approaches to Huntingdon and within a 5-mile radius. All schools within the Trust offer an environment for students to flourish and achieve their full potential through creativity. The schools have facilities constructed within the last 5 years through to a Grade 1 listed property at Hinchingbrooke School dating back to the mediaeval times. We estimate the annual Contract turnover to be in excess of PS500k which involves the feeding of over 3,000 pupils per day. This is the first time that the Trust has been able to bundle its catering service to one supplier (currently there are 3 incumbent suppliers) and the Trust is keen to fully understand through this process both the commercial and operational advantages of having five schools under the same diligent and imaginative catering partner. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor with skill and expertise to thrive within the mix of primary and secondary feeding, of pupils and staff, and whose initiative and innovation will be evident throughout the ITT process and beyond. The duration of the contract being offered is initially for three years commencing on 1 August 2025 and concluding on 31 July 2028. There will be an option to extend the contract for a further two years by mutual agreement. At this stage we anticipate that the contract will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the Trust a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of core catering services at each school. Sovereignty of the cash tariff/ parent selling price is to remain with the Trust for the duration of this contract. The current contract term for Hinchingbrooke was assisted by a large capital investment from the incumbent caterer to provide equipment and fabric for a new dining hall facility and although there are no capital projects like this in any of the five schools, there could be a need for improved prime cooking equipment in the kitchens across the estate which could be funded via contractor. Hence, inward capital investment is important and contractors at ITT stage, will be requested to submit outline plans and funding options for this project. As stated, the initial contract period would be 3 years, but the school will welcome proposals for investment options for longer contract tenures, for example 5 or 7 years. This will be discussed in more detail with shortlisted companies at the site meeting. The contract will cover the scope for the provision of all catering services within the Schools of the Trust, which also includes all hospitality and free issue requirements, which are to be recharged on consumption at "net" food cost only. Bidding contractors with prior knowledge of Hinchingbrooke may remember some additional Hospitality requirements to support the Wedding and Events business at Hinchingbrooke house - but this element will not be in scope of this process. It is expected that menus will feature and utilise products in season when available. Customer engagement will be fundamental to the continuous improvement in the service provision and within your tender response your methodology to this will need to be detailed along with examples of where this has been undertaken within similar contracts recently. The successful contractor should have similar operations within the local area thus ensuring that the Operational Management Team responsible for the contract is available for regular unplanned visits and support for the contract, and that coverage for any planned or unplanned leave from within the establishment staffing structure can be easily provided. See SQ Document for more information Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/2BD9M55V9X

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04dba8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003739-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services


CPV Codes

55524000 - School catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
14 Mar 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2030 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ACES ACADEMIES TRUST
Additional Buyers

CROMWELL ACADEMY

GODMANCHESTER BRIDGE ACADEMY

GODMANCHESTER COMMUNITY ACADEMY

HINCHINGBROOKE SCHOOL

SPALDWICK PRIMARY SCHOOL

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1276673880

Buyer Location

Locality
HUNTINGDON
Postcode
PE29 3BN
Post Town
Peterborough
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC

Local Authority
Huntingdonshire
Electoral Ward
Alconbury
Westminster Constituency
Huntingdon

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04dba8-2025-02-04T19:05:05Z",
    "date": "2025-02-04T19:05:05Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04dba8",
    "description": "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-Huntingdon:-School-catering-services./2BD9M55V9X To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/2BD9M55V9X GO Reference: GO-202524-PRO-29301624",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04dba8",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "ACES Academies trust ~ Catering Tender",
        "status": "active",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "55524000",
            "description": "School catering services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "ACES Academies Trust currently comprises one large secondary School (Hinchingbrooke School) and four primary school (Cromwell Academy, Godmanchester Bridge Academy, Godmanchester Community Academy and Spaldwick Primary school), all situated on the western approaches to Huntingdon and within a 5-mile radius.",
        "value": {
            "amount": 2500000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "ACES Academies Trust currently comprises one large secondary School (Hinchingbrooke School) and four primary school (Cromwell Academy, Godmanchester Bridge Academy, Godmanchester Community Academy and Spaldwick Primary school), all situated on the western approaches to Huntingdon and within a 5-mile radius. All schools within the Trust offer an environment for students to flourish and achieve their full potential through creativity. The schools have facilities constructed within the last 5 years through to a Grade 1 listed property at Hinchingbrooke School dating back to the mediaeval times. We estimate the annual Contract turnover to be in excess of PS500k which involves the feeding of over 3,000 pupils per day. This is the first time that the Trust has been able to bundle its catering service to one supplier (currently there are 3 incumbent suppliers) and the Trust is keen to fully understand through this process both the commercial and operational advantages of having five schools under the same diligent and imaginative catering partner. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor with skill and expertise to thrive within the mix of primary and secondary feeding, of pupils and staff, and whose initiative and innovation will be evident throughout the ITT process and beyond. The duration of the contract being offered is initially for three years commencing on 1 August 2025 and concluding on 31 July 2028. There will be an option to extend the contract for a further two years by mutual agreement. At this stage we anticipate that the contract will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the Trust a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of core catering services at each school. Sovereignty of the cash tariff/ parent selling price is to remain with the Trust for the duration of this contract. The current contract term for Hinchingbrooke was assisted by a large capital investment from the incumbent caterer to provide equipment and fabric for a new dining hall facility and although there are no capital projects like this in any of the five schools, there could be a need for improved prime cooking equipment in the kitchens across the estate which could be funded via contractor. Hence, inward capital investment is important and contractors at ITT stage, will be requested to submit outline plans and funding options for this project. As stated, the initial contract period would be 3 years, but the school will welcome proposals for investment options for longer contract tenures, for example 5 or 7 years. This will be discussed in more detail with shortlisted companies at the site meeting. The contract will cover the scope for the provision of all catering services within the Schools of the Trust, which also includes all hospitality and free issue requirements, which are to be recharged on consumption at \"net\" food cost only. Bidding contractors with prior knowledge of Hinchingbrooke may remember some additional Hospitality requirements to support the Wedding and Events business at Hinchingbrooke house - but this element will not be in scope of this process. It is expected that menus will feature and utilise products in season when available. Customer engagement will be fundamental to the continuous improvement in the service provision and within your tender response your methodology to this will need to be detailed along with examples of where this has been undertaken within similar contracts recently. The successful contractor should have similar operations within the local area thus ensuring that the Operational Management Team responsible for the contract is available for regular unplanned visits and support for the contract, and that coverage for any planned or unplanned leave from within the establishment staffing structure can be easily provided. See SQ Document for more information Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/2BD9M55V9X",
                "value": {
                    "amount": 2500000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2025-08-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2030-07-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": false,
                "secondStage": {
                    "minimumCandidates": 5,
                    "maximumCandidates": 10
                },
                "selectionCriteria": {
                    "description": "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."
                },
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "allowed"
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "active"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKH12"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryLocation": {
                    "description": "Cambridgeshire CC"
                },
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "participationFees": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "type": [
                    "document"
                ]
            }
        ],
        "submissionMethod": [
            "written"
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "economic1",
                "documentType": "economicSelectionCriteria"
            },
            {
                "id": "technical1",
                "documentType": "technicalSelectionCriteria"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "selective",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Restricted procedure",
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-03-14T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "secondStage": {
            "invitationDate": "2025-04-07T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "submissionTerms": {
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "hasRecurrence": false,
        "contractTerms": {
            "hasElectronicOrdering": true,
            "electronicInvoicingPolicy": "allowed",
            "hasElectronicPayment": true
        }
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-137103",
            "name": "ACES Academies Trust",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "ACES Academies Trust"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Brampton Road",
                "locality": "Huntingdon",
                "region": "UKH12",
                "postalCode": "PE29 3BN",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "telephone": "+44 1276673880",
                "email": "tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk",
                "url": "https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/2BD9M55V9X"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.acesacademies.co.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "BODY_PUBLIC",
                        "description": "Body governed by public law"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "09",
                        "description": "Education"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-137104",
            "name": "Hinchingbrooke School",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Hinchingbrooke School"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Brampton Road",
                "locality": "Huntingdon",
                "region": "UKH12",
                "postalCode": "PE29 3BN",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.hinchingbrookeschool.net/"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-137105",
            "name": "Cromwell Academy",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Cromwell Academy"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Parkway",
                "locality": "Huntingdon",
                "region": "UKH12",
                "postalCode": "PE29 6JA",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.cromwellacademy.com/"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-137106",
            "name": "Godmanchester Bridge Academy",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Godmanchester Bridge Academy"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Butcher Drive, Godmanchester",
                "locality": "Huntingdon",
                "region": "UKH12",
                "postalCode": "PE29 2NL",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.godmanchesterbridge.co.uk/"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-137107",
            "name": "Godmanchester Community Academy",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Godmanchester Community Academy"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Park Lane, Godmanchester",
                "locality": "Huntingdon",
                "region": "UKH12",
                "postalCode": "PE29 2AG",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.godmanchester.cambs.sch.uk/"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-137108",
            "name": "Spaldwick Primary School",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Spaldwick Primary School"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Royston Avenue, Spaldwick",
                "locality": "Huntingdon",
                "region": "UKH12",
                "postalCode": "PE28 0TH",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.spaldwickschool.org.uk/"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-137109",
            "name": "ACES Academies trust",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "ACES Academies trust"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Brampton Road",
                "locality": "Huntingdon",
                "postalCode": "PE29 3BN",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "tenders@litmuspartnership.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-137103",
        "name": "ACES Academies Trust"
    },
    "language": "en"
}