---
title: "Dorset Schools ~ Tender for Catering Services."
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-1aaae3d1-4b4c-49db-9739-252ab5ffb84c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1aaae3d1-4b4c-49db-9739-252ab5ffb84c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1aaae3d1-4b4c-49db-9739-252ab5ffb84c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1aaae3d1-4b4c-49db-9739-252ab5ffb84c.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE LITMUS PARTNERSHIP LTD"
published: "2018-08-29"
---

# Dorset Schools ~ Tender for Catering Services.

Buyer: THE LITMUS PARTNERSHIP LTD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-1aaae3d1-4b4c-49db-9739-252ab5ffb84c

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1aaae3d1-4b4c-49db-9739-252ab5ffb84c)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1aaae3d1-4b4c-49db-9739-252ab5ffb84c.json)

## Summary

The procurement process pertains to the tender for catering services for several schools in Dorset, specifically Sturminster Newton High School, The Blandford School, The Purbeck School, and Highcliffe School. The buying organisation is The Litmus Partnership Ltd, which plans to award the contract in lots, allowing multiple suppliers to provide services. The contract, commencing on 23 July 2018, will last for three years with a potential two-year extension. Key dates to note include the closing date for the Selection Questionnaire on 19 January 2018 and a site visit scheduled for 27 and 28 February 2018. This procurement falls under the category of school catering services and employs a selective procurement method through a restricted procedure above the threshold.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the catering industry, particularly those capable of delivering diverse and scalable catering services for educational institutions. Suppliers with experience in school or institutional catering, particularly those who can ensure quality service across multiple locations, are encouraged to apply. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may find this procurement particularly advantageous, given its structured approach, and they are well-suited to compete in this sector. Engaging with this contract could enable growth through the establishment of long-term relationships within the educational sector in the South West region.

## Notice

The successful Supplier/s will be required to provide catering services for the following schools (the Client): - Sturminster Newton High School. - The Blandford School. - The Purbeck School. - Highcliffe School. The contract will be awarded in lots, therefore not necessarily awarded to one Supplier. The scope will be for the provision of all catering within the schools, which currently includes breakfast club, morning break, lunch, limited hospitality and free issue requirements. The combined annual turnover of the schools is approximately PS830,000. All the schools will be visited over 27 and 28 February 2018. Suppliers invited to tender will need to have one representative per organization to visit each school concurrently: 15 minutes mid-morning break and lunch services at each of the secondary schools. The contract will commence on 23 July 2018 for a period of 3 years, with a possible extension of 2 years by mutual consent and on the same terms and conditions as the original contract. Additional information: Interest in the selection process should be expressed via email only to pqq@litmuspartnership.co.uk clearly stating within this email which contract / notice you are referring to. Please also provide, as a minimum, a contact name, full company postal address and telephone number. The Selection Questionnaire and associated documents can be obtained at: https://www.litmuspartnership.co.uk/project/dorset_schools The closing date for receipt of the Selection Questionnaire is 19.1.2018 (12:00). Suppliers are required to ensure that documents are obtained and returned to The Litmus Partnership Limited, by email to pqq@litmuspartnership.co.uk by the above closing date and time. Documents in respect of economic / financial standing (where indicated in the Selection Questionnaire) shall be returned to The Litmus Partnership Limited, by email to pqq@litmuspartnership.co.uk by the above closing date and time. 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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8509e383-bf15-41d5-9081-ebbe4967c6f9 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Restricted procedure (above threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 29 Aug 2018 |
| Submission deadline | 19 Jan 2018 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 May 2018 |
| Contract period | 22 Jul 2018 - 31 Aug 2023 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £4,150,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £4,577,977 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE LITMUS PARTNERSHIP LTD |
| Locality | DORSET |
| Post town | Dorchester |
| Postcode | DT10 1DT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset |
| ITL 3 | TLK64 Dorset |
| Local authority | Dorset |
| Electoral ward | Sturminster Newton |
| Westminster constituency | North Dorset |
| Delivery location | TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | CATER LINK; TAYLOR SHAW |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

### Codes

- 55524000 - School catering services

## Release History

- 29 Aug 2018 at 16:27 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8509e383-bf15-41d5-9081-ebbe4967c6f9
- 13 Dec 2017 at 11:26 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3528423a-1fe1-466b-a357-742e73685639

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8509e383-bf15-41d5-9081-ebbe4967c6f9
  29th August 2018 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3528423a-1fe1-466b-a357-742e73685639
  13th December 2017 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.litmuspartnership.co.uk/project/dorset_schools
  SQ Documentation ~ Dorset Schools

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1aaae3d1-4b4c-49db-9739-252ab5ffb84c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1aaae3d1-4b4c-49db-9739-252ab5ffb84c.json.