FitzWimarc School Catering Services Tender

FitzWimarc School, a comprehensive secondary school with approximately 1,800 pupils in Rayleigh, Essex, is seeking a catering contractor to provide food services from September 2027 to August 2030, with a potential two-year extension. The three-year contract is valued at £3,361,925 (annual value £672,385) and covers breakfast, morning break, lunch, and after-school services for 1,770 pupils (12% eligible for free meals) and 230 staff members. The school prioritizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients prepared on-site with menus tailored to student needs, and emphasizes partnership-based management that supports catering staff development. Given the school's outstanding sporting reputation, the contractor must provide nutritious, high-quality food to fuel students' extensive extracurricular activities. The contract will operate during a five-year school rebuilding programme, with the Sixth Form servery temporarily relocating in 2030 before moving to a permanent facility, requiring flexibility and adaptability. Evaluation will use a two-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure (stage 1: PSQ shortlisting up to 10 candidates; stage 2: ITT scored 35% price and 65% quality). Bidders must demonstrate employers' and public liability insurance of £5 million minimum, annual turnover of at least £1 million, and commitment to delivering best value rather than lowest cost. The current contractor is Accent Catering.