Catering Services for Maplesden Noakes School (3-Year Contract)

Maplesden Noakes School, a secondary school and sixth form in Maidstone, Kent with 1,413 pupils and 190 staff, seeks a catering contractor to deliver comprehensive food services. The contract runs from 1st August 2026 to 31st July 2029 (three years) with an optional two-year extension to 31st July 2031. The school requires high-quality catering including breakfast, morning breaks, lunches, and after-school services using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients prepared on-site. The successful contractor must provide flexible menu design tailored to student needs, balanced and healthy offerings, and strong student engagement initiatives. The school values partnership working, a supportive management style, and welcomes innovative ideas and capital investment. Evaluation will use a two-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure: Stage 1 (PSQ) will shortlist 5-10 candidates; Stage 2 (ITT) will evaluate on 35% price and 65% quality. The contract is valued at approximately £1.96 million over three years (based on current annual value of £391,000). Minimum requirements include £5 million employers' and public liability insurance, £1 million annual turnover, and no incumbency constraints. A RIVA tender fee applies upon contract award. The school is not obliged to accept the lowest bid and seeks best value delivery above all.