Tender: Catering Services for Six Mulberry Schools in London and East Sussex

About

Mulberry Schools Trust is seeking a supplier to provide comprehensive catering services to six of its schools — Mulberry Academy Bexhill, Mulberry Academy Hastings, Mulberry Academy St Leonards, Mulberry Baird Primary, Mulberry Silverdale Primary and Mulberry West St Leonards Primary — for an initial two-year contract from 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2029 with the Trust holding options to extend up to a further three years (maximum contract end date 31 July 2032). The successful contractor will deliver breakfast, morning break, lunchtime, after-school and ad‑hoc hospitality services, with an emphasis on freshly prepared meals using high‑quality, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients prepared on site wherever practicable, menus that meet School Food Standards and are responsive to the needs of primary and secondary pupils, strong food safety and allergen management, inclusive access for pupils with dietary or cultural requirements, environmental sustainability, clear financial value and workforce development. The contract is a guaranteed performance contract with hospitality billed separately, the annual current contract value is £1,608,161 (total value stated £8,040,809), and minimum tender requirements include employers' and public liability insurance of £5 million, annual turnover of at least £1 million, available liquidity of at least £200,000 and a quick ratio of at least 0.9. Incumbent catering staff are currently within the Local Government Pension Scheme and the existing provider is Accent Catering; the Trust may add other schools during the contract term and the successful tenderer must pay the RIVA tender fee upon contract award.