Dartford Science and Technology College ~ Catering Tender

Dartford Science and Technology College, a non‑selective girls’ secondary school with a post‑16 co‑educational unit, is inviting suppliers to provide all on‑site catering services for its 860 pupils and 101 staff members. The tender seeks a contractor capable of enhancing the current menu offering through innovative food concepts that cater to diverse tastes and dietary needs, while maintaining the school's high standards of nutrition and student satisfaction. The new service contract will be in force for three years, from 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2030, and will operate on a guaranteed performance basis, allowing the School to preserve control over cash tariffs and ensuring a predictable cost per annum for daily school activities.

The scope of work includes morning break refreshments, full lunch provision, all hospitality services, and free issue of meals and refreshments, to be supplied on 190 school days within a 195‑day academic calendar that allocates five days for professional staff development. The incumbent contractor will receive consumption data for free meals and hospitality, charging the School at net food cost, and will be expected to review and recommend improvements to the current catering mix.
The contractor must comply with the School’s standards for child‑wholesome food sourcing and meet applicable health and safety regulatory requirements.

DSTC is a nurturing, engaging local authority maintained 11-18 school where students achieve well and flourish. DSTC is unique in Dartford as the only non-selective school for girls.In addition we have a coeducational Post 16. We pride ourselves on the excellent relationships between staff, students and parents. We are committed to providing enriched opportunities and experiences that promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM), while actively cultivating an ethos that values learning and ensures our students are safe, happy, and empowered to achieve. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 860 students on roll and 101 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The School would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1/8/2027 to 31/7/2030 and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the School a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with Dartford Science and Technology College for the duration of this contract. The School year is based on a calendar of 195 days. Five days are to be used for staff professional development which means that School will be open to receive students for the legal minimum of 190 days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the School, which currently includes morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. Whilst the School prioritises value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, the Governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price.
Please see PSQ Document for more information.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at:
https://litmustms.co.uk/tenders/UK-UK-Kent:-School-catering-services./FXPT3F6NM9
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/FXPT3F6NM9

Contract location: UKJ4
Communication: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/FXPT3F6NM9
Enquiry deadline: 2026-10-30T12:00:00+00:00
Submission address and any special instructions: https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/FXPT3F6NM9
Tenders may be submitted electronically: allowed
Award decision date (estimated): 2027-03-29T23:59:59+01:00

Lot: 1
Lot value (estimated)

1.373.260,00 GBP including VAT
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: 3+2 Please see PSQ Document for more information.

Award criteria:

Name	Type	Weighting
Criterion 1	quality	70%
Criterion 2	price	30%

Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En