Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
The Circle Trust
The Oval Offices c/o St Crispin’s School, London Road
Wokingham
RG40 1SS
UK
Contact person: Rachel OGrady
Telephone: +44 1252977017
E-mail: tenders@rivapartnership.co.uk
NUTS: UKJ11
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://thecircletrust.co.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://thecircletrust.co.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
The Circle Trust - Catering Tender
II.1.2) Main CPV code
55524000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The contract requires excellent catering services to be delivered to all schools within The Circle Trust (8 primary and 2 secondary schools at present) - based in Wokingham
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
8 140 445.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ11
Main site or place of performance:
Berkshire
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Circle Trust is an educational charity, that exists to do one thing, to promote education for the public benefit. We are a community of schools that have shared values and an essential common ethos and vision for education and learning.
We seek a catering contractor who will work in partnership with us and who will mirror our highest standards.
More information with regards to Circle Trust can be obtained here: https://thecircletrust.co.uk/
Our Schools: 1.Badgemore Primary School. 2.Emmbrook Infant School. 3.Emmbrook Junior School. 4.Nine Mile Ride Primary School. 5.Shinfield Infant and Nursery School. 6.St Crispin’s Secondary School. 7.The Emmbrook School (Secondary). 8.Wescott Infant School. 9.Westende Junior School. 10.The Hawthorns Primary School
All 10 schools listed above (two secondary and 8 primary schools) - are participating in this tender. Please note this is a growing Trust where one additional schools may join during this tender process. Please note that any other schools not listed above that may join the Trust during the tenure of this new catering contract may, at the Trust’s discretion, be added to this contract.
Tender information:
The successful tenderer will be required to provide excellent catering services to the Schools. The contract term being tendered is for three years 1st September 2025 – 31st August 2028. There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31st August 2030. (Please note that Emmbrook Infant School, Emmbrook Junior School and The Hawthorns Primary School will commence their new contract one month earlier on 1st August 2025) The contract offers an excellent opportunity to review and propose enhancements to the current catering services at all of the Schools within the Trust. This includes but is not limited to; breakfast, morning break, lunchtime and after school services, over the academic year of 190 days. The Trust is keen to secure one provider to deliver catering services to all schools. The Trust requires continuity of excellence in both service delivery and management across all schools, with the bespoke requirements of each unique school taken into account and accommodated in the offer. The Trust is keen to secure a high quality catering service including fresh locally sourced ingredients prepared on site, with a menu design that is flexible to suit the requirements of each of the school’s specific students. The Trust is proud of it’s ‘family ethos’ and expects both a tightly managed service and a management style delivered by the successful contractor that supports, encourages and develops the catering staff. The Trust is not obliged to accept the lowest price submitted for this tender, rather the school is keen to secure ‘best value’ from this contract and to deliver ‘best value’ to it’s students. Innovative and creative ideas as to how the services can be developed and value added, will be welcomed. The Trust seeks a contractor that is keen to work in partnership and who will deliver to it’s highest abilities, at all times
The value of this contract is £6,141,755. The contract shall be a guaranteed performance contract with any hospitality requirements billed separately
Additional requirements and information:
•The Trust has a minimum requirement for a contractor’s employers' liability and public liability insurance of £5 million
•The minimum annual turnover that your company must have achieved to be considered for this opportunity is £1 million
•There are not any incumbent catering staff currently within the Local Government Pension Scheme at the schools
•The catering services are currently provided by: The School Lunch Company for Badgemore Primary School, Dolce for Emmbrook Infant School, Emmbrook Junior School and The Hawthorns Primary School, Aspens for all other schools
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Criterion 1
/ Weighting: 70
Cost criterion: Criterion 1
/ Weighting: 30
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/355J96W4XR
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-037089
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12/05/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 5
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Culinera Limited
12382186
Rose House, Old Saw Mill Place, Little Chalfont, Amersham
Buckinghamshire
HP6 6FA
UK
E-mail: sales@culinera.co.uk
NUTS: UKJ13
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 8 140 445.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=974269790 GO Reference: GO-2025910-PRO-32261981
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The Circle Trust
The Oval Offices c/o St Crispin’s School, London Road
Wokingham
RG40 1SS
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/09/2025