Orbital South Colleges Catering Services: East Surrey College & John Ruskin College
A practical guide to understanding what the buyer really wants and how to build a winning response.
Think about what "best value" really means
When I look at this tender, the phrase "best value" stands out.
It's not just about cost.
Orbital South Colleges (OSC) want a partner who delivers great tasting food and meets the needs of students, staff and visitors alike.
They're not just looking for a catering service.
They're looking for a holistic approach that includes healthy eating, service innovation and sustainability.
That's the mindset you need to adopt.
The contract covers East Surrey College and John Ruskin College, both part of a larger education group offering a wide range of courses. It's a multi-site operation where experience with similar educational settings will be beneficial.
Don't just serve food. Educate and engage.
This tender isn't just about serving meals.
OSC wants a partner who can offer added value through food education and sustainability initiatives.
Think about how you can engage students and staff with the food you provide.
Could you run workshops on nutrition?
What about events that highlight the importance of sustainable eating?
These are the kinds of ideas that could set your proposal apart.
Healthy eating isn't a box-ticking exercise
OSC is clear: healthy eating is important.
But it’s not just a requirement to meet government guidelines.
It's about genuinely offering meals that support the well-being of everyone on campus.
I'd suggest detailing how your menu plans incorporate balanced, nutritious options.
And how you plan to make these options appealing and accessible to students.
Service innovation is more than just a buzzword
Innovation is another key theme.
But it's not about gimmicks.
OSC is looking for practical enhancements that improve the catering service.
How can you streamline service to reduce queues?
Could technology play a role in making ordering and payment easier?
These are the kinds of innovations that matter.
Pay attention to what they say
The documents are clear that OSC values a proactive approach to service development.
They're looking for a contractor who will propose practical enhancements and innovative ideas.
This means they want to see how you'll continually improve and adapt the service over the contract's life.
Quality beats the lowest price here.
That's crucial for shaping your response.
Evidence always beats promises
It's easy to promise the moon.
But what really matters is evidence.
Evidence that you can deliver a great service.
I'd include case studies from similar multi-site educational settings.
Show how you’ve successfully implemented innovative solutions and healthy eating initiatives before.
Consistency is key over the contract term
This contract runs for three years initially, with the potential to extend to five.
So, consistency will be crucial.
How will you handle staff turnover?
What's your plan for maintaining standards across different campuses?
I'd want to see procedures for regular performance reviews and staff training updates.
Think about how you’ll ensure the same high standards are met every day.
One thing I'd keep reminding myself
In the end, it's all about the students, staff and visitors.
They're the ones who will experience your service daily.
I'd keep asking: "How does this benefit them?"
Every decision should revolve around making their experience better.
Common mistakes
Avoid submissions that:
- Focus solely on cost without addressing quality and innovation
- Ignore the importance of healthy eating and sustainability
- Lack evidence of past success in similar settings
- Fail to propose practical service enhancements
- Overlook the need for consistent service delivery
- Forget the importance of engaging students and staff
- Neglect to address the multi-site operational challenges
- Don't demonstrate understanding of TUPE implications
My Final Thoughts
OSC is looking for more than just a catering contractor.
They want a partner who brings value through innovation, education and sustainability.
The contract is valued at £1,900,000, spanning from March 2027 to March 2030, with possible extensions to 2032.
Understanding that quality matters more than price will be critical in your written submission.
Focus on what makes your service unique and how it aligns with OSC's goals.
Thanks for reading.
I hope this guide has helped make public procurement feel a little less daunting. If it has, then it's done its job.
P.S. Got a question?
If you've got a question about anything you've read, or you're stuck on a tender, just send me an email.
Whether it's a quick question or you simply need pointing in the right direction, I'm always happy to help if I can.
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Our guides are written using publicly available procurement information, including contract notices and published tender documents where available. They are designed to help suppliers understand the buyer's likely priorities and think more strategically about their approach. They are not based on any bidder's confidential submission, bespoke bid strategy or non-public procurement information.