Catering Services and Food Procurement (CSFP) Toolkit
Obtaining a catering services provider for a large or multi-site operation
The Catering Services toolkit provides a methodology to include the five priority objectives of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative within the procurement process.
Under The Public Contract Regulations 2006 the tender process can be either "Restricted or Open". The "Restricted" process is a two stage procedure, which is used as a means to reduce the number of potential suppliers invited to take part in the final tender process.
An initial Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) is issued with all interested parties submitting their answers for evaluation. The evaluation of the PQQ will reduce the number of participants in the final tender normally to a maximum of seven. The seven successful participants are then invited to complete the "Invitation to Tender" (ITT).
The ITT consists of three phases, the questions; a self assessment spreadsheet; and a pricing matrix. The ITT is then evaluated for its technical merit and spreadsheet content. Those achieving a greater than 50% score from these sections will have their pricing submissions assessed and scored. It is important to emphasise that the pricing will not be assessed unless the tenderer achieves at least 50% from the questions and self assessment spreadsheet. The winning tender will be the supplier with the highest aggregated score from the questions, the spreadsheet and the pricing.
Should you have any queries, questions or observations relating to the documentation and/or process please contact us.
Templates and resources
- Sample adverts for ingredients / catering services and bidders' conference
- Sample pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ)
- Sample PQQ specification
- Sample PQQ evaluation model
- Sample invitation to tender (ITT)
- Sample ITT specification
- Sample ITT evaluation model
- Spreadsheet – Service Delivery Costs
- Spreadsheet – Service Delivery Produce
- PSFPI checklist
- Local Food Works (external website - opens in a new window)
See also the pages in this website on Costing options and Contract management
Page last modified: 21 February 2008
Page published: 21 February 2008