The FitzWimarc School - Cleaning Tender

The FitzWimarc School is a mixed comprehensive of approximately 1800 pupils. It has served the town of Rayleigh for approaching 90 years and has a long tradition of excellence in education.

The school has consistently achieved examination results that have been well above national averages. Our traditional values, where a caring, supportive environment is reinforced by high standards of behaviour, allow each and every child to develop a lifelong love of learning

We believe in a balanced curriculum that introduces and develops a wide range of skill areas to ensure stability and flexibility of learning. A high emphasis is placed upon the literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for success, whilst maintaining a wide range of academic, sporting and cultural opportunities. At FitzWimarc, our students can discover and develop talents and interests that they never knew they had.

The school has been selected by the Department for Education for inclusion in the School Rebuilding Programme and will undergo significant demolition and reconstruction. The project is currently at the planning stage, with proposals scheduled for submission early next year, and is expected to run for approximately five years. Works will be delivered in two main phases, during which a substantial proportion of teaching space will be housed in temporary accommodation. As the project evolves, the site layout and building footprint will change, with existing single-storey blocks being replaced initially by modular units and subsequently by permanent three-storey buildings. Given the scale and complexity of the programme, unforeseen challenges are likely. The successful contractor will therefore need to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility and responsiveness to ensure that safe, clean, and fit-for-purpose teaching and learning environments are maintained throughout the duration of the works for our students, staff, and wider community.

Further information regarding the School can be obtained here: https://www.fitzwimarc.com/

Tender information:

The successful tenderer will be required to provide excellent cleaning services at FitzWimarc School, which has 1784 pupils and 229 teaching and support staff.

The contract term being tendered for 3 years, from 01/09/2026 – 31/08/2029. There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31/08/2031.

The contract offers an excellent opportunity to review and propose enhancements to the current cleaning services at the schools. This includes both core term time cleaning and periodic deep cleaning throughout the year.

The school is keen to secure a high quality cleaning service whereby its students are able to enjoy excellence in education, supported by excellently kept facilities.

The school expects both a tightly managed service and high levels of productivity to be delivered by the cleaning staff at all times, and the school expects a management style delivered by the successful contractor that supports, encourages and develops the cleaning staff.

It is of keen importance that the school’s cleaning provider is flexible and responsive, and is able to work in partnership with the school during its rebuild program.

The school 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 its students. Innovative and creative ideas as to how the cleaning services can be developed and improved, will be welcomed. The school seeks a contractor that is keen to work in partnership and who will deliver to its highest abilities, at all times.

Competitive Flexible Procedure

This procurement will be run under the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This will follow a two stage approach, with stage 1 being the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). Here a minimum of 5 candidates (or less, in the event less than 5 meet the minimum criteria) and a maximum of 10 candidates, will progress to stage 2. Any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement and a minimum score of 60% must be achieved.

Selected tenderers will then be invited to stage 2, the Invitation To Tender (ITT). Here, the evaluation of tender response will be set as 35% price and 65% quality.

Value of contract:

The annual value of the current contract is £288,307.20

Therefore the value of this contract is £1,441,536.00

The contract shall be a fixed price contract with invoices raised monthly to the school. The tender process will be run under a two stage Competitive Flexible procedure.

Additional requirements and information:

•The school has a minimum requirement for a contractor’s employers' liability and public liability insurances 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 incumbent cleaning staff currently within the Local Government Pension Scheme

•The cleaning services are currently contracted to Birkin Group