Supply and Distribution of Ambient Meals, In-Cup Drinks and Related Items

The procurement of a framework agreement (the 'Framework Agreement') with one supplier for the supply and distribution of Ambient Meals, In-Cup Drinks and related items to the Contracting Authority and the other police forces for use in police custody units where required.

The Contracting Authority wishes to make the Framework Agreement available to itself and 42 other Participating Bodies. The term of the Framework Agreement will be for 4 years.

Accordingly, it is the intention that all the Participating Bodies should be able to rely on this procurement to purchase such goods without the need for any further procurement process. Full details of the exact goods required appear in the procurement documents, as well as details of the mechanisms to be used by the Participating Bodies to place orders for the goods under the Framework Agreement.

Ambient meals must be suitable for storage without the use of refrigerators or freezers and must have a minimum shelf life of twelve (12) month's from the time of delivery. All meals must be pre-cooked and individually prepared in containers suitable for reheating by microwave. Meals required under the Framework Agreement shall be suitable for a range of dietary, cultural and religious requirements such as Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Gluten Free, Lactose Free and Nut Free.

The Framework Agreement also requires the supply of in-cup drinks, snack options, ambient sides, breakfast items and other related items all as detailed more fully in the procurement documents. It is a key requirement that all items are suitable for use in a custody environment.

The full contracting names of all the Participating Bodies are set out in Appendix 3 of the draft ITPN. All of the Participating Bodies are Police Forces.

No guarantee of warranty is given as to the nature of volume, if any, of the goods or call-offs, if under the Framework Agreement. It is currently envisaged, though not guaranteed at this stage, that Kent, Essex and 35 other Forces will start to use the Framework Agreement for their requirements once the Framework Agreement is in place.

It is not envisaged that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) will apply to this Framework Agreement. Interested parties should see the further information provided in the procurement documents.

Additional information: Economic operators shall be solely responsible for all costs and expenses they incur in connection with participating in this procurement and under no circumstances will the Contracting Authority, or any of its advisers, be liable for any costs or expenses borne by any economic operator or its associated relevant organisations or any of its advisers in this process whether the economic operator is successful or otherwise.

The 36 Participating Bodies which have expressed an interest in using the Framework Agreement immediately are responsible for policing the following geographical areas; Avon & Somerset, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon & Cornwall, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Humberside, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Merseyside, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumbria, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Thames Valley, Warwickshire, West Mercia, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Scotland, Dyfed-Powys, Gwent, North Wales and South Wales.

The 6 Participating Bodies who have expressed a desire to have access to the Framework Agreement during its term police the following geographical areas (or are commonly known by the names listed); City of London Police, British Transport Police, Police Service Northern Ireland, Surrey, Sussex and The Metropolitan Police.

For this tender, the Kent Police Bravo Solution e-tendering portal will be used to coordinate the compilation, distribution and receipt of tenders electronically. All queries must be directed through the portal.

Please register to the E-Tendering Portal to view the tender documentation.