The project issues
The Council wanted to procure system development services to enhance its existing school meals parent pay system and associated Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) system, in order to make it a comprehensive administrative and reporting solution. Socitm Consulting was asked to assist with the system procurement to ensure suppliers with the right system development and implementation expertise were found to deliver a system that met all the Council’s requirements.

The Socitm Consulting solution
First, an invitation to tender was issued under the OJEU Competitive Dialogue Procedure and a short list of suppliers selected. A Competitive Dialogue was initiated which facilitated a full and free exchange of views about the system and how it should be designed to best deliver the business benefits required. A final evaluation selected two suppliers who are now working in partnership with Croydon Council to deliver the system to the business model, with the scope for Croydon to participate in future sales.

The selected system will assist the Council with:

• Identifying pupil’s school meal eating habits, special dietary requirements, providing information to parents and for curriculum work
• Making data available across the LEA from one source and assisting in school meals budget management
• Reducing schools and LEA administrative burden and improving productivity
• Improving evidencing of free school meal eligibility, identifying and improving meal in-take of at-risk pupils, identifying and improving food standards and providing data for the PCT weighing and measuring programme
• Removing the need for any cash to come into schools.

The benefits to the client
By providing expert assistance in managing a complex EU procurement procedure, we assisted the Council in using the supplier selection process to identify exact specifications for development of its School Meals system. As a result, the Council has procured a comprehensive development solution that will deliver health benefits for pupils, and will allow the Council to share in any future sales of the system.

Project identification
Client organisation: London Borough of Croydon
Client contact: Allyson Lloyd, Corporate Catering Manager, 0208 760 5467, allyson.lloyd@croydon.gov.uk
Lead consultant: peter.drew@socitmconsulting.co.uk
Project no: 5917