Scope
Reference
BSP-24-017
Description
***This is a Pre-Market Engagement Exercise*** The purpose of the preliminary market engagement exercise is to inform suppliers in the current market and gain information to inform a potential future procurement. At this stage, any information gathered through this Exercise will inform internal business planning and any possible subsequent procurement process and will NOT be appraised in any future tender evaluation exercise. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase and is not part of a formal procurement process. The EA's Catering Service in Northern Ireland is responsible for producing approximately 155,000 - 160,000 meals per day to children within nursery, primary, special, and post-primary schools. The cost of production versus the school meal charge is one of a number of challenges the service is experiencing within the current delivery model. The EA Catering service wishes to look at possible other models which will address the risks and issues currently being experienced. This exercise will not include Post Primary Schools (133 locations). The EA is seeking to establish the costs of alternative catering model which will produce meals, package, deliver and serve in the school sectors detailed.
Total value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 29 August 2025 to 29 August 2025
- 1 day
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
- 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services
- 79411000 - General management consultancy services
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
***This is a Pre-Market Engagement Exercise***
Technical ability conditions of participation
***This is a Pre-Market Engagement Exercise***
Submission
Enquiry deadline
12 May 2025, 3:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
12 May 2025, 11:59pm
Submission address and any special instructions
PME responses to be submitted via the secure messaging function in eTendersNI for this CfT https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/home.do
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
30 June 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| ***This is a Pre-Market Engagement Exercise*** | ***This is a Pre-Market Engagement Exercise*** |
Quality |
Weighting description
***This is a Pre-Market Engagement Exercise***
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
***This is a Pre-Market Engagement Exercise*** The purpose of the preliminary market engagement exercise is to inform suppliers in the current market and gain information to inform a potential future procurement. At this stage, any information gathered through this Exercise will inform internal business planning and any possible subsequent procurement process and will NOT be appraised in any future tender evaluation exercise. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase and is not part of a formal procurement process. The EA's Catering Service in Northern Ireland is responsible for producing approximately 155,000 - 160,000 meals per day to children within nursery, primary, special, and post-primary schools. The cost of production versus the school meal charge is one of a number of challenges the service is experiencing within the current delivery model. The EA Catering service wishes to look at possible other models which will address the risks and issues currently being experienced. This exercise will not include Post Primary Schools (133 locations). The EA is seeking to establish the costs of alternative catering model which will produce meals, package, deliver and serve in the school sectors detailed.
Contracting authority
the Education Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPHJ-6982-JPXY
40 Academy Street
Belfast
BT1 2NQ
United Kingdom
Email: business.procure@eani.org.uk
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland