Award

CAT-21-011 Fresh Muffins and Associated Items

  • the Education Authority

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-020251

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0310c6 (view related notices)

Published 6 March 2026, 10:33am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

the Education Authority

40 Academy Street

Belfast

BT1 2NQ

Email

catering.procure@eani.org.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

Buyer's address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

CAT-21-011 Fresh Muffins and Associated Items

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 15612500 - Bakery products

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

Supply and delivery of Fresh Muffins and associated items to school meal kitchens and other educational establishments within Northern Ireland.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £2,100,000

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 1 Armagh/Omagh

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 15821200 - Sweet biscuits
  • 15812000 - Pastry goods and cakes
  • 15810000 - Bread products, fresh pastry goods and cakes

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland
  • UKN0 - Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Supply and delivery of Fresh Muffins and associated items to school meal kitchens and other educational establishments within Northern Ireland.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: AC1 Product Characteristics / Weighting: 60

Cost criterion - Name: Evaluation Cost / Weighting: 40

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

Options to extend for two further periods of up to 12 months and up to 24 months respectively.

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2.14) Additional information

This framework is let by the Northern Ireland Education Authority "EA" and is open to the EA, including NI educational bodies as follows and at some point during the life of the Framework these bodies may wish to utilise the agreement and should have access, at any point, with the permission of EA This agreement is not intended to replace any current agreements that participating or non-participating institutions may already have in place.Primary and Post Primary schools under the control of the EA, Catholic Maintained Schools, Independent Schools in NI, Irish Medium Schools in NI, both Controlled and, Voluntary Grammar Schools,. Nursery School for NI both controlled and Catholic Maintained, school meals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth Centres. https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/services/schools-plus Further Education Colleges in NI https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/further-education-fe-colleges Grant Controlled Integrated Education Schools in NI https://www.nicie.org/parents/schoolfinder/ Independent Schools in NI https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/northern-ireland/ Libraries NI: https://www.librariesni.org.uk/Libraries/ EA Teachers' and Educational Centres Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment NI CCEA Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Middletown Centre for Autism Controlled Schools Support Council CSSC Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education NICIE.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 2 Antrim/Derry

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 15821200 - Sweet biscuits
  • 15812000 - Pastry goods and cakes
  • 15810000 - Bread products, fresh pastry goods and cakes

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland
  • UKN0 - Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Supply and delivery of Fresh Muffins and associated items to school meal kitchens and other educational establishments within Northern Ireland.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Product Characteristics / Weighting: 60

Cost criterion - Name: Evaluation Cost / Weighting: 40

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

Options to extend for two further periods of up to 12 months and up to 24 months respectively.

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2.14) Additional information

This framework is let by the Northern Ireland Education Authority "EA" and is open to the EA, including NI educational bodies as follows and at some point during the life of the Framework these bodies may wish to utilise the agreement and should have access, at any point, with the permission of EA This agreement is not intended to replace any current agreements that participating or non-participating institutions may already have in place.Primary and Post Primary schools under the control of the EA, Catholic Maintained Schools, Independent Schools in NI, Irish Medium Schools in NI, both Controlled and, Voluntary Grammar Schools,. Nursery School for NI both controlled and Catholic Maintained, school meals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth Centres. https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/services/schools-plus Further Education Colleges in NI https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/further-education-fe-colleges Grant Controlled Integrated Education Schools in NI https://www.nicie.org/parents/schoolfinder/ Independent Schools in NI https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/northern-ireland/ Libraries NI: https://www.librariesni.org.uk/Libraries/ EA Teachers' and Educational Centres Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment NI CCEA Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Middletown Centre for Autism Controlled Schools Support Council CSSC Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education NICIE.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 3 Belfast/Dundonald

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 15821200 - Sweet biscuits
  • 15812000 - Pastry goods and cakes
  • 15810000 - Bread products, fresh pastry goods and cakes

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland
  • UKN0 - Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Supply and delivery of Fresh Muffins and associated items to school meal kitchens and other educational establishments within Northern Ireland.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Product Characteristics / Weighting: 60

Cost criterion - Name: Evaluation Cost / Weighting: 40

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

Options to extend for two further periods of up to 12 months and up to 24 months respectively.

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2.14) Additional information

This framework is let by the Northern Ireland Education Authority "EA" and is open to the EA, including NI educational bodies as follows and at some point during the life of the Framework these bodies may wish to utilise the agreement and should have access, at any point, with the permission of EA This agreement is not intended to replace any current agreements that participating or non-participating institutions may already have in place.Primary and Post Primary schools under the control of the EA, Catholic Maintained Schools, Independent Schools in NI, Irish Medium Schools in NI, both Controlled and, Voluntary Grammar Schools,. Nursery School for NI both controlled and Catholic Maintained, school meals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth Centres. https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/services/schools-plus Further Education Colleges in NI https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/further-education-fe-colleges Grant Controlled Integrated Education Schools in NI https://www.nicie.org/parents/schoolfinder/ Independent Schools in NI https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/northern-ireland/ Libraries NI: https://www.librariesni.org.uk/Libraries/ EA Teachers' and Educational Centres Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment NI CCEA Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Middletown Centre for Autism Controlled Schools Support Council CSSC Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education NICIE.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

This is not an award of a new framework, the purpose of this VEAT is to notify the market that we intend to modify this existing framework. This framework was originally awarded for the period 01 August 2022 to 30 April 2023 with options to extend for up to 12 months and up to 24 months respectively. All extension options have been utilised and the framework was modified to extend for a further 2 months under PCR2015 Regulation 72(1)(e) as the modification was not substantial. The current expiry date of the framework is 30 June 2026.

The EA now intend to modify this framework to extend for a further 12 month period until 30 June 2027.

No aspect of the modification will alter the overall nature of the current framework as the scope of services will remain unaltered and no increase to the original awarded framework value is required.

This modification is required to ensure ongoing service provision and to support the prioritisation of the catering procurement pipeline and ensure the delivery of urgent requirements in collaboration with the EA Catering Service.

This modification meets all requirements of PCR 2015 Regulation 72(1)(c) which states:

(c) where all of the following conditions are fulfilled:-

(i) the need for modification has been brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen;

(ii) the modification does not alter the overall nature of the contract;

(iii) any increase in price does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract or framework agreement.

The EA shall observe a period of no less than 10 days, beginning with the day after the date of publication of this notice, before modifying the framework as set out.

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2022/S 000-020147


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

1

Lot No

1

Title

Lot 1 Armagh/Omagh

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

19 July 2022

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Henderson Foodservice

Newtownabbey

BT36 4RS

Email

dermot.mcpeake@henderson-group.com

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
Internet address

https://henderson-group.com/

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £700,000

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £700,000


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

2

Lot No

2

Title

Lot 2 Antrim/Derry

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

19 July 2022

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Henderson Foodservice

Newtownabbey

BT36 4RS

Email

dermot.mcpeake@henderson-group.com

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKN - Northern Ireland
Internet address

https://henderson-group.com/

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £700,000

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £700,000


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

3

Lot No

3

Title

Lot 3 Belfast/Dundonald

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

19 July 2022

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Henderson Foodservice

Newtownabbey

BT36 4RS

Email

dermot.mcpeake@henderson-group.com

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
Internet address

https://henderson-group.com/

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £700,000

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £700,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The UK does not currently have any such bodies with responsibilities for appeal/mediation procedures

Belfast

Country

United Kingdom