Scope
Reference
CAT-25-002
Description
The Education Authority invites tenders for the Supply and Delivery of Pre-Prepared Meals. The initial period will be for 60 months from the Start Date (anticipated to be August 2025) with options to extend for any additional period(s) of up to and including 24 months.
This Contract is established by the Education Authority and is open to the EA, including NI educational bodies as follows, who at some point, during the life of the Contract may wish to utilise the agreement and should have access at any point, with the permission of EA. This Contract is not intended to replace any current agreements that participating or nonparticipating institutions may already have in place.
Department of Education - Schools Plus https://www.educationni.gov.uk/services/schools-plus
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), schoolmeals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth Centres.
Further Education Colleges in NI : https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/further-education-fe-colleges
NICIE - https://nicie.org/
Grant Controlled Integrated Education Schools in NI
Independent Schools in NI https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/northern-ireland/
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)
Pre-Schools and Nurseries included within the EA's Pre-School Education Programme (PSEP)
Total value (estimated)
- £335,000 excluding VAT
- £402,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2030
- Possible extension to 31 August 2032
- 7 years
Description of possible extension:
2 options to extend for a further period of 12 months each.
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Additional items may be added to the Contract throughout the Term with the agreement of both the Buyer and the Supplier. This may include any individual or bulk pre-prepared meals options that may be required throughout the duration of the Contract. Any items added to the Contract during the Term must be in line with the Pricing submitted with similar items at tender.
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 15894200 - Prepared meals
- 15894210 - School meals
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Justification for not using lots
Geographical lots were considered. However due to the anticipated volumes and number of locations expected to use the resulting contract over the duration of the term EA did not feel it proportionate to divide into lots.
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
None
Technical ability conditions of participation
CoP 1 - Technical ability to perform the contract - Previous Experience
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
30 June 2025, 3:00pm
Tender submission deadline
7 July 2025, 3:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
22 August 2025
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 31 January 2032
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of Samples - Product Characteristics | Full details can be found in the CfT documents section on eTenderNI https://etendersni.g ov.uk/epps |
Quality | 60% |
| Proposed Methodology | Full details can be found in the CfT documents section on eTenderNI https://etendersni.g ov.uk/epps |
Quality | 20% |
| Total Contract Price | Full details can be found in the CfT documents section on eTenderNI https://etendersni.g ov.uk/epps |
Price | 20% |
Other information
Payment terms
Full details can be found in the CfT documents section on eTenderN - Ihttps://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Description of risks to contract performance
The Buyer cannot guarantee any particular level of business (volumes/values) within the Contract.
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Contracting authority
the Education Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPHJ-6982-JPXY
40 Academy Street
BELFAST
BT12NQ
United Kingdom
Contact name: catering.procure@eani.org.uk
Email: catering.procure@eani.org.uk
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland