Scope
Reference
CAT-25-012
Description
Supply and delivery of Pre-Prepared Meals (Individual and Bulk) to school meals kitchens within Northern Ireland for a period of 5 years with the option to extend for a further two 12 month extension periods.
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/schoolsplus
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-educationfecolleges
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 Pre-School Education Programme (PSEP)
Preliminary market engagement notice ocds-h6vhtk-04e889 was Published 28 February 2025, 10:25am
Contract 1. Supply And Delivery of Pre Prepared Meals to the Education Authority
Supplier
Contract value
- £335,000 excluding VAT
- £402,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
27 October 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
27 October 2025
Standstill period
- End: 5 November 2025
- 8 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
6 November 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2030
- Possible extension to 30 November 2032
- 7 years
Description of possible extension:
Option to extend for a further two 12 month extension periods
Main procurement category
Goods
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The EA Catering Service will continuously review the product range and specifications of items on this Contract. The Supplier will be required to work with the EA Catering Service in sourcing any new products that may be required.
CPV classifications
- 15894200 - Prepared meals
- 15894210 - School meals
- 15894300 - Prepared dishes
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Information about tenders
- 3 tenders received
- 1 tender assessed in the final stage:
- 0 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 0 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Supplier
HENDERSON FOODSERVICE LIMITED
- Companies House: NI006894
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTDD-2623-PPYP
1 Hightown Avenue
Newtownabbey
BT36 4RT
United Kingdom
Region: UKN0D - Antrim and Newtownabbey
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1. Supply And Delivery of Pre Prepared Meals to the Education Authority
Contracting authority
the Education Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPHJ-6982-JPXY
40 Academy Street
Belfast
BT1 2NQ
United Kingdom
Email: catering.procure@eani.org.uk
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland