Scope
Reference
CAT-25-004
Description
The Education Authority invites tenders for the supply and delivery of Fresh Fruit, Vegetables and Related Products to school meals kitchens within Northern Ireland for a period of 3 years with options to extend for any additional period(s) of up to and including 36 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/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 Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0559b9 was published on. 7 July 2025
N.B. Estimated values stated, both including and excluding VAT are the same as VAT is not applicable to the goods included under this procurement.
Total value (estimated)
- £16,800,000 excluding VAT
- £16,800,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
- Possible extension to 31 March 2032
- 6 years
Description of possible extension:
Options to extend for any additional period(s) of up to and including 36 months
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 Unprepared or Pre Prepared Fruit and Vegetables options that may be required throughout the duration of the Contract.
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 15300000 - Fruit, vegetables and related products
- 15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products
- 15310000 - Potatoes and potato products
- 15330000 - Processed fruit and vegetables
- 15312000 - Potato products
- 15313000 - Processed potatoes
- 15331110 - Processed root vegetables
- 15331130 - Beans, peas, peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables
- 15331100 - Fresh or frozen vegetables
- 15331120 - Processed tuber vegetables
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Justification for not using lots
The tender was structured into sections rather than lots to reduce duplication and streamline evaluation.
Participation
Technical ability conditions of participation
CoP 1 Technical ability to perform the contract - Previous Experience,CoP 2 Accreditation, CoP 3 Food Premises Inspection Report and CoP 4 Recall and Withdrawal Procedure
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
15 December 2025, 3:00pm
Tender submission deadline
22 December 2025, 11:59pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Full details can be found in the CfTdocuments section
on eTenderNI https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
19 February 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 21 November 2031
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC1 - Proposed Methodology | Full details can be found in the CfTdocuments section on eTenderNI https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps |
Quality | 50% |
| AC3 Price | Full details can be found in the CfTdocuments section on eTenderNI https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps |
Price | 30% |
| AC2- Quality | Full details can be found in the CfTdocuments section on eTenderNI https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps |
Quality | 20% |
Other information
Payment terms
Full details can be found in the CfT documents section on eTenderN -
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