Scope
Reference
CAT-25-003
Description
This is not a tender exercise by the Education Authority. The Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI) wishes to engage with the market to seek their views on establishing a robust, value for money contract for the provision of Milk and Milk Products to schools and EA locations in Northern Ireland. Any information gathered through this market consultation exercise will inform internal business planning and any possible subsequent procurement process and will NOT be appraised in any future tender evaluation exercise. Please note that participation or nonparticipation in this preliminary market consultation exercise shall not prevent any supplier from participating in any potential procurement process, nor is it intended that any information supplied shall place any supplier at an advantage or disadvantage in any forthcoming procurement process. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of a formal procurement process. Suppliers who wish to participate in the market engagement exercise should complete the pre-market engagement questionnaire. Further information including the questionnaire can be downloaded from the documents question of the CfT on eTendersNI. The Questionnaire must be completed and PME Document signed and returned via the messaging function of the CfT on eTendersNI by no later than 3pm on Wednesday 14th January 2026 (deadline) in accordance with the instructions detailed in the PME Questionnaire document.
Total value (estimated)
- £11,500,000 excluding VAT
- £11,500,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2030
- Possible extension to 31 July 2032
- 6 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 15510000 - Milk and cream
- 15511000 - Milk
- 15511400 - Semi-skimmed milk
- 15511500 - Full-cream milk
- 15512000 - Cream
- 15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products
Engagement
Engagement deadline
14 January 2026
Engagement process description
PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE (PME) for Milk and Milk Products for the Education Authority. Interested suppliers are asked to complete and return the questionnaire.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
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