Tender

Supply And Delivery of Pre-Prepared Meals to the Education Authority

THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

29 Jul 2025 at 08:21

TenderUpdate

05 Jun 2025 at 15:09

Tender

05 Jun 2025 at 14:30

Planning

28 Feb 2025 at 10:25

Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority in Belfast, Northern Ireland is conducting a procurement process for the supply and delivery of pre-prepared meals. The procurement involves several educational institutions and extends for an initial period of 60 months starting in August 2025, with potential extensions. The process follows an open procedure method and is currently in the tender update stage as of July 2025. The procurement is categorised under goods, specifically prepared meals and school meals, with a gross value of £402,000. Interested businesses were required to submit tenders electronically by July 7, 2025, with the award phase anticipated to conclude by August 22, 2025.

This procurement offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in food services, particularly those providing pre-prepared meals and school catering solutions. The contract is particularly well-suited for SMEs and VCSEs seeking to expand their reach in Northern Ireland’s educational institutions. The open procedure method allows for broad participation, encouraging businesses with relevant experience and capabilities to compete for a contract that encompasses a wide range of educational bodies across Northern Ireland. This opportunity allows successful bidders to build long-term relationships with a substantial public sector client, aiding in business growth and diversification of service offerings.

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Notice Title

Supply And Delivery of Pre-Prepared Meals to the Education Authority

Notice 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)

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: 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.

Renewal: 2 options to extend for a further period of 12 months each.

Planning Information

Interested participants should complete the questionnaire and upload by 3pm on 10 March 2025. Completed questionnaires must be returned via the eTendersNI Messaging function as an attachment or via email to cater.procure@eani.org.uk.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e889
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043689-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products


CPV Codes

15894200 - Prepared meals

15894210 - School meals

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£335,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£335,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jul 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
7 Jul 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
10 Mar 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2030 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2032-01-31

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Cancelled
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY
Additional Buyers

MISSING

Contact Name
catering.procure@eani.org.uk
Contact Email
catering.procure@eani.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT1 2NQ
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Duncairn
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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