Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Water Coolers and Associated Items

the Education Authority

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

08 Dec 2025 at 11:17

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

06 Nov 2025 at 15:30

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

18 Aug 2025 at 11:58

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

12 Aug 2025 at 16:49

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

04 Apr 2025 at 17:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority in the United Kingdom has completed a procurement process under the open procedure method for the supply of water coolers and associated items, as defined in procurement ID CAT-25-008. The contract, which was signed on 20th November 2025, is scheduled to commence on 1st January 2026 and conclude on 31st December 2029. The procurement is classified under goods, specifically covering mineral water, water coolers, and drinking water with a geographical focus on Northern Ireland. Culligan Water (Ireland) Limited and Irish Food and Beverages have been awarded the contracts for Lot 1 (Bottle Fed Water Coolers) and Lot 2 (Mains Fed Water Coolers), respectively. The estimated contract value without VAT amounts to a total of £330,000, with the possibility of adjustments based on specific terms outlined in the Procurement Act 2023.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses involved in the manufacture and supply of water dispensing systems and related items. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly well-suited to compete, as evidenced by the award to Culligan Water (Ireland) Limited and Irish Food and Beverages, both SMEs. With educational institutions and various Northern Ireland educational bodies involved, suppliers of water coolers can expand their market presence by providing reliable, cost-effective solutions that cater to educational entities. Furthermore, engaging in such contracts can enhance a company's portfolio and offer long-term business growth, leveraging the educational sector's continuous demand in the region.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Water Coolers and Associated Items

Notice Description

CAT-25-008 Water Coolers and Associated Items The Contract is divided into two Lots as follows: * Lot 1 Bottle Fed Water Coolers and Associated Items and; * Lot 2 Mains Fed Water Coolers and Associated Items. This Contract is established by the Education Authority ("EA") 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 non-participating institutions may already have in place. Department of Education - 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), school meals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth Centres. NICIE - School Finder Grant Controlled Integrated Education Schools in NI Independent Schools in NI Independent School in NI EA Teachers' and Educational Centres Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment NI (CCEA) Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC) Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) Pre-Schools and Nurseries included in the Pre-School Education Programme (PSEP) Due to the independent nature of the Schools within Northern Ireland there is no obligation for all schools to become party to the Contract if a value for money solution can be achieved through another Contract or arrangement. The EA reserves the right to move value between Lots as required, however, the overarching value will not exceed PS330,000 (ex VAT) without modification in accordance with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023. Furthermore, suppliers should note that, in accordance with Section 31 and /or Section 74 of the Procurement Act 2023, the Buyer reserves the right to modify the Contract without a new procurement process in certain circumstances. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, Suppliers should note that the true value of the Contract may differ from the values outlined above for the following reasons: *Increase/decrease in the number of schools and number of pupils. *Increase/decrease in the demand to use the Contract *General increases/decreases in all costs such as equipment, insurances, labour rates etc. *Unforeseen/unplanned events (for e.g., new schools which are an amalgamation of existing schools that were previously identified by EA as being eligible to utilise thisContract). *Increase/decrease in EA funding.

Lot Information

Lot 1 - Bottle Fed Water Coolers and Associated Items

Lot 1 is for the supply and delivery of Bottle Fed Water Coolers and Associated Items.

Lot 2 - Mains Fed Water Coolers and Associated Items

Lot 2 is for the supply and delivery of Mains Fed Water Coolers and Associated Items

Planning Information

Interested participants should complete the questionnaire and upload by 3pm on 16 April 2025. Completed questionnaires must be returned via the eTendersNI Messaging function as an attachment or via email to catering.procure@eani.org.uk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fdaa
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080502-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

41 - Collected and purified water

CPV Codes

15981000 - Mineral water

15981100 - Still mineral water

31141000 - Water coolers

41110000 - Drinking water

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£330,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£330,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£330,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£330,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Dec 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
16 Apr 2025Expired
Award Date
31 Oct 202510 months ago
Contract Period
1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2029 4-5 years
Recurrence
2029-06-01

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
the Education Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT1 2NQ
Postcode Area
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Duncairn
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
3
Supplier Names

Culligan Water (Ireland) Limited

IRISH FOOD & BEVERAGES LTD

Irish Food and Beverages

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...