Tender

***Pre-Market Engagement*** BSP-24-017 Review of EA Catering Service Delivery Model

THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

16 Apr 2025 at 12:07

Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority has initiated a preliminary market engagement exercise titled "Review of EA Catering Service Delivery Model" under the tender reference BSP-24-017. This process is focused on assessing alternative models for the catering services at nursery, primary, special, and post-primary schools in Northern Ireland, excluding post-primary schools (133 locations). The industry category for this engagement is business services and consultancy, primarily related to management consultancy. Located in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the procurement stage is currently tender with the expression of interest deadline set for 12 May 2025. The engagement is not part of a formal procurement process and aims to gather market information for internal planning. Responses are accepted electronically via eTendersNI.

This tender presents a unique opportunity for businesses specialising in consultancy services, particularly those with expertise in catering and food service management. Companies capable of proposing innovative solutions to address current challenges in meal production, packaging, delivery, and serving within the specified school sectors will find this engagement promising for future growth. The competitive flexible procedure used here favours businesses capable of adapting to dynamic procurement requirements and contributing valuable insights that may shape subsequent formal procurement processes. Firms in the law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing, and security sectors are particularly well-suited to compete.

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Notice Title

***Pre-Market Engagement*** BSP-24-017 Review of EA Catering Service Delivery Model

Notice Description

***This is a Pre-Market Engagement Exercise*** The purpose of the preliminary market engagement exercise is to inform suppliers in the current market and gain information to inform a potential future procurement. At this stage, any information gathered through this Exercise will inform internal business planning and any possible subsequent procurement process and will NOT be appraised in any future tender evaluation exercise. For the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase and is not part of a formal procurement process. The EA's Catering Service in Northern Ireland is responsible for producing approximately 155,000 - 160,000 meals per day to children within nursery, primary, special, and post-primary schools. The cost of production versus the school meal charge is one of a number of challenges the service is experiencing within the current delivery model. The EA Catering service wishes to look at possible other models which will address the risks and issues currently being experienced. This exercise will not include Post Primary Schools (133 locations). The EA is seeking to establish the costs of alternative catering model which will produce meals, package, deliver and serve in the school sectors detailed.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050401
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015544-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

79411000 - General management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Apr 202510 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 May 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
28 Aug 2025 - 29 Aug 2025 24 hours
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
business.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
Not specified

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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