Planning

Pre Market Engagement for Milk and Milk Products

THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Dec 2025 at 14:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority Northern Ireland is in the planning stage of a procurement process for Milk and Milk Products, with a focus on providing these goods to schools and EA locations across Northern Ireland. This preliminary market consultation aims to inform future procurement efforts in establishing a value-for-money contract. An important date to note is the deadline for returning the pre-market engagement questionnaire, which is at 3pm on Wednesday, 14th January 2026. The procurement process is classified under the industry category of "Food, beverages, tobacco and related products," and the contract period is envisaged to start from 1st August 2026 to 31st July 2030, with a potential extension until 31st July 2032. This engagement is part of a tender initiation, although not yet a formal procurement stage.

This pre-market engagement presents significant opportunities for businesses that provide milk and milk products, particularly those in the food and beverage sector, including SMEs and VCSEs. By participating in this phase, businesses can influence future contract specifications and establish a relationship with the Education Authority, increasing their chances of securing a formal contract in the future. The procurement method aims to foster robust competition and deliver value for the Education Authority, indicating that businesses well-versed in supply chain management and efficient distribution within the Northern Irish region may find lucrative opportunities for growth through this engagement. Businesses can contribute insights through the questionnaire, aligning their offerings with the Authority's prospective needs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Pre Market Engagement for Milk and Milk Products

Notice 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.

Planning Information

PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE (PME) for Milk and Milk Products for the Education Authority. Interested suppliers are asked to complete and return the questionnaire.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f7f7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083884-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

CPV Codes

15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

15510000 - Milk and cream

15511000 - Milk

15511400 - Semi-skimmed milk

15511500 - Full-cream milk

15512000 - Cream

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£11,500,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
14 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Not specified
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Duncairn
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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