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PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE (PME) for CAT-26-002 Sustainable Catering Disposables and Packaging

Education Authority NI

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

06 Oct 2026 at 16:08

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority (Northern Ireland) is exploring a contract for sustainable catering disposables and packaging products, including disposable catering supplies. The products are intended for catering operations; the Authority is seeking market views to help shape a robust, value-for-money arrangement and inform its internal planning. This is a single-lot requirement for goods, with the Authority as buyer. The process relates to Northern Ireland, and the buyer is based in Belfast. The proposed scope centres on sustainable disposable catering and packaging products rather than catering services or works. Suppliers of relevant products, including manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, may find the planned requirement relevant and can contribute views during the scoping exercise.

This is at the planning stage: the Education Authority is conducting preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders. Suppliers wishing to take part are asked to complete and return the signed questionnaire through eTendersNI by 21 October 2026 at 3pm. The buyer expects a subsequent notice on 11 January 2027. The estimated value is £6 million excluding VAT (£7.2 million including VAT). The planned contract period is 1 June 2027 to 31 May 2029, with possible extension to 31 May 2031. The requirement is one lot. Market responses will inform planning and any later procurement; they will not be assessed in a future tender evaluation, and participation or non-participation is not intended to affect suppliers’ position in a future competition.

The requirement is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so suppliers of different sizes and types may have a route into the eventual competition. It is most relevant to businesses able to supply sustainable catering disposables and packaging products at scale and to support a value-for-money contract for the Education Authority. The market questionnaire offers suppliers a chance to inform the buyer’s understanding of the market and help shape its planning before a formal procurement is considered. This stage does not award work or provide a tender opportunity. Product manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors with a relevant sustainable range are well placed to contribute practical insight on supply, product options and the market, then monitor for a subsequent procurement. No specific accreditation or technical qualification is indicated in the planning information.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE (PME) for CAT-26-002 Sustainable Catering Disposables and Packaging

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 sustainable catering disposables and packaging products . 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 non-participation 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 CfT documents. The Questionnaire must be completed and PME Document signed and returned via the Messaging function of eTendersNI by no later than 3pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (deadline) in accordance with the instructions detailed in the PME Questionnaire document. There are no formal tender documents to be completed other than the questionnaire.

Planning Information

PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE (PME) for Sustainable Catering Disposables and Packaging products for the Education Authority. Interested suppliers are asked to complete and return the questionnaire.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0781fa
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094409-2026
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

39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

CPV Codes

39222000 - Catering supplies

39222100 - Disposable catering supplies

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Oct 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Jan 20274 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jun 2027 - 31 May 2029 2-3 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
Education Authority NI
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

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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