--- title: "***Pre-Market Engagement*** BSP-24-017 Review of EA Catering Service Delivery Model" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-050400" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050400" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050400.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050400.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY" published: "2025-04-16" --- # ***Pre-Market Engagement*** BSP-24-017 Review of EA Catering Service Delivery Model Buyer: THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050400 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050400) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050400.json) ## Summary The Education Authority is conducting a preliminary market engagement exercise titled "***Pre-Market Engagement*** BSP-24-017 Review of EA Catering Service Delivery Model" in the services category. This exercise aims to explore alternative catering models for their Northern Ireland schools, which currently produce 155,000 to 160,000 meals daily. The focus is on nursery, primary, and special schools, excluding post-primary schools. The engagement is in the planning stage, with input due by 12 May 2025. This is not a formal procurement but an information-gathering phase to inform future procurement planning. The outcome will influence the Education Authority's business planning and potential procurement processes. This tender poses significant opportunities for businesses specialising in business services, management consultancy, and related services, as classified under CPV codes such as 79000000 and 79400000. Companies with expertise in catering and logistics, particularly those experienced in large-scale food production and delivery, may find this engagement beneficial. It offers a chance to shape future contractual frameworks with the Education Authority, providing valuable insights into potential service delivery models and building lasting relationships that may lead to future procurement opportunities. ## Notice ***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. ### Planning Information ***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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015542-2025 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 16 Apr 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 30 Jun 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 29 Aug 2025 - 29 Jun 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY | | Locality | BELFAST | | Post town | Northern Ireland | | Postcode | BT1 2NQ | | Country | Northern Ireland | | ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland | | ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland | | ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast | | Local authority | Belfast | | Electoral ward | Duncairn | | Westminster constituency | Belfast North | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### 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 - 79420000 - Management-related services ## Release History - 16 Apr 2025 at 12:00 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015542-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015542-2025 16th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050400. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050400.json.