Call for Tender for the provision of Hot Meals under the School Meals Scheme to Meelick National School 18225A

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

The contract involves providing hot meals to 92 students at Meelick National School, adhering to the Department of Social Protection’s School Meals Scheme. The service must be available every school day, totaling 182 days per year. The contractor will be responsible for the following activities:

• Meal Preparation and Delivery:

• Meals must be pre-prepared off-site and delivered hot to each classroom, ready to eat by the start of lunch at 12:25 PM.

• Alternative service delivery models include:

• Meals heated on-site in a designated preparation area.

• Use of an external pod or mobile catering unit for heating meals.

• Fully prepared meals served on-site.

• Compliance with Standards:

• Meals must comply with nutritional standards, including a minimum of 10% organic ingredients in specified categories (cereals, beef, lamb, pork, poultry, fish, vegetables, dairy).

• Service Delivery Model:

• The contractor must adhere strictly to the specified service delivery models; any alternative proposals will be deemed non-compliant.

• Mandatory Site Visit:

• Bidders must conduct a site visit on 21st May 2026 to review the school campus and facilities.

• Payment Structure:

• The school will pay €3.20 (VAT exempt) per student per day for each hot meal provided.

3. Background & buyer context

This tender is being issued as part of the ongoing implementation of the School Meals Scheme, funded by the Department of Social Protection. The scheme aims to provide nutritious meals to students, enhancing their educational experience. The procurement process is necessary to ensure that the school can meet its obligations under this scheme for the upcoming school year. The contract is expected to commence on 31st August 2026, contingent upon the availability of funding.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement:

• Minimum annual turnover of €53,580.80 for each of the three financial years preceding the tender publication.

• Insurance:

• Employer’s Liability: €13 million limit for any one claim.

• Public Liability: €6.5 million limit for any one claim.

• Product Liability: €6.5 million limit for any one claim.

• Motor Cover: Minimum limit of €1.3 million for third-party property damage.

• Crime Insurance: €100,000 for any one claim.

• Cyber Liability: €1 million for any one claim.

• Certifications:

• Not specified for this tender.

• Past experience:

• Not specified for this tender.

• Personnel:

• Key Account Managers must hold a Food Safety/HACCP qualification and have a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.

• Geographic / facility constraints:

• Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The evaluation will follow the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle, balancing price and quality.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documentation:

• Method statement / response document: Follow the provided template with no specified page limit.
• CVs: For key personnel, with no specified page count.
• Pricing schedule: Must use the named template.
• Case studies: At least two, demonstrating relevant experience, with no specified value range.
• Declarations: Including ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: Scheduled for 21st May 2026, by appointment via email to [email protected].
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via the eTenders electronic tenderbox.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Term: Initial contract duration of one year, with the possibility of two one-year extensions.
• Payment terms: Payments will be made on a 30-day arrears basis.
• Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Not specified in detail.
• Termination clauses: The contract can be terminated with 14 days' notice if breaches are not remedied within 30 days.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: Allowed, but a single entity must be designated as the Prime Contractor.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and concerns include:

• Funding Dependency: The contract is contingent on annual funding from the Department of Social Protection, which may not be guaranteed.
• Mandatory Site Visit: The requirement for a site visit may limit participation from bidders unable to attend.
• Strict Compliance: Any deviation from the specified service delivery models will result in disqualification, which may disadvantage innovative proposals.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with experience in food service and catering. Viable bidders should have:

• Relevant certifications (Food Safety/HACCP).
• Experience in providing similar services to schools or institutions.
• The capacity to prepare and deliver meals for 92 students daily.

Consortium or subcontracting arrangements are permitted, allowing smaller firms to collaborate. Preparation for the bid may require several days of effort, including site visits and documentation preparation. The incumbent's strength is not specified, but the funding dependency may indicate a competitive environment.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: CFT Hot Meals Meelick Primary School 18225A.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: not specified
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 5: Services Contract