Provision of Hot Meals under the School Meals Scheme to St Aiden's NS 19392B

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 tender involves providing hot meals to students at St Aiden's NS under the School Meals Scheme. The contractor is responsible for ensuring meals are prepared and delivered in compliance with the Department of Social Protection’s standards. The service must be operational every school day, totaling 182 days per year, for 75 students.

• Service Delivery Models:

• Meals pre-prepared off-site and delivered ready to eat.

• Meals pre-prepared off-site and heated in the school’s designated preparation area.

• Meals pre-prepared off-site and heated using an external pod or mobile catering unit.

• Meals fully prepared on-site.

• Meal Requirements:

• Meals must be delivered hot and ready to eat at the beginning of the lunch break (12:30).

• Food must comply with nutritional standards and include a minimum of 10% organic ingredients.

• Operational Details:

• The contractor must provide all necessary equipment, utensils, and staff.

• An online ordering system must be in place for meal management.

• Waste disposal and cleaning services are included.

• Location:

• Meals are served in a servery area accessible from two sides to facilitate student access.

• Compliance:

• The contractor must adhere to health, safety, and hygiene regulations.

• Regular reporting and status updates are required.

3. Background & buyer context

This tender is part of the Department of Social Protection's School Meals Scheme, aimed at providing nutritious meals to students. St Aiden's NS, located in Monasteraden, Co Sligo, is seeking a contractor to ensure consistent meal provision throughout the school year. The initiative aligns with government efforts to support child nutrition and education. The procurement is driven by the need for a reliable service provider to manage the logistics and delivery of hot meals, ensuring compliance with national standards.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Minimum annual turnover of €43,680.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million per claim.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million per claim.
• Product Liability: €6.5 million per claim.
• Motor Cover: Minimum €1.3 million for third-party property damage.
• Crime Insurance: €100,000 per claim.
• Cyber Liability: €1 million per claim.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Key Account Manager must hold a Food Safety/HACCP qualification with at least 2 years of experience.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The evaluation follows the MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) principle, with a 70/30 quality to price split.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Use the named template, no page limit specified.
• CVs: Required for key roles, no page count specified.
• Pricing schedule: Must follow the format in Appendix 2.
• Case studies: Not specified.
• Declarations: ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: 12/5/26, by appointment via [email protected].
• Submission portal: eTenders, with specific format rules (Word/PDF).

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract is for one year, with the possibility of two one-year extensions. Payment is €3.20 per student per day, VAT exempt, paid 30 days in arrears. Key SLAs include daily meal delivery and compliance with nutritional standards. Liquidated damages apply for non-compliance. The contract allows for subcontracting, but the prime contractor must assume full responsibility. Intellectual property rights for any materials developed remain with the contracting authority.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The contract is contingent on annual funding from the Department of Social Protection, with no guaranteed renewal. The requirement for a mandatory site visit and the high insurance thresholds may limit bidder participation. The need for compliance with specific nutritional standards and the provision of organic ingredients could pose challenges for some suppliers. The tender specifies no alternative service delivery models, which may restrict innovative approaches.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for SMEs with experience in catering services, particularly those familiar with school meal provision. The financial and insurance requirements are significant, suggesting that only established firms with robust operational capabilities should consider bidding. Consortiums and subcontracting are allowed, which may enable smaller firms to participate. Bid preparation is moderate, likely requiring several days to compile the necessary documentation and attend the mandatory site visit. The incumbent's strength is not specified, but the tender's open procedure suggests a competitive opportunity.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: "CFT Hot Meals - St Aidens NS 19392B.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"