Provision of Hot Meals under the School Meals Scheme to St Brendan's National School Blennerville 16898S

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 students at St Brendan's National School Blennerville under the Department of Social Protection’s School Meals Scheme. The service is required for 207 students each school day over 182 days per year. The contractor must ensure meals are prepared and delivered in compliance with the scheme's standards.

• 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 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.

• Food must comply with the Nutrition Standards for Hot School Meals.

• A minimum of 10% of the food by value must be certified organic.

• Operational Requirements:

• Service must be available each school day.

• Meals must be delivered to each classroom in a timely manner.

• The contractor is responsible for all aspects of meal provision, including preparation, delivery, serving, and waste disposal.

• Compliance:

• Adherence to health, safety, and hygiene regulations.

• Compliance with food legislation and building compliance regulations.

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. The scheme is funded annually and requires schools to apply for funding each year. St Brendan's National School Blennerville, located in Tralee, Co. Kerry, seeks a contractor to deliver hot meals to its students, ensuring compliance with the scheme's standards. The procurement aligns with government efforts to support child nutrition and well-being in educational settings.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Minimum annual turnover of €120,556.80 for each of the three financial years preceding the CFT publication.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million per claim.
• Public Liability: €6.5 million per claim.
• Product Liability: €6.5 million per claim.
• Motor Cover: €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 and have a minimum of 2 years of experience.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

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

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Use named template, no page limits specified.
• CVs: Required for Key Account Manager, no page count specified.
• Pricing schedule: Use Appendix 2 template.
• Case studies: Not specified.
• Declarations: ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: 6th to 11th May 2026, by appointment with Robbie O Connell.
• Submission portal: eTenders, follow format rules for electronic submission.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract is for one year, with the possibility of two one-year extensions. Payments are made 30 days in arrears at €3.20 per student per day. Key performance indicators include timely delivery and compliance with nutritional standards. Liquidated damages apply for non-compliance. The contract allows for subcontracting but requires a single Prime Contractor. Intellectual property rights for any materials developed remain with the Contracting Authority. No parent-company guarantee is required.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The contract is contingent on annual funding from the Department of Social Protection, with no guarantee of renewal. The requirement for a mandatory site visit and the need for potential building works may limit bidder interest. The insurance requirements are substantial, potentially excluding smaller firms. The tender specifies that no alternative service delivery models will be accepted, which may restrict innovative approaches.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for established catering firms with experience in school meal provision and the ability to meet significant insurance requirements. Smaller firms may consider forming consortia or subcontracting to meet the turnover and insurance criteria. Bid preparation is moderate, requiring detailed operational plans and compliance documentation. The incumbent's strength is not specified, but the contract's dependency on annual funding may deter sole-supplier frameworks.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: CFT - Hot Meals - St Brendan's National School Blennerville 16898S.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