Provision of Hot School Meals

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 school meals to Scoil Padre Pio, Cork, under the Department of Social Protection’s School Meals Scheme. The contractor will serve approximately 310 students each school day, which totals 182 days per year.

• Meal Preparation and Delivery: Meals must be pre-prepared off-site and delivered hot to classrooms by the start of the lunch break at 12 noon.
• 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 unit.
• Meals fully prepared on-site.
• Compliance: All meals must comply with the Department of Social Protection’s nutritional standards.
• Organic Content: A minimum of 10% of the food value must be certified organic.
• Site Visits: Mandatory site visits are required to assess the facilities and plan service delivery.
• Funding Dependency: The contract is contingent on annual funding from the Department of Social Protection.

3. Background & buyer context

This tender is part of the Department of Social Protection’s initiative to provide hot meals in schools, aimed at improving student nutrition and concentration. Scoil Padre Pio has not specified an incumbent provider, indicating a potential opportunity for new entrants. The school is located in Cork and serves a student body of 310. The procurement aligns with national policy to enhance educational environments through improved nutrition.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Minimum annual turnover of €180,544.
• 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.
• Cyber Liability: €1 million per 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 experience.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

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

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Use named template, no page limits specified.
• CVs: Required for Key Account Managers, 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: Between 7th and 13th May 2026, by appointment.
• Submission portal: eTenders, with specific format rules.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract is initially 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 performance indicators include timely delivery and compliance with nutritional standards. Liquidated damages apply for non-compliance. The contract may be terminated with 14 days' notice for unresolved breaches. Intellectual property rights for any materials developed remain with the contractor. Sub-contracting is permitted, but the prime contractor must hold overall responsibility.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The contract is contingent on annual funding from the Department of Social Protection, posing a risk of cancellation if funding is not secured. The requirement for a minimum of 10% organic food content may limit supplier options. The mandatory site visit and specific service delivery models could favor incumbents familiar with the school's infrastructure. The insurance requirements are substantial, potentially excluding smaller firms.

10. SME fit assessment

The tender is suitable for SMEs with experience in school catering and the ability to meet the insurance and turnover requirements. Consortium bids are allowed, providing opportunities for smaller firms to partner with others. Bid preparation is estimated at 10-15 days, considering the need for site visits and detailed service planning. The incumbent's strength is unknown, but the specific service delivery models may favor those with existing school catering experience.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: CFT Hot Meals Scoil Padre Pio Cork 18217B.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Clarification portal: eTenders messaging facility
• Important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 5: Services Contract