Call for Tender for the provision of Meals Pre-Prepared Off-Site and Heated in the School’s Designated Preparation and/or Servery Area under the School Meals Scheme to Kilskyre NS

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1. At a glance

Buyer Title CPV / category Estimated value Per-year Procedure type Lots Location Contract length Submission deadline Go-live / start |---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|----------|----------------|------|------------------------|------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------| Kilskyre National School Call for Tender for the provision of Meals Pre-Prepared Off-Site and Heated in the School’s Designated Preparation and/or Servery Area under the School Meals Scheme to Kilskyre NS 01421F 55321000-6 €155,500.80 not stated Open Procedure Not used Kilskyre, Kells, Co Meath 1 year (with extensions) 2026-07-01T14:00:00+00:00 2026-08-27

2. Scope of Work

The contract involves providing hot meals to students at Kilskyre National School, catering to a total of 88 students. The successful contractor must deliver meals prepared off-site and ensure they are served hot and ready to eat at the beginning of the lunch break, which occurs at 12:30 PM. The service is required for 182 school days annually.

The contractor must adhere to the following service delivery models:

• Meals Pre-Prepared Off-site and Delivered Ready to Eat: Meals must be delivered hot to each classroom before lunch.
• Meals Pre-Prepared Off-Site and Heated in the School’s Designated Preparation and/or Servery Area: Meals are to be heated on-site and delivered to classrooms in a timely manner.
• Meals Pre-Prepared Off-Site and Heated in the School by use of an External Pod or Mobile Catering Unit: Similar to the previous model, but using mobile units for heating.
• Meals Fully Prepared On-Site: Meals are prepared and served in the school’s designated food preparation area.

The contractor must ensure compliance with the Department of Social Protection’s School Hot Meals Scheme, which mandates that all meals meet specific nutritional standards. The successful tenderer will be required to provide services starting from August 27, 2026, subject to confirmation of funding.

3. Background & buyer context

This tender is being issued as part of the Department of Social Protection's School Meals Scheme, which aims to provide nutritious meals to primary school students. The initiative is funded on a school-year basis, and the school must apply for funding annually. The contract is contingent upon the availability of this funding, which is not guaranteed. The procurement aligns with the government's commitment to support children's health and well-being through improved nutrition in schools.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum annual turnover of €51,833.60 for the last three financial years.
• 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: Minimum of 2 years of experience in a similar role.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• 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, focusing on the best balance of price and quality.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Follow the named template with a maximum of 10 pages.
• CVs: For key personnel, maximum of 2 pages each.
• Pricing schedule: Must use the specified template.
• Case studies: Minimum of 2, with values ranging from €20,000 to €100,000.
• Declarations: Including ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: Scheduled for June 22-23, 2026, by appointment with Bebhinn King ([email protected]).
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via eTenders, adhering to specified format rules.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be for a term of one year, with the possibility of two one-year extensions. Payment will be made on a 30-day arrears basis. Key performance indicators (KPIs) will include timely delivery of meals and compliance with nutritional standards. Liquidated damages may apply for failure to meet service levels. The contractor must also comply with all relevant health and safety regulations. Sub-contracting is permitted, but the primary contractor remains responsible for all services.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Key risks associated with this tender include:

• Funding dependency: The contract is contingent on annual funding from the Department of Social Protection, which is not guaranteed.
• Mandatory site visit: Failure to attend the site visit may result in disqualification.
• Strict compliance requirements: Non-compliance with the specified service delivery models will lead to rejection of the tender.
• Limited bidder pool: The turnover requirement may restrict participation to larger firms, potentially excluding smaller businesses.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that specialize in catering services, particularly those with experience in school meal programs. Bidders must have the necessary insurance and meet the turnover requirement, which may be challenging for smaller firms. Consortium arrangements are allowed, enabling SMEs to collaborate with larger firms. Preparation for the bid may require approximately 5-10 days of effort, depending on the firm's existing capabilities. The incumbent's strength and the funding dependency may signal a competitive landscape.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: CFT Hot Meals Kilskyre NS 01421F.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Important attachments:
• Appendix 1 — Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2 — Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 5 — Services Contract