Provision of Concessionary Canteen Services at St. Declan’s Community College

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 concessionary canteen services at St. Declan’s Community College. The successful contractor will deliver a comprehensive, healthy, and nutritious catering service to students, staff, and visitors during the school year.

• Service Provision: Provide healthy, nutritious food, including hot beverages, soups, cold drinks, hot filled rolls, fruit, breakfast bar snacks, scones, brown bread, salad bowls, and pasta or curry cups.
• Compliance: Must comply with Food & Hygiene Regulations and be registered with the HSE.
• Equipment: Responsible for refurbishing the school kitchen and maintaining all equipment. Existing equipment is nearing end-of-life, and maintenance costs will be borne by the contractor.
• Payment Systems: Implement electronic pre-ordering, online, and card payment systems.
• Reporting: Provide monthly reports on student uptake and net sales figures.
• Special Functions: Cater for additional school functions such as staff meetings and student graduations.
• Waste Management: Promote waste reduction and manage waste responsibly.
• Food Samples: Submit food samples for evaluation, including lunch options, healthy snacks, drink options, and hot dinners.
• Canteen Operation: Operate during school hours, with specific break and lunch times for Junior and Senior Cycles.
• Staffing: Responsible for staffing, management, and operation of the food service, including compliance with Garda Vetting and Child Protection training.

3. Background & buyer context

This tender is part of the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board's (WWETB) ongoing commitment to providing quality educational services. St. Declan’s Community College, under WWETB's patronage, requires a new catering service provider as the current contract expires at the end of the 2025/2026 academic year. The school has experienced growth, with a projected enrolment of 783 students for 2026/2027. The tender aligns with WWETB's strategic goal of enhancing student welfare through nutritious meal provision.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employers Liability: €13m
• Public Liability: €6.5m
• Product Liability: €6.5m
• Certifications: Must comply with Food & Hygiene Regulations and be registered with the HSE.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Staff must undergo Garda Vetting and Child Protection training.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Price/quality split follows the MEAT criteria, with no minimum scoring threshold specified.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Named template, no page limits specified.
• CVs: Not specified.
• Pricing schedule: Format not specified, named template required.
• Case studies: Not specified.
• Declarations: ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: 13th May 2026, 2-5pm, email request required.
• Submission portal: eTenders, specific format rules not stated.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract is initially for 12 months, with the possibility of three one-year extensions. Payment terms are not specified. Key performance indicators include compliance with health and safety regulations and waste management. Liquidated damages or penalty regimes are not mentioned. Termination clauses allow for 14 days' notice. Intellectual property ownership and sub-contracting rules are not specified. No parent-company guarantee or bond requirements are mentioned.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The tender requires a significant investment in refurbishing the kitchen and maintaining equipment, which may deter smaller bidders. The contract's reliance on the successful implementation of electronic payment systems could be challenging for firms without existing infrastructure. The requirement for food samples and the detailed evaluation process may favor incumbents familiar with the school's preferences. The tender's geographic constraint to Waterford could limit the bidder pool.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium-sized catering firms with experience in educational settings. Firms should have the capability to manage a school canteen and comply with stringent food safety regulations. Consortium or sub-contracting is not explicitly mentioned, suggesting a single provider is preferred. Bid preparation may require several days, given the need for detailed proposals and food samples. The incumbent's non-participation opens the field, but the requirement for significant upfront investment and compliance may limit new entrants.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: "eT St. Declan's CC School Meal Invitation to Tender .docx"
• eTenders CFT ID: WV26/06 eTenders: 8024815
• Contact email or clarification portal: Questions and Answers facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Important attachments: "Appendix 4 – Healthy Eating Policy", "Appendix 6 – Canteen Equipment", "Mandatory Requirements Schedule"