Call for Tender for the provision of Hot Meals under the School Meals scheme to St Marks Special School, Newbridge, Kildare 19455W

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. Mark's Special School in Newbridge, Kildare, under the Department of Social Protection's School Meals Scheme. The service is required for 110 students, 182 days per year, with meals delivered hot and ready to eat at the start of the lunch break.

• Service Delivery Models:

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

• Meals pre-prepared off-site, heated on-site in the school's designated area.

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

• Meals fully prepared on-site.

• Meal Requirements:

• Meals must comply with the Department of Social Protection’s School Hot Meals Scheme.

• Food must be delivered to classrooms in a timely manner before lunch.

• Facilities:

• Use of a small servery off the main GP Hall (2m x 1.5m) suitable for a regeneration oven.

• Operational Days:

• Service required on each school day, except for exceptional circumstances.

• Funding:

• Subject to annual application and approval by the Department of Social Protection.

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. Mark's Special School is seeking a provider to ensure compliance with the scheme's requirements. The procurement aligns with government efforts to support educational institutions in delivering essential services. The contract is contingent on annual funding from the Department of Social Protection, which must be applied for each school year.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Minimum annual turnover of €64,064.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability: €6.5 million per claim.
• Employer's Liability: €13 million per claim.
• Product Liability: €6.5 million per claim.
• Motor Cover: €1.3 million for third-party damage.
• Professional Indemnity: €6.5 million per claim (for certain service models).
• Cyber Liability: €1 million per claim.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• 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 to price split.

6. Submission requirements

• Method statement / response document: Use named template, no page limits specified.
• CVs: Not specified.
• Pricing schedule: Use Appendix 2 template.
• Case studies: Not specified.
• Declarations: ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: 7 May 2026, by appointment via [email protected].
• Submission portal: eTenders, with 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. 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 or penalties are not specified. Termination clauses allow for cancellation if funding is not secured. Intellectual property rights and sub-contracting rules are not specified. No parent-company guarantee or bond is required.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The contract's dependency on annual funding from the Department of Social Protection poses a risk, as funding is not guaranteed. The requirement for a mandatory site visit and the specific insurance levels may limit the bidder pool. The need for compliance with specific service delivery models could favor incumbents familiar with the school's operations. The tight timeline for go-live in September 2026 may pose challenges for new entrants.

10. SME fit assessment

The tender is suitable for small to medium-sized catering businesses with experience in educational settings. Firms must meet the turnover and insurance requirements. Consortium bids are allowed, and subcontracting is permitted. Bid preparation is likely to require several days, especially given the mandatory site visit and detailed submission requirements. The incumbent's strength is not specified, but the contract's dependency on annual funding may affect the perceived probability of winning (Pwin).

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: CFT St Marks Hot Meals September 2026.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