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Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 7 Jul 2025, 11:21 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Fresh Fruit, Vegetables and Related Products

Official notice

Authority: the Education Authority (Central government)

GoodsOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: Food, beverages, tobacco and related products (15) Delivery: Northern Ireland (UKN)
Published estimate£16,800,000≈ £5.6m / year · £16,800,000 inc. VAT · 1 value update
Submissions closed 22 Dec 2025awarded 23 Feb 2026
Awarded to Henderson Foodservice Limited
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensions · starts 1 Apr 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Supply and delivery of Fresh Fruit, Vegetables and Related Products to school meals kitchens within Northern Ireland.

Contract period : 01 April 2026 – 31 March 2029 with options to extend for any additional period(s) of up to and including 36 months.

The estimated value is £16,800,000.

This Contract is established by the Education Authority and is open to the EA, including NI

educational bodies as follows, who at some point, during the life of the Contract may wish

to utilise the agreement and should have access at any point, with the permission of EA.

This Contract is not intended to replace any current agreements that participating or

nonparticipating institutions may already have in place.

Department of Education - Schools Plus www.educationni.gov.uk/services/schoolsplus ↗

Primary and Post Primary schools under the control of the EA, Catholic Maintained Schools

Independent Schools in NI, Irish Medium Schools in NI, both Controlled and Voluntary

Grammar Schools, Nursery School for NI (both controlled, and Catholic Maintained),

Schoolmeals kitchens on-site at all of these schools, and Controlled Youth Centres.

Further Education Colleges in NI : www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/further ↗

educationfecolleges

NICIE - nicie.org ↗

Grant Controlled Integrated Education Schools in NI

Independent Schools in NI www.isc.co.uk/schools/northern-ire… ↗

EA Teachers' and Educational Centres

Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment NI (CCEA)

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

Middletown Centre for Autism

Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC)

Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE)

Pre-Schools and Nurseries included within the EA Pre-School Education Programme

(PSEP)

N.B. Estimated values stated, both including and excluding VAT are the same as VAT is

not applicable to the goods included under this procurement

  • Not divided into lots: The tender was structured into sections rather than lots to reduce duplication and streamline evaluation.
  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 21 Nov 2031, 23:59 GMT.

CPV: Beans, peas, peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables · Food, beverages, tobacco and related products · Fresh or frozen vegetables · Fruit, vegetables and related products · Potato products · Potatoes and potato products · Processed fruit and vegetables · Processed potatoes · Processed root vegetables · Processed tuber vegetables

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1AwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£16,800,000
Contract period: 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensionsValue: £16,800,000 exc. VAT · £16,800,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: Northern IrelandEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: Additional items may be added to the Contract throughout the Term with the agreement of both the Buyer and the Supplier. This may include any Unprepared or Pre Prepared Fruit and Vegetables options that may be required throughout the duration of the Contract. · Options to extend for any additional period(s) of up to and including 36 months
15000000 Food, beverages, tobacco and related products15300000 Fruit, vegetables and related products15310000 Potatoes and potato products15312000 Potato products15313000 Processed potatoes15330000 Processed fruit and vegetables
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Technical & professional ability

    CoP 1 Technical ability to perform the contract - Previous Experience,CoP 2 Accreditation, CoP 3 Food Premises Inspection Report and CoP 4 Recall and Withdrawal Procedure

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 70%Price: 30%
Published sub-criteria (3)
  • AC1 - Proposed Methodology: 50%
  • AC2- Quality: 20%
  • AC3 Price: 30%
Published award criteria (3)
  • AC1 - Proposed Methodology: Full details can be found in the CfTdocuments section on eTenderNI https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
  • AC2- Quality: Full details can be found in the CfTdocuments section on eTenderNI https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
  • AC3 Price: Full details can be found in the CfTdocuments section on eTenderNI https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Conditions of participation1
  • Technical & professional ability

    CoP 1 Technical ability to perform the contract - Previous Experience,CoP 2 Accreditation, CoP 3 Food Premises Inspection Report and CoP 4 Recall and Withdrawal Procedure

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Goods
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Yes · next expected 21 Nov 2031
First published
7 Jul 2025, 11:21 BST
Last source update
27 Mar 2026, 16:06 GMT
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 19 Feb 2026
Authority reference
CAT-25-004
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-076165
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Beans, peas, peppers, tomatoes and other vegetablesFood, beverages, tobacco and related productsFresh or frozen vegetablesFruit, vegetables and related productsPotato productsPotatoes and potato productsProcessed fruit and vegetablesProcessed potatoesProcessed root vegetablesProcessed tuber vegetables
Delivery area
Northern Ireland (UKN)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0559b9 Find a Tender
Contract terms summary

Full details can be found in the CfT documents section on eTenderN -

Ietendersni.gov.uk/epps ↗

Review and risk notes
Risks

The Buyer cannot guarantee any particular level of business (volumes/values) within the Contract.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: eTendersNI · Who buys & how to bid on eTendersNI
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free Northern Ireland registration
Submission deadline
22 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
Clarification deadline
15 Dec 2025, 15:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Full details can be found in the CfTdocuments section

on eTenderNI etendersni.gov.uk/epps ↗

Timeline

7 Jul 2025 → 1 Apr 2026 · 10 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    7 Jul 2025, 11:21 BST
  2. Market engagement
    25 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST

    PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE (PME) for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables for the Education Authority. Interested suppliers are asked to complete and return the questionniare.

  3. Tender notice published339 days ago
    21 Nov 2025, 16:10 GMT
  4. Clarification questions by315 days ago
    15 Dec 2025, 15:00 GMT
  5. Submission deadline307 days ago
    22 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
  6. Award decision expected by248 days ago
    19 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
  7. Assessment summaries sent245 days ago
    23 Feb 2026
  8. Standstill ends235 days ago
    4 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
  9. Latest notice published213 days ago
    27 Mar 2026, 16:06 GMT
  10. Contract starts208 days ago
    1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

11 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 7 Jul 2025
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    7 Jul 2025, 11:21 BST
    UK2
  2. Tender notice published
    21 Nov 2025, 16:10 GMT
    UK4
  3. Published value published: £16,800,000
    21 Nov 2025, 16:10 GMT
  4. Status changed to active
    21 Nov 2025, 16:10 GMT
  5. Procurement method changed
    21 Nov 2025, 16:10 GMT
  6. Deadline published: 22 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
    21 Nov 2025, 16:10 GMT
  7. Tender notice published
    25 Nov 2025, 14:14 GMT
    UK4
  8. Contract award notice published
    23 Feb 2026, 17:24 GMT
    UK6
  9. Status changed to complete
    23 Feb 2026, 17:24 GMT
  10. Contract signature expected
    6 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled
  11. Contract details notice published
    27 Mar 2026, 16:06 GMT
    UK7
Published amendments (1)

Technical ability conditions of participation [FRM03.N80] has been updated to include all Conditions of Participation on one line as it wasn't visible in the PDF version of the notice

Routine re-releases (5)
  • 2025-11: 1 release · 21 Nov 2025
  • 2025-07: 1 release · 7 Jul 2025

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £16,800,0001 award exc. VAT
Bids received 31 from SMEs
Named bidders 3published on the award notice
Contracts signed 1latest 6 Mar 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Henderson Foodservice Limited1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2032Extensions: options to extend for any additional period(s) of up to and including 36 months · Options: The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. Additional items may be added to the Contract throughout the Term with the agreement of both the Buyer and the Supplier. This may include any Fruit and Vegetables options that may be required throughout the duration of the Contract.£16,800,00023 Feb 2026Awarded

Contracts

  • Fresh Fruit, Vegetables and Related Products · Henderson Foodservice Limited

    Signed
    6 Mar 2026
    Value
    £16,800,000
    Period
    1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    Options to extend for any additional period(s) of up to and including 36 months.
    Options
    The right to additional purchases which fall under the scope of the contract, while the contract is valid. The EA Catering Service will continuously review the product range and specifications of items on this Contract. The Supplier will be required to work with the EA Catering Service in sourcing any new products that may be required.
    4 agreed KPIs: KPI 1 - Quality · KPI 2 - Availability · KPI 3 - Delivery …
    • KPI 1 - Quality, The number of complaints due to unsatisfactory quality of products supplied.
    • KPI 2 - Availability, To ensure availability of contracted items
    • KPI 3 - Delivery, Deliveries made on time, in full within the working hours of the kitchen. Under no circumstances should goods be left at the premises unattended.
    • KPI 4 - Social Value, Delivery of social value obligations on track as per social value delivery plan

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
3final-stage tenders · 4 at stage one10—

Who bid

Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

The Education Authority NI

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central governmentNorthern Irish devolved regulations apply GB-PPON: PPHJ-6982-JPXY 40 Academy Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 2NQContact name, email

Bidders & participating suppliers

3 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded

Official documents & specifications (5)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Preliminary market engagement notice planningPreliminary market engagement noticeUK2Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender