Supply and Delivery of Prepared Sandwiches and Rolls to the NI Education Authority School Meals Kitchens for the period ending 31 December 2022.

The purpose of this VEAT notice is to inform and provide prior notice to the market that EANI intends to award a Framework for the Supply and Delivery of Prepared Sandwiches and Rolls to a single supplier for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting authority, the time limits for the open or restricted procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be complied with. Following publication of this VEAT Notice, the Authority will observe a 10 day standstill which will conclude at midnight on 21 August 2022. The requirement to let this Framework Agreement has arisen due to an unforeseen difficulty in recruiting catering staff for EANI kitchens in time for the new school year. EANI catering service has experienced a significant reduction in staffing resources at extremely short notice and recruitment problems within the catering service has meant school kitchen service provision will need to be enhanced by an external provider of sandwiches and associated items to allow EANI to meet its statutory obligation to provide meal service to students. This contract will allow for the supply and delivery of sandwiches and associated items to school kitchens until December 2022. EANI intends to run a new tender process and it is anticipated that a replacement will commence in January 2023.