Milk and Milk Products

Concepts

• fresh cows' milk
• belfast
• milk and cream
• milk products
• milk
• school meals kitchens
• schools
• northern ireland
• other locations
• 30 june

Location

Belfast

Description

Supply of Milk and Milk Products to school meals kitchens, schools and other locations within Northern Ireland for the period 1 August 2022 – 30 June 2026 Supply of Milk and Milk Products to school meals kitchens, schools and other locations within Northern Ireland for the period 1 August 2022 – 30 June 2026.

Lot Division

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 03333000 - Fresh cows' milk
• 15510000 - Milk and cream

Indicators

• Award on basis of price and quality.

Legal Justification

This is not an award without prior notice, the purpose of this VEAT notice is to make the market aware that EA intend to modify this contract as detailed below. The purpose of this VEAT notice is to inform the market that the Education Authority (EA) intends to add the following lots to the existing award held by Dale Farm Ltd, in accordance with the pricing, terms, and conditions set out in the current framework agreement. Lot 2 – Armagh Area 3 Lot 6 – Ballymena Area 4 Lot 7 – Ballymena Area 5 Lot 8 – Ballymena Area 6 Lot 12 – Omagh Area 1 The original award for the lots listed above was made to Lacpatrick Dairies under the existing framework agreement. However, Lacpatrick Dairies has formally notified the Education Authority of their intention to withdraw from all of the specified lots, effective 1 November 2025. This decision follows confirmation that Grove Dairy, the third supplier awarded under the framework, is not currently delivering milk in the relevant areas and has advised that it would not be operationally viable for them to take on the additional schools. As such, Dale Farm Ltd is the only supplier capable of fulfilling the requirements within the necessary timeframe. The additional lots are required to ensure uninterrupted milk provision to schools commencing 1 November 2025. The modification is being made under the principles of urgency and operational necessity and is consistent with the scope and structure of the original framework. The modification is necessary to maintain uninterrupted delivery of milk to schools from1 November 2025 onward and is justified under Regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which allows for contract changes due to unforeseen circumstances without altering the overall nature of the contract. The awarded contractor’s withdrawal from the framework was an unexpected development that could not have been foreseen. No aspect of the modification will alter the overall nature of the current contract as the scope of goods will remain unaltered, and any expenditure will not exceed the original awarded contract value. Regulation 72(1)(b) permits an amendment to an existing contract: for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor that have become necessary and were not included in the initial procurement, where a change of contractor (i) cannot be made for economic or technical reasons such as requirements of interchangeability or interoperability with existing equipment, services or installations procured under the initial procurement, or (ii) would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs for the contracting authority, provided that any increase in price does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract. The EA shall observe a period of no less than 30 days, beginning with the day after the date of publication, before modifying the contract as set out in this notice.