Ireland Awards €18.42 Million Food Supply Contract to Multiple Suppliers for Irish Defence Forces
22 Jan 2026
IntroductionIreland has confirmed a significant defence procurement contract award with the Irish Defence Forces awarding a large-scale supplies contract for the provision of food products and related services across its military facilities. Valued at an estimated €18.42 million, the contract covers a comprehensive range of food categories, including ambient goods, fresh and frozen food, cooking oil, and waste cooking oil collection. The contract was signed on 24 September 2025 and published as a Contract Award Notice in November 2025.Contract DetailsThe contract that was awarded deals with the provision and delivery of necessary food supplies needed to support the Irish Defence Forces' daily catering operations. In addition to the supply of cooking oil and the collection of used cooking oil, the scope also includes ambient goods, frozen food, fresh bread, fruit and vegetables, eggs, fresh meat, poultry, and fish.The procurement, which is categorised as a supplies contract, is linked to a long list of CPV codes that include dairy, meat, fish, agricultural products, bakery goods, oils, and related food supplies. The size, variety, and logistical complexity of supplying numerous Defence Forces locations throughout Ireland are reflected in the estimated contract value of €18,420,336.Entities InvolvedThe Irish Defence Forces, which are in charge of Ireland's national military operations and personnel welfare, are the procuring authority. Their headquarters are located in Newbridge, County Kildare.A number of Irish suppliers, including MWP Ltd, Johnston Mooney and O'Brien, Frylite, and Atlantis Seafoods Wexford Limited, have been given the contract. This multi-supplier strategy guarantees continuity of service across a range of food product requirements, category-specific expertise, and supply chain resilience.Operational and Strategic SignificanceThe welfare and operational preparedness of Defence Forces personnel depend on this government defence contract award. Training, deployment, and daily military operations are all directly supported by consistent access to high-quality food supplies.In addition to demonstrating the Defence Forces' commitment to waste management best practices and environmental sustainability, the inclusion of waste cooking oil collection services guarantees adherence to national laws and the circular economy's tenets.Background on the Winning SuppliersMWP Ltd / Frylite specialises in cooking oil supply and waste oil recovery services.Johnston Mooney and O’Brien is a leading Irish bakery and food distribution company.Atlantis Seafoods Wexford Limited is a recognised supplier of fresh and frozen seafood products.Together, the suppliers bring sector-specific expertise across food categories, ensuring consistent quality and reliable nationwide distribution.Technical and Financial OverviewRegular deliveries, cold-chain logistics, food safety compliance, and sustainable waste oil collection are all included in the contract scope, though specific technical details were not made public. A multi-year supply framework with continuous volume commitments and stringent quality standards is suggested by the estimated €18.42 million value.ConclusionAn important development in Ireland's defence procurement landscape is the awarding of this comprehensive food supply contract to several domestic suppliers. It is anticipated that the contract will enhance the dependability of the supply chain, promote sustainable practices within Defence Forces catering operations, and support employee welfare. The agreement also emphasises ongoing chances for contracts to be awarded in Ireland's public sector food supply and defence logistics markets.#IrelandDefenceContracts #IrishDefenceForces #GovernmentContractsIreland #FoodSupplyContracts #DefenceProcurement #ContractAward #TenderResults #AwardedTenders #PublicSectorSupplies #PublicProcurementNewsIreland #MilitaryLogistics
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Ireland Awards €25.3 Million Food Supplies and Waste Oil Services Contract to MWP Ltd (Frylite)
22 Jan 2026
IntroductionIreland has announced a substantial government contract award in the food supply and facilities services sector, with the Irish Prison Service confirming the award of a multi-lot contract for the supply of ambient food goods, cooking oil, and the collection of waste cooking oil. The contract, with an estimated value of €25.3 million, has been awarded to MWP Ltd, trading as Frylite. The agreement was signed on 19 September 2025 and published as a Contract Award Notice in November 2025.Contract DetailsThe awarded procurement covers the supply of essential food products and cooking oils, alongside the collection and management of waste cooking oil, supporting catering operations across Ireland’s prison network. The contract is structured into two distinct lots:Lot 1: Supply of ambient goodsLot 2: Supply of cooking oil and collection of waste cooking oilThe contract is classified as a supplies contract and falls under a broad range of CPV codes, including 15890000, 15000000, 15411200, 15800000, and related food and agricultural product categories, reflecting the diversity of food items and services included. The estimated total value of €25,300,000 highlights the scale and long-term nature of the supply arrangement.Entities InvolvedThe procuring authority is the Irish Prison Service, headquartered in Longford, which is responsible for the safe custody, care, and rehabilitation of people committed to custody in Ireland.The successful supplier, MWP Ltd trading as Frylite, is an Ireland-based company specialising in cooking oil supply and waste oil management services. The Contract Award Notice did not disclose details of other bidders.Operational and Environmental SignificanceThis public sector procurement award is critical to ensuring the continuity of catering services across Irish prisons, where reliable food supply chains are essential to daily operations. Beyond food provisioning, the inclusion of waste cooking oil collection supports environmental management objectives and compliance with sustainability and waste regulations.From a policy perspective, the contract demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to integrating sustainable practices into government supply chains, particularly through the recovery and recycling of waste cooking oil, which can be repurposed for biofuel and other uses.Background on the Winning CompanyFrylite, operated in Ireland by MWP Ltd, is a well-established provider of cooking oil solutions and waste oil collection services. The company is known for servicing large-scale catering operations across hospitality, food service, and public sector institutions, offering integrated supply and recycling solutions.Technical and Financial OverviewWhile detailed product specifications were not publicly released, the contract scope includes regular delivery of ambient food goods, certified cooking oils, logistics support, and scheduled waste oil collection services. The €25.3 million estimated value suggests a multi-year framework with consistent volume requirements and stringent compliance standards across multiple prison facilities.ConclusionThe award of the ambient goods and cooking oil supply contract to MWP Ltd (Frylite) marks a key development in Ireland’s correctional services procurement landscape. As the contract is implemented, it is expected to ensure operational reliability, cost efficiency, and environmentally responsible waste management across the Irish Prison Service. The project also underscores the ongoing importance of awarded tenders in supporting essential public services nationwide.#IrelandGovernmentContracts #IrishPrisonService #FoodSupplyContracts #CookingOilSupply #WasteOilCollection #PublicSectorProcurement #ContractAward #TenderResults #AwardedTenders #PublicProcurementNewsIreland #FacilitiesSupportServices
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Ireland Awards Major €743 Million Public Bus Services Contract for Outer Dublin Areas to Go-Ahead Transport
22 Jan 2026
IntroductionIreland has announced one of its largest recent public transport contract awards, with the National Transport Authority (NTA) confirming the award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts for the provision of public bus services across the Outer Dublin Metropolitan Areas (ODMA) North and South. The high-value services contract, with an estimated overall value of €743 million, has been awarded to Go-Ahead Transport Services (Dublin) Ltd. The contract was signed on 18 October 2024 and formally published in December 2025.Contract DetailsThe awarded procurement follows an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) procedure and covers the operation of extensive public bus networks in the outer Dublin metropolitan region. Classified as a services contract, the procurement falls under CPV codes 60100000, 60112000, 60130000, and 63712000, encompassing road transport, public bus services, and transport support services.The contract is divided into two operational lots:Lot 1 - ODMA North:A total of 23 bus routes, with 5 routes already in operation under the existing ODMA contract and 18 new routes launched in October 2025. Once fully operational, the network will deliver approximately 5.7 million scheduled kilometres annually, supported by a Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR) of around 131 buses.Lot 2 - ODMA South:A total of 32 bus routes, including 15 existing routes and 17 new routes introduced from October 2025. When fully operational, ODMA South will provide around 9.0 million scheduled kilometres per year, with a PVR of approximately 143 buses.Route lengths and service frequencies will vary significantly across both lots, with services operating predominantly Monday to Sunday and some routes running weekday-only or at reduced weekend frequencies.Contract Value and ScopeThe estimated contract value for both lots is €465 million, with the NTA reserving the right to spend up to €511 million depending on operational requirements. When including potential extensions and long-term service commitments, the overall projected value of the awarded tender is estimated at €743 million, making it a landmark award in Ireland’s public transport procurement sector.Entities InvolvedThe procuring authority is the National Transport Authority, headquartered in Dublin, which is responsible for planning, regulating, and funding public transport services nationwide.The successful operator, Go-Ahead Transport Services (Dublin) Ltd, is based in Dublin and is an established provider of PSO bus services in Ireland, already operating several urban and commuter routes under contract to the NTA. Details of other tenderers were not disclosed in the Contract Award Notice.Strategic and Community SignificanceThis government transport contract award represents a major investment in Dublin’s public transport infrastructure. The ODMA North and South networks will significantly enhance connectivity for suburban and outer metropolitan communities, supporting population growth, commuter mobility, and regional economic activity.The contract also aligns with Ireland’s broader transport and climate policies, promoting increased public transport usage, reduced congestion, and lower carbon emissions. The scale of the fleet deployment and service kilometres underscores the strategic importance of PSO contracts in delivering sustainable urban mobility.Background on the Winning OperatorGo-Ahead Transport Services (Dublin) Ltd is part of the international Go-Ahead Group, with extensive experience in operating bus and rail services in regulated public transport markets. In Ireland, Go-Ahead has become a key partner of the NTA, known for managing large route portfolios and integrating new services into existing transport networks.Technical and Operational OverviewThe contract includes full responsibility for bus operations, fleet deployment, scheduling, staffing, service reliability, and performance compliance. The high annual mileage and large PVR requirements indicate a complex, resource-intensive operation supported by modern fleet management and operational systems.ConclusionThe award of the ODMA North and South PSO bus services contracts to Go-Ahead Transport marks a milestone in Ireland’s public transport procurement landscape. As the new and expanded routes come into operation from October 2025, the contract is expected to deliver substantial improvements in accessibility, service coverage, and passenger capacity across outer Dublin. The project also highlights the growing scale of awarded tenders in Ireland’s public transport sector and sets the stage for future network expansions.#IrelandPublicTransport #DublinBusServices #NationalTransportAuthority #GoAheadIreland #PublicServiceObligation #GovernmentContractsIreland #ContractAward #TenderResults #AwardedTenders #UrbanTransportIreland #ProcurementNewsIreland
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