Ireland Awards €28.5 Million Catering and Hospitality Services Contract to Sodexo for Central Bank of Ireland
22 Jan 2026
IntroductionIreland has recorded a significant public sector contract award in the facilities management and hospitality services sector, with the Central Bank of Ireland confirming the award of a major contract for the provision of catering and hospitality services. Valued at an estimated €28.5 million, the services contract has been awarded to Sodexo Ireland Limited. The contract was signed on 26 June 2025 and published as a Contract Award Notice in November 2025.Contract DetailsThe awarded contract, referenced as 2023P180, covers the delivery of catering and hospitality services across the Central Bank of Ireland’s premises, including its Docklands campus and Sandyford offices, with the flexibility to extend services to additional or alternative locations during the contract term.Classified as a services contract, the procurement falls under CPV code 55520000, which relates to catering services. The estimated contract value of €28,500,000 reflects a large-scale, multi-year service engagement supporting a critical national financial institution.Beyond traditional catering, the contract scope also includes contract management services and the provision of software, hardware, and a mobile application to enable cashless payment systems across Central Bank locations, aligning with digital service delivery objectives.Entities InvolvedThe procuring authority is the Central Bank of Ireland, headquartered at North Wall Quay, Dublin. The Central Bank plays a central role in maintaining financial stability, regulating financial institutions, and protecting consumers across Ireland and the wider euro area.The successful bidder, Sodexo Ireland Limited, is based in Blackrock, County Dublin. No details regarding competing bidders were disclosed in the Contract Award Notice.Strategic and Operational SignificanceThis government contract award supports the operational efficiency of the Central Bank of Ireland by ensuring high-quality catering and hospitality services for staff, visitors, and official functions. The inclusion of cashless payment technology reflects broader public sector trends toward digitalisation, convenience, and secure payment systems.From an economic perspective, the contract reinforces Ireland’s strong market for outsourced public sector services and demonstrates continued investment in high-standard workplace facilities within critical state institutions.Background on the Winning CompanySodexo Ireland Limited is part of the global Sodexo Group, a leading provider of food services, facilities management, and workplace solutions. With extensive experience delivering complex public and private sector contracts, Sodexo has an established presence in Ireland’s government, healthcare, education, and corporate sectors.Technical and Financial OverviewWhile detailed service-level specifications were not disclosed, the contract encompasses end-to-end catering operations, hospitality management, digital payment enablement, and ongoing contract oversight. The €28.5 million estimated value indicates a long-term engagement with robust performance, quality, and technology requirements.ConclusionThe award of the Central Bank of Ireland catering and hospitality services contract to Sodexo marks a key development in Ireland’s public sector procurement landscape. As the contract is implemented, it is expected to enhance workplace services, support operational continuity, and contribute to modernised service delivery across the Central Bank’s locations. The project also highlights ongoing opportunities for awarded tenders in Ireland’s facilities management and hospitality sectors.#CentralBankOfIreland #IrelandGovernmentContracts #CateringServicesIreland #HospitalityServices #SodexoIreland #ContractAward #TenderResults #AwardedTenders #PublicSectorProcurement #FacilitiesManagementIreland #PublicProcurement
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Ireland Awards €37.4 Million Catering and Hospitality Services Contract to Aramark for ETB Training Centres
22 Jan 2026
IntroductionIreland has announced a major public sector services contract award in the education and facilities management sector, with Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) confirming the award of a nationwide contract for the provision of catering and hospitality services to Education and Training Board (ETB) training centres. The contract, with an estimated value of €37.4 million, has been awarded to Campbell Catering Limited, trading as Aramark Food Services. The agreement was signed on 17 July 2025 and published as a Contract Award Notice in January 2026.Contract DetailsThe awarded contract relates to the delivery of comprehensive catering and hospitality services across ETB training centres throughout Ireland. The procurement was conducted under a Single Stage Procedure with Negotiation, in accordance with Directive 2014/23/EU, reflecting the scale and complexity of the services required.The contract is classified as a services contract and falls under CPV codes 55500000 and 55000000, covering catering services and hotel, restaurant, and retail trade services. With an estimated value of €37,400,000, the contract is structured across four geographical service areas, enabling coordinated and standardised service delivery nationwide.Entities InvolvedThe procuring authority is Cork Education and Training Board, headquartered at Lavitts Quay, Cork, acting on behalf of the wider ETB network. Cork ETB is responsible for further education, training, and skills development across its region and plays a central role in national education service delivery.The successful bidder, Campbell Catering Limited, trading as Aramark Food Services, is a well-established catering and facilities management provider operating across Ireland. Details of unsuccessful bidders were not disclosed in the Contract Award Notice.Strategic and Social SignificanceThis government contract award represents a significant investment in the operational infrastructure supporting Ireland’s education and training system. High-quality catering and hospitality services are essential to the daily functioning of ETB training centres, contributing to learner wellbeing, staff productivity, and overall service quality.From an economic perspective, the contract supports large-scale service delivery employment and strengthens Ireland’s outsourced public services market. The multi-regional structure of the contract also allows for consistent standards while supporting local service operations.Background on the Winning CompanyAramark Food Services, operating in Ireland through Campbell Catering Limited, is part of the global Aramark group, a leading provider of food services, facilities management, and hospitality solutions. The company has extensive experience delivering large public sector contracts, including education, healthcare, and government facilities, making it a strategic partner for nationwide service provision.Technical and Financial OverviewWhile detailed service specifications have not been publicly disclosed, the contract scope includes full catering operations, hospitality management, food preparation, service delivery, and compliance with public sector standards. The €37.4 million estimated value suggests a multi-year engagement with significant operational scale and performance requirements across multiple training locations.ConclusionThe award of the ETB Catering and Hospitality Services contract to Aramark marks an important development in Ireland’s public education procurement landscape. As implementation progresses, the contract is expected to enhance service consistency, operational efficiency, and user experience across ETB training centres nationwide. The award also signals continued opportunities for large-scale awarded tenders within Ireland’s education and public services sectors.#IrelandEducationContracts #CateringServicesIreland #ETBProcurement #CorkETB #AramarkIreland #GovernmentContractsIreland #ContractAward #TenderResults #AwardedTenders #PublicSectorServices #ProcurementNewsIreland #PublicProcurement
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Ireland Awards €10.97 Million Public Bus Services Contract for Limerick City Route 310
22 Jan 2026
IntroductionIreland has announced a new public transport contract award with the National Transport Authority (NTA) confirming the award of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract for public bus services in Limerick City, Route 310. The services contract, with an estimated value of €10.97 million, has been awarded to Bus Éireann, Ireland’s national bus operator. The contract was signed on 24 July 2025 and published as a Contract Award Notice in December 2025.Contract DetailsThe awarded contract covers the operation of scheduled public bus services on Route 310 in Limerick City, delivered under Ireland’s Public Service Obligation framework. The procurement falls under multiple CPV codes, including 60000000, 60100000, 60112000, 63500000, and 63710000, encompassing transport services, road transport, and passenger transport operations.The contract has an estimated value of €10,969,940 and is classified as a services contract. It follows an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process that was initially advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in July 2023. The procurement process included pre-qualification, interim submissions, tender clarifications, and final tender evaluations, with notification of the competition outcome issued in April 2025.Entities InvolvedThe procuring authority is the National Transport Authority (NTA), headquartered at Haymarket House, Smithfield, Dublin. The NTA is responsible for planning and funding public transport services across Ireland.The successful operator, Bus Éireann, is based in Dublin and operates an extensive national and regional bus network. Details of other tenderers were not disclosed in the Contract Award Notice.Strategic and Community SignificanceThis government transport contract award supports the continued delivery of reliable and accessible public transport services in Limerick City. Route 310 plays an important role in urban mobility, connecting residential areas with key employment, education, and service hubs.The contract aligns with Ireland’s wider transport policy objectives, including improved public transport reliability, reduced private car dependency, and progress toward climate and sustainability targets. Continued PSO funding ensures service continuity on routes that are socially and economically important but may not be commercially viable without public support.Background on the Winning OperatorBus Éireann, a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), is Ireland’s national bus company and a long-standing provider of PSO-supported services. The operator has extensive experience delivering urban, regional, and school transport services under contract to the NTA, making it a key partner in Ireland’s public transport network.Technical and Financial OverviewWhile detailed operational specifications were not published, the contract scope includes scheduled passenger services, operational management, service reliability standards, and customer service requirements. The €10.97 million estimated value reflects a multi-year service delivery commitment and ongoing operational costs associated with urban bus transport.ConclusionThe award of the Limerick City Route 310 PSO contract to Bus Éireann reinforces Ireland’s commitment to maintaining dependable public transport services at the city level. As the contract progresses, it is expected to support improved connectivity, social inclusion, and sustainable urban mobility in Limerick. The project also highlights the continued role of PSO contracts in shaping Ireland’s public transport landscape and future awarded tenders in the sector.#IrelandPublicTransport #LimerickBusServices #NationalTransportAuthority #BusEireann #PublicServiceObligation #GovernmentContractsIreland #ContractAward #TenderResults #AwardedTenders #ProcurementNewsIreland #UrbanTransportIreland
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