IUB halts Riga school meal procurement; demands changes to 'green' criteria

The Procurement Monitoring Bureau (IUB) has issued a decision prohibiting the Central Administration of Riga municipality from continuing the procurement procedure "Catering services for the educational institutions under the Riga City Council's Education, Culture and Sports Department" without making amendments and from signing the procurement contract. The decision followed complaints from two suppliers – SIA "CNC" and SIA "Marniko" – which were deemed justified.

IUB found that the evaluation criterion "Environmentally friendly food product supply" included in the procurement terms was not linked to real benefits during contract execution, as the supplier is not obliged to regularly deliver from the nearest producers listed in their bid. Another contested criterion concerned a higher number of organic farming producers – it did not create an obligation to deliver organic products in significant quantities. IUB emphasized that "green" criteria must be not only declared but also implementable and verifiable in practice.

Riga City Council informed that the procurement commission has made the necessary amendments to the documentation and extended the deadline for submitting bids to June 8. The procurement was announced on August 25, 2025, with an estimated value of €601,353, covering meals in 35 educational institutions divided into 25 lots.

Meanwhile, litigation continues over the procurement results. The Senate has recommended that the municipality refrain from signing contracts with the potential winner in several lots until the case is resolved. The municipality promises to take necessary measures to ensure meal provision in 35 schools starting September 1, but has not disclosed how this will be achieved.