The University of Galway is looking to appoint caterers to operate and manage five cafés and restaurants on campus.

The estimated value of the contract could reach more than €26m over seven years, according to tender documents.

The university plans to award the contract for an initial three years with annual reviews, up to a maximum of a seven-year period.

Successful tenderers will be required to provide “exciting nutritious food at competitive rates” to the campus community of more than 19,000 students and more than 3,000 staff.

According to the documents, the university said it was committed to working in partnership with the successful company to “deliver sustainable, affordable, healthy, quality dining experiences for our diverse campus community”.

The university said it had 4,000 international students who travel to study here from 110 countries. This made it the “most diverse university in Ireland”, it stated.

The tender includes five spaces across the campus including An Bhialann, a 720-seat restaurant incorporating a food hall, as well as a separate coffee and sandwich operation. Other spaces include Friars, which has 174 seats; Café ZINC with 136 seats; and Café Tóg Sos, with about 40 seats.

The contract also includes catering requirements for conferences, summer schools and leisure business associated with Atalia Student Residences, a subsidiary company of the University of Galway that owns and operates campus accommodation with 1,867 beds.

Moffett’s Restaurant, Cloud Café, CSI Café, Stem Café, Staff Club Café and the Students Union’s Smokey’s Café and Sult Bar are not included in this contract.

“The estimated annual values to be covered by the proposed licence agreement may amount to €3.8m,” the document stated. The figures were based on current and expected usage.

The successful tenderer will enter into an agreement with the university and will be paid an annual concession fee.

The university will hand over the restaurants/cafés to the tenderer, who will be expected to provide the staff and equipment to operate manage and maintain the facilities. The university said it intends that restaurants and cafés will be “financially self-supporting without subvention”.

It also intends to “obtain a percentage of total turnover achieved by the successful tenderer from the operation” of the catering.

Pictured: An Bhialinn: The 720-seat restaurant is the largest of the five outlets for which new caterers are being sought.