Planning

Project to Improve School Food Procurement Practices

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

20 Aug 2025 at 15:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

31 Jul 2025 at 09:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

31 Jul 2025 at 08:40

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is planning a project titled "Project to Improve School Food Procurement Practices" aimed at enhancing food procurement standards in schools across England. This initiative, still in the planning stage as of 20th August 2025, falls under the services industry category and comprises school catering services and the operation of educational centres. Suppliers interested in participating are required to submit their expressions of interest by 22nd August 2025. The project will be executed in the United Kingdom and aims to commence on 1st April 2026, running through to 31st March 2028, with a provisional budget of £5-8 million. The communication for future notices is set for 1st October 2025.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses, especially small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) specialising in school catering services and educational operations. Companies involved in sustainable food sourcing, waste reduction, and nutrition can leverage this project to showcase their practices and innovations. The emphasis on improving procurement standards, sustainability, and engaging pupils with the food system positions this initiative as an ideal opportunity for businesses seeking to contribute positively to educational food practices and wider local economic growth.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Project to Improve School Food Procurement Practices

Notice Description

This project would set out to encourage best practice in school food procurement and support a wide range of positive outcomes, including improving the quality and sustainability of food sourced, reducing food waste, engaging children with the food system, improving access to Small-Medium Enterprises, and encouraging local economic growth. It would also directly contribute to the Food Strategy outcomes. The project objectives are: 1. Encourage food procurement best practice in the education sector - this would include: a. Sourcing of food in education settings which is seasonal, produced to higher environmental standards, and higher animal welfare standards (going above UK regulatory baseline but allowing for equivalence in other countries). b. Reducing food waste throughout education food procurement supply chains. c. Provision of food in education settings which is healthy and nutritious and accounts for the specific needs of the consumer. d. Sourcing of food in education settings from a diverse range of suppliers, particularly SMEs and VCSEs, with an aim to increase resilience, encourage food producers to innovate and help support the economic, social and environmental well-being of the relevant area (as per the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012). 2. Support food education for pupils in a way which engages them with the opportunities and challenges across the food system, with the aim of teaching pupils about the importance of food, how it affects health, and about the relationship between food and farming (e.g. by setting up a school vegetable garden, conducting farm visits, providing cooking lessons, and adding aspects of food education to the curriculum). 3. Increase the transparency of and traceability within food supply chains in education settings to: a. Help improve accessibility for SMEs by addressing information failures whereby suppliers lack knowledge and understanding of how to access opportunities in the public sector and procurers are unsure of how to buy from local SMEs. b. Review compliance with the School Food Standards and the information available to enable evidencing compliance. c. Drive continuous improvement, including to overcome barriers to compliance with nutritional and food procurement rules and regulations. d. Build our understanding of what food is bought, served, sold and wasted. Defra has estimated a provisional budget of PS5-8 million for the project. However, the specific level of funding has not yet been finalised and could be subject to change as we refine the requirement for this project

Planning Information

Defra is seeking expressions of interests in delivering a project to support schools in England improve their food procurement standards and catering practices. Interested suppliers are asked to register their interest by completing the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/m89KSDYv9x This should be completed and submitted no later than 17:00 on the 22/08/2025. If you have any questions or issues with the form, please email emily.hayes@defra.gov.uk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0569c3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050314-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

55524000 - School catering services

80490000 - Operation of an educational centre

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Contact Name
Defra group Commercial
Contact Email
emily.hayes@defra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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