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Project to Improve School Food Procurement Practices

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Tender

28 Oct 2026 at 14:10

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

23 Oct 2026 at 13:48

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
PlanningUpdate

20 Aug 2025 at 16:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

31 Jul 2025 at 10:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

31 Jul 2025 at 09:40

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking a supplier to improve food procurement and catering practices in schools. The project supports better food quality and sustainability, less food waste, and greater engagement by primary and secondary pupils with the food system. It contributes to the government’s aim for more public-sector food to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards. The requirement is for school catering and food-procurement improvement services, delivered in England. Schools are a major part of public-sector food and catering spending, making them central to this work. The project also responds to concerns about childhood obesity and persistent health inequalities.

Defra invited offers through an open procedure. The procurement is at tender stage. The single lot has an estimated value of £2 million excluding VAT (£2.4 million including VAT). The planned contract runs from 11 January 2027 to 31 March 2028, with an option for a 12-month extension subject to available funding and agreement with Defra. Questions were due by 16 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC; tenders by 25 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC. The award decision was expected by 21 December 2026. Evaluation gives 60% to technical quality, 10% to sustainability and social value, and 30% to price. Technical evaluation includes a pass/fail business outline, with scoring for experience and resources, understanding, delivery approach, team and project management.

This opportunity suits suppliers able to work with schools to improve food purchasing and catering practices, and to connect procurement decisions with food quality, environmental sustainability, waste reduction and pupil engagement. Defra’s evaluation places particular weight on the proposed delivery approach, so bidders should be able to set out a credible plan for achieving the project’s objectives. The assessment also considers organisational experience, capability and resources, the proposed project team and project management, alongside sustainability and social value. Suppliers need to provide an outline of their business that passes the initial threshold. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises are identified as suitable participants. The work is a substantial, multi-school improvement project, making relevant organisational capacity and experience important to a competitive response.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Project to Improve School Food Procurement Practices

Notice Description

The Government seeks to improve public sector food procurement (PSFP). Subject to legal constraints, it aims for half of all public sector food to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards. The new National Procurement Policy Statement, published in February 2025, sets expectations for government contracts to favour products meeting higher environmental standards. This project supports these ambitions by improving school food procurement practices which will lead to enhanced food quality and sustainability, reduced food waste and primary and secondary pupils being better engaged with the food system. Schools account for approximately half of public sector food and catering expenditure and are therefore central to delivery of PSFP ambitions. This is particularly important given childhood obesity and persistent health inequalities. In England, about one in three children leave primary school overweight or obese;

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There is an option of a 12-month extension to the project subject to availability of funds. Due to unknown situations any extension must be agreed with the Authority (Defra) and will be processed via a Variation/ Contract Change Note (CCN) issued by DGC. (Should an extension request arise at a cost and agreed on, then an additional invoice will need to be sent to cover the period between the interim payment and the original project end date).

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/102127-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

CPV Codes

55524000 - School catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
25 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
28 Oct 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Postcode Area
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)

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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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