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RM6409 Buying Better Food and Drink 2

Crown Commercial Service

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

28 Oct 2026 at 09:09

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

15 May 2026 at 16:11

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Government Commercial Agency plans a replacement framework for the supply of food and drink to public sector organisations. It covers a broad range of products, including agricultural and horticultural produce, cereals, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, nuts, meat, fish, dairy, oils, other food products and beverages. The scope also includes restaurant, food-serving, canteen and catering services. The framework is intended for public sector buyers across the United Kingdom, including central government, devolved administrations and wider public sector organisations. It will replace the existing Buying Better Food and Drink framework. Its stated purpose is to make it easier for public sector customers to source food and drink and to reduce barriers for small and medium-sized suppliers seeking access to public sector supply chains.

This procurement is at planning stage: the buyer has stated its intention to procure, but has not yet invited bids. It expects to use a single-supplier framework with direct awards. The planned framework period runs from 30 April 2027 to 29 April 2029, with a possible extension to 29 April 2031. The buyer expects to publish the next notice by 4 January 2027; this is an indicative publication date, not a bid deadline. The estimated value is £800 million excluding VAT and £1 billion including VAT. There is one planned lot. The current framework is due to expire on 22 January 2028, and the replacement is intended to follow it.

The model is explicitly designed to create routes into public sector food and drink supply for SMEs. Although the framework itself is planned as a single-supplier agreement, the buyer says small and medium-sized businesses can be added to the supply chain by buyers and the lead supplier for direct-delivery supplies, using Buyer Unique Line terms. This may suit food producers, wholesalers and distributors with relevant products and the ability to supply public sector customers through a larger framework provider or directly where buyers require it. The breadth of the range also makes the supply chain relevant to specialists in fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy, groceries and beverages, as well as food-serving and catering businesses. The buyer identifies SME access as a key benefit; no specific qualifications or accreditations are stated.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

RM6409 Buying Better Food and Drink 2

Notice Description

This will be a replacement agreement to follow RM6279 Buying Better Food and Drink framework, which expires on 22/01/2028. Of the PS4.9bn, total Public Sector food spend, the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) has a market share <0.3%. The procurement is planned as a single supplier framework (as per the current RM6279 agreement), where the opportunity for SMEs is a key benefit of the operational model, as buyers and the Tier 1 supplier can add SMEs to the supply chain for direct delivery supplies to customers at any time, via the Buyer Unique Line terms. The framework is designed to reduce barriers for SMEs to access public sector contracts to supply food and drink. The framework will be suitable for all Public Sector buyers including central government organisations, devolved administrations and wider public sector organisations in the United Kingdom.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069a4c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101839-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

03 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

CPV Codes

03100000 - Agricultural and horticultural products

03200000 - Cereals, potatoes, vegetables, fruits and nuts

03300000 - Farming, hunting and fishing products

03400000 - Forestry and logging products

15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

15100000 - Animal products, meat and meat products

15200000 - Prepared and preserved fish

15300000 - Fruit, vegetables and related products

15400000 - Animal or vegetable oils and fats

15500000 - Dairy products

15600000 - Grain mill products, starches and starch products

15800000 - Miscellaneous food products

15900000 - Beverages, tobacco and related products

55300000 - Restaurant and food-serving services

55500000 - Canteen and catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2027 - 29 Apr 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Crown Commercial Service
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 9PP
Postcode Area
Liverpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
City Centre North
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

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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