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DHSC: OHID: Infant Feeding Survey 2027

Department of Health and Social Care

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Sep 2026 at 09:42

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Health & Social Care intends to commission social research for an Infant Feeding Survey covering England. The study will collect data on breastfeeding, the use of foods and drinks other than breastmilk during infancy, and related matters. It continues a series of infant surveys previously conducted across the UK, but this survey’s geographical focus is England. The work is intended to provide evidence about infant feeding practices and sustain the survey series. The procurement is categorised as services, specifically social research. The buyer is a central government department; the survey’s subject matter is relevant to research organisations with expertise in health, nutrition, infant feeding or population studies, as well as survey specialists able to collect data from families across England.

This is at the planning stage: the Department has stated its intention to procure, and there is no invitation to tender yet. It expects to use a competitive flexible procedure. The buyer’s anticipated date for the next notice is 9 November 2026, and it expects expressions of interest by 23 November 2026; these are planning dates, not current bid deadlines. The planned contract is due to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032, with an award decision expected by 29 March 2027. The estimated value is £800,000 excluding VAT (£960,000 including VAT). The work is arranged as one lot. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises are identified as suitable to participate.

The research will suit suppliers able to design and deliver a substantial, multi-year survey of infant feeding in England, including reliable collection of data on breastfeeding and other foods and drinks given during infancy. Relevant strengths include social research and survey methodology, experience working with families or health-related populations, and the ability to produce robust, useful evidence for a central government client. The subject matter makes expertise in public health, nutrition, maternal and infant health, or previous infant-feeding research pertinent. The buyer has identified the work as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so smaller research consultancies and mission-led organisations may also be well placed, alongside larger research providers. Suppliers can use the planning period to consider capacity, research design and potential delivery partnerships ahead of the later tender.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DHSC: OHID: Infant Feeding Survey 2027

Notice Description

A new contract to undertake an Infant Feeding Survey (IFS) collecting data on breastfeeding, the use of foods and drinks other than breastmilk in infancy and related relevant matters for England. This continues an earlier series of UK surveys in infants, normally carried out every five years but with a gap between the 2010 and recent 2024 survey. This survey will focus on data for England only.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077d14
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092158-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79315000 - Social research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 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
Department of Health and Social Care
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
SW1H 0EU
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)

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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