---
title: "Evidence Review: International comparisons of higher environmental production standards in public sector food procurement"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-065fbb"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065fbb"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065fbb.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065fbb.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS"
published: "2026-03-02"
---

# Evidence Review: International comparisons of higher environmental production standards in public sector food procurement

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-065fbb

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065fbb.json)

## Summary

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), located in London, has initiated a public procurement process with the title "Evidence Review: International comparisons of higher environmental production standards in public sector food procurement." This contract relates to research and development consultancy services within the central government sector and targets the enhancement of environmental standards in public sector food procurement across England. The procurement stage is in the award phase, having been completed, and the contract commences on 25th February 2026, concluding on 22nd June 2026. The procurement follows a "Below threshold - unknown" method, focusing on exploring international standards in food procurement to bolster environmentally sustainable practices within the public sector.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in research and consultancy services, particularly those with expertise in environmental sustainability and public procurement strategies. Eunomia, a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) based in Bristol, is already actively engaged in this contract, suggesting that other SMEs with relevant capabilities could benefit from similar engagements. Companies with experience in international environmental standards, food certifications, and sustainable procurement practices would be well-suited to compete and excel in projects that strive to match global benchmarks and foster domestic environmental production standards. Businesses eager to influence policy and environmental strategies within the public sector food procurement domain can utilise this opportunity to expand their influence and operations.

## Notice

The Government has a manifesto commitment which sets ambition for at least half of all food purchased by the public sector to be produced locally or certified to higher environmental standards. Our aim is therefore to develop evidence-based policies to increase the amount of environmentally sustainable food in the public sector to support delivery of the manifesto commitment and maximise the benefits derived from the PS4.9bn annual public spend on public sector food procurement. Defra would like to develop an understanding of how other World Trade Organisation (WTO) signatory countries define HEPS, as well as the strategies used by them to increase the proportion of HEPS-equivalent food (organic or integrated farm management certifications) procured by the public sector. This includes considering the extent to which increased domestic production of HEPS-equivalent food is instrumental in increasing the procurement of HEPS-equivalent food in the public sector or, conversely, how increasing HEPS-equivalent targets in public procurement affects domestic HEPS-equivalent production and key markets. Increasing our understanding and evidence base of what has worked elsewhere, what needs to be true to replicate successes and how the UK situation differs will enable us to draw from established examples in developing our own approach to increasing the proportion of HEPS food in the public sector in England.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018491-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - unknown |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 25 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 25 Feb 2026 - 22 Jun 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £49,985 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | EUNOMIA |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 2 Mar 2026 at 14:11 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018491-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018491-2026
  2nd March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065fbb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065fbb.json.