Procurement

Project to Improve School Food Procurement Practices

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0569c3

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;

Notices

UK4: Tender notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-102127
Published: 28 October 2026, 2:10pm

UK1: Pipeline notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-100509
Published: 23 October 2026, 1:48pm

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-050314
Published: 20 August 2025, 4:25pm

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