Food and Drink
Summary
Public sector organisations can use this agreement to buy food and drink through a single on-line access point. You will be able to access all food and drink sub-categories.
Description
The aim of this agreement is to support sustainability, food quality and welfare standards by meeting the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering (GBSF). It also aims to:
- reduce food and packaging waste
- reduce food miles
- invest in local communities and improve equality and diversity
- reduce modern slavery risks
We will shorten supply chains by simplifying the customer journey, helping you to meet your carbon net zero targets. To do this, the agreement will be managed with an online single access point. The platform for this online single access point will be provided by the winning bidder.
Social value will play a key part in the food supply and delivery solution which will support:
- tackling economic equality
- local education and health
- tackling equal opportunity
- promoting wellbeing
- helping public sector bodies to buy food in a sustainable way
- helping SMEs to supply public sector contracts
Benefits
- provides simple access to order all your food and drink requirements online
- helps all suppliers to access public sector food opportunities (including SMEs)
- free to access: all public sector buyers can use this agreement for free and will not need any upfront funding
- meet GBSF standards for buying better quality and safe food in a sustainable way
- helps you to meet your carbon net zero targets through consolidated deliveries: this means we will always try to deliver your food items in the same vehicle, rather than in separate deliveries from each supplier
Customer and supplier engagement
Customer and supplier market engagement began in 2021 and is ongoing. It has included:
- release of Prior Information Notice (PIN)
- feedback forums and surveys
- 1-2-1 meetings
- newsletters
- webinars
- external stakeholder forums
If you have any further questions, contact the food team.
Important links
| Prior Information Notice (PIN) | Read PIN |
|---|---|
| Contract Notice in Find a Tender Service (FTS) | Not available yet |
| Tender documents | Not available yet |
Timeline
| Activity | Estimated dates |
|---|---|
| Pre-market engagement | 2021 to present |
| Drafting of procurement documents | 2022 to present |
| Publication of FTS notice | Summer 2023 |
| Agreement award | Winter 2023 |
| Go Live | Spring 2024 |