Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI)
Selling to the public sector
“We know that good procurement is sustainable procurement and we will work in tandem with the Government’s Action Plan to strive for a carbon neutral estate by 2012 as we support the UK in meeting its Kyoto targets and tackling climate change.”
John Healey MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury – launch on 5 March 2007 of the Government’s Sustainable Procurement Action Plan "Transforming Government Procurement (PDF 1.5 MB)
Consumers "want value for money: they want quality; they want assurance; and they want to feel good about buying the food they choose. That may be because it is top quality, in season, organically produced, fair trade or because it is locally sourced. These are all opportunities for producers to exploit".
Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 3 July 2006
PSFPI specific
Selling
to the public sector - a guide to the Public Sector Food Procurement
Initiative for farmers
and growers (PDF 650 KB)
The leaflet explains how farmers and growers can take advantage of opportunities to supply food to the public sector either directly or indirectly via the supply chain of a primary supplier. Includes short case studies showing how small and local producers have worked successfully with the public sector and lists useful sources of further information and advice.- Model PSFPI specification clauses
This guidance forms annex 1 to appendix 2 of the pre-released Catering Services and Food Procurement Toolkit (PDF 500 KB). Suppliers should find the model clauses useful as they seek to put into practice PSFPI objectives. Many suppliers will not be in a position to tackle all objectives immediately and that is why we have asked public sector bodies to: (1) give priority to the key PSFPI objectives and (2) seek the views of suppliers and other stakeholders on the practicality of the suggested specifications when looking to adopt a more sustainable approach to their procurement. - Technical
guide for suppliers wishing to supply the public sector (PDF 1 MB)
Produced by the Government Office for the East Midlands and the East Midland Development Agency to provide advice on marketing to the public sector, HACCP, hygiene, microbiological testing and industry standards etc. - Going public - an introduction to supplying the public sector
Soil Association publication advising farmers and growers on how to supply organic produce to the public sector. The issues are also relevant to other small and local producers answering such questions as where to start and what are the real opportunities.
- Supply chain
model for providing local food into schools in west midlands - Report
(PDF 500 KB)
Provides useful information on tendering to a local authority for school meals (including guidelines) and on food procurement and buying processes. - Sustainable Food Procurement for Contract Caterers and Foodservice Companies - Two User Guides
The two guides are published by Oxford Brookes University and provide simple suggestions on to how to improve sustainable food procurement performance and report on progress, with suggested Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). - Food Industry Sustainability Strategy (FISS)
FISS is designed to help those involved in the food and drink industry beyond the farm gate to conserve energy and water, reduce waste and vehicle kilometres and so help to reduce their costs. More funding has been given to the Carbon Trust, Envirowise and Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to assist food manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and food service providers to adopt best practice. Links to these support bodies are given on the PSFPI environmental performance page at: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/envperform.htm FISS is also designed to help the industry provide food choices and information to assist their customers adopt more healthy and balanced diets. - Report
into the feasibility of an online database of farmers and growers
for the public sector food procurement initiative (PDF 250
KB)
The study was established to identify the options available for developing an easy to use national on-line database of farmers and growers to enable public sector buyers to find local producers willing and able to supply food either directly or indirectly to the public sector.
Generic
Training
Useful links
Sources of help and advice for food producers and suppliers
Commodities
- British Potato Council fact sheet
Gives potato farmers tips on supplying schools, hospitals and other public sector bodies on factors other than price.
Other useful sites
Further information
- PSFPI - other useful publications and sources (PDF 200 KB)
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Page last modified: 6 August 2008
Page published: 2 November 2004