Guidance and Toolkits for Suppliers

Unlocking opportunities: lifting the lid on public sector food procurement 
 
Concise reader-friendly leaflet to help public sector buyers (and suppliers) understand and implement the PSFPI with several short case studies showing how others have done it and the benefits achieved. 
 
 
Red meat and the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative  
 
Meat and Livestock Commission's guide to sustainable red meat procurement in England. 
 
 
Tendering for Government Contracts - a Guide for Small Businesses (on DTI Small Business Service website) 
 
 
Selling to the public sector - a guide to the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative for farmers and growers 
 
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. It 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. 
 
 
Technical guide for suppliers wishing to supply the public sector  
 
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. 
 
 
Supply chain model for providing local food into schools in west midlands - Report  
 
Supply chain model for providing local food into schools in west midlands - Report  
Provides useful information on tendering to a local authority for school meals (including guidelines) and on food procurement and buying processes. 
 
 
How Government Buys 
 
OGC-Business Links' website providing guides, FAQs and other advice to help businesses sell products and services to the public sector in England. 
 
 
New National Opportunities Portal website  
 
The Small Business Service (SBS) and the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) are developing this portal that is scheduled for launch in late December 2005. It will provide firms throughout the UK with direct access to information on public procurement contract opportunities below £100,000 from local and central government. 
 
 
Tenders Electronic Daily (TED)  
 
Resource developed by the European Commission to provide the best available source of information on current European public purchasing. It covers all areas of government spending, namely supply, service, and public works contracts. 
 
 
Online package to help small businesses sell to the public sector  
 
This online service developed by Small Business Services and hosted by LearnDirect (University for Industry) is designed to help small businesses develop the skills and knowledge needed to win public sector contracts. SBS will market the course via www.Businesslink.gov.uk and the new procurement opportunities portal www.Supply2.gov.uk. Planned launch: 24 April 2007 
 
 
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.