‘Firms reluctant to bid for public food contracts’
CONTRACTS to provide Welsh hospitals and schools with food are not seen as reliable or prestigious by suppliers, an Assembly report has concluded.
The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee found that more than £74m a year is spent on buying food for use in the Welsh public sector.
But the committee claims many food companies have a negative view of public procurement in Wales and want the Welsh Government to do more to make contracts reliable, simple and desirable.
In tender documents, the National Procurement Service had overestimated the value of food contracts, with the reality being that they were worth a fraction of what was projected.
The committee added that the potential health and wellbeing effects of quality food procurement are not properly being explored in Wales and concluded the money should be seen as an “investment in Welsh people”.
“We are concerned at the perception of public food procurement among suppliers in Wales,” said Mike Hedges AM, chairman of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee.
“That some companies see the sector as unreliable, and that contracts are often not worth the estimated value placed on them by the National Procurement Service, means that more must be done to restore faith and ensure tenders are attractive enough for businesses to bid for them.
“We also believe there are wider benefits to explore in terms of health and wellbeing among patients and schoolchildren at Welsh hospitals and schools.
“So we’re recommending the Welsh Government develop an overarching food strategy, which sees food as an investment in the lives of people in Wales.
“As a starting point, we must make the most of the £74m a year being spent by the public sector so we can improve health, wellbeing and social outcomes.”
Evidence was also heard concerning myths and over-exaggerations around EU procurement rules which put local suppliers off bidding for contracts.
The committee found examples of practices in other EU countries which did not prevent the procurement of food that is locally produced, healthy and sustainable.
The committee believes that Wales must be ready to face the challenges and reap the opportunities arising from Brexit.
It recommends the Welsh Government start preparing now to ensure that the regulations, standards and structures we have are right for Wales.
The report will now be considered by the Welsh Government.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We will respond formally to the report shortly”.