Official UK procurement notice
Department for Education Period Products Scheme 2026
Authority: Department for Education (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Department for Education (DfE) is looking to provide free period products to schools and post-16 education providers across England through a procurement to appoint a national provider.
The Period Products Scheme ensures that period products are available and accessible, free of charge, to girls and women who need them in schools and colleges. The scheme aims to reduce periods as a barrier to education, promote dignity and equality in learning environments and tackle stigma associated with periods. The scheme was introduced after a 2018 Omnibus Survey suggested that 14% of female college students and 6% of female school pupils has been unable to access period products in the last 12-months due to affordability and 83% of secondary school leaders made free period products available in their school.
Tackling this problem remains a key priority and is part of DfE's strategy to support the Government's mission to break down the barriers to opportunity; one of the six missions which form the centrepiece of our plan for change. This mission-led approach drives coordination between different programmes and workstreams by setting ambitious shared goals.
The Department has published a competitive flexible tendering opportunity to find a single national supplier who can from September 2026:
- Source an appropriate range of period products including reusable and environmentally friendly products
- Design and implement user interfaces and support services
- Plan and execute a national delivery service
We require a ‘demand-led’ service which must be available to approximately 21,000 organisations across England, with an accessible and easy to use means of interaction and product ordering.
The Department is also seeking to maximise the value of the scheme beyond the core offer through financial benefits, added value, and/or awareness activities and materials. In return, the Department proposes to offer a package of rights to the lead supplier and/or key sub-contractors/supply chain members.
- Not divided into lots: The Department has considered whether the services could reasonably be supplied under more than one contract by dividing the procurement into Lots and has concluded that splitting the procurement into lots could make the requirement disproportionately expensive to manage and increase the technical risk to deliver the requirement, therefore, the Services will be supplied under one contract.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 3 Sept 2028, 23:59 BST.
- How the procedure runs: Compliance Checks: The Department will check all Tenders submitted to ensure they are compliant with this ITT and that all responses are valid. This includes satisfying the PSQ questions, CoP and Financial Health checks. Non-compliant Tenders will be excluded from further participation in this Procurement. Evaluation stage (Quality): Evaluation of the responses to the Quality Questionnaire in accordance with Evaluation Criteria and Methodology set out in Document 2 of the ITT. Evaluation Stage (Social Impact and Value): Evaluation of responses to the Social Impact and Value Questionnaire in accordance with Evaluation Criteria and Methodology set out in Document 2 of the ITT. Evaluation Stage (Financial): Evaluation of the Financial Submission in accordance with Evaluation Methodology set out in Document 2 of the ITT. Optional Negotiation stage: Optional negotiation with the Preferred Supplier of the service provided in return for the rights package offered by the Department. Award Decision: Final due diligence, governance and assurance of Procurement outcome and confirmation of Preferred Supplier(s).
CPV: Customer services · Parcel delivery services · Sanitary towels or tampons
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£19,800,000
- Economic & financial standing
Potential Suppliers must complete and return the Financial Viability risk assessment tool.
- Technical & professional ability
Pass/Fail based on the details of up to 3 contracts/grants, or an explanation for how you meet the criteria relating to technical, which demonstrates and satisfies the following criteria:
- Your organisation’s experience in delivering large goods and services contracts.
- An ability to successfully deliver similar requirements including customer service.
- Clear links demonstrated between these experiences and this project.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- Mandatory Requirements: Pass/Fail
- Delivery Plan: Quality - 30%
- Sourcing Products: Quality - 25%
- Delivery and Logistics: Quality - 25%
- Ordering Process: Quality - 10%
- Stock Management and Warehousing: Quality - 10%
- Reducing Stigma: Social Impact and Value - 50%
- Sustainable Procurement Practices: Social Impact and Value - 50%
- Price: Price per quality point
- Economic & financial standing
Potential Suppliers must complete and return the Financial Viability risk assessment tool.
- Technical & professional ability
Pass/Fail based on the details of up to 3 contracts/grants, or an explanation for how you meet the criteria relating to technical, which demonstrates and satisfies the following criteria:
- Your organisation’s experience in delivering large goods and services contracts.
- An ability to successfully deliver similar requirements including customer service.
- Clear links demonstrated between these experiences and this project.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 3 Sept 2028
- First published
- 29 Apr 2025, 15:47 BST
- Last source update
- 17 Sept 2026, 14:04 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Jun 2026
- Authority reference
itt_3864- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-009800- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05096cFind a Tender
- How it runs
Compliance Checks: The Department will check all Tenders submitted to ensure they are compliant with this ITT and that all responses are valid. This includes satisfying the PSQ questions, CoP and Financial Health checks. Non-compliant Tenders will be excluded from further participation in this Procurement.
Evaluation stage (Quality): Evaluation of the responses to the Quality Questionnaire in accordance with Evaluation Criteria and Methodology set out in Document 2 of the ITT.
Evaluation Stage (Social Impact and Value): Evaluation of responses to the Social Impact and Value Questionnaire in accordance with Evaluation Criteria and Methodology set out in Document 2 of the ITT.
Evaluation Stage (Financial): Evaluation of the Financial Submission in accordance with Evaluation Methodology set out in Document 2 of the ITT.
Optional Negotiation stage: Optional negotiation with the Preferred Supplier of the service provided in return for the rights package offered by the Department.
Award Decision: Final due diligence, governance and assurance of Procurement outcome and confirmation of Preferred Supplier(s).
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 16 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 4 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
The Department is administering the Tender process via its e-Tendering Portal, (Jaggaer; education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html ↗). Jaggaer is the only method for submitting tenders and suppliers should not make any other form of approach to the Department in connection with this procurement. It is the responsibility of the Potential Suppliers to ensure they can access and use the Jaggaer system. Jaggaer is owned and hosted by an independent organisation, any issues in respect to functionality or using the system may be directed to the Jaggaer helpdesk via 0800 069 8630 or www.jaggaer.com/submit-supplier-supp… ↗
Timeline
29 Apr 2025 → 17 Sept 2026 · 10 dates- Planning notice published29 Apr 2025, 15:47 BST
- Market engagement31 May 2025, 23:59 BST
The DfE shall be hosting a virtual event on Tuesday 20th May 2025 at 10:00 to discuss the vision for the scheme from the start of the 2026/27 academic year onwards and would like to encourage any parties who are interested in contributing to the success of a future scheme to register for this event. To do so, please contact [email protected] by COP on Thursday 15th May 2025.
- Next notice expected1 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published254 days ago4 Feb 2026, 10:09 GMT
- Clarification questions by226 days ago4 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Submission deadline214 days ago16 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by137 days ago1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent131 days ago8 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Contract starts110 days ago29 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published29 days ago17 Sept 2026, 14:04 BST
Notice history
14 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 29 Apr 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published29 Apr 2025, 15:47 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published4 Feb 2026, 10:09 GMTUK4
- Published value updated to £16,500,0004 Feb 2026, 10:09 GMTwas £0
- Status changed to active4 Feb 2026, 10:09 GMT
- Procurement method changed4 Feb 2026, 10:09 GMT
- Deadline published: 11 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT4 Feb 2026, 10:09 GMT
- Tender notice published18 Feb 2026, 08:58 GMTUK4
- Deadline moved to 16 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT18 Feb 2026, 08:58 GMT+5 days · was 11 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Tender notice published27 Feb 2026, 09:44 GMTUK4
- Published value updated to £19,800,00027 Feb 2026, 09:44 GMTwas £16,500,000
- Contract award notice published8 Jun 2026, 10:31 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete8 Jun 2026, 10:31 BST
- Contract signature expected1 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published17 Sept 2026, 14:04 BSTUK7
Published amendments (2)
The deadline for tender submissions has been extended to 12pm (midday) on 16th March 2026.
The deadline for tender submissions has been extended to 12pm (midday) on 16th March 2026. The total available estimated value for the contract (including any extension) has been amended. Previously it was £19,800,000 including VAT. It is now £19,800,000 excluding VAT and £23,760,000 including VAT.
Routine re-releases (6)
- 2026-02: 2 releases · 4 Feb 2026, 18 Feb 2026
- 2025-04: 1 release · 29 Apr 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Hygiene Services Ltd T/A PHS Group Plc1 Jul 2026 – 31 Aug 2028 · up to 31 Aug 2029Extensions: 12 months from original contract end date | £10,586,364 | 8 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
| Personnel Hygiene Services Ltd T/A PHS Group Plc | — | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Period Products Scheme 2026 onwards · Personnel Hygiene Services Ltd T/A PHS Group Plc
- Signed
- 3 Sept 2026
- Value
- £10,586,364
- Period
- 3 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2028 · up to 31 Aug 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 12 month available extension
3 agreed KPIs: Delivery Date · Delivery Time · Reliable Ordering System
- Delivery Date, 95% of all orders successfully delivered to Organisations on or before the date provdied at time of purchase
- Delivery Time, 100% of all orders successfully delivered within 5 Business Days of the latter of 1) order placement or 2) the closure of the ordering window
- Reliable Ordering System, All reported incidents of unschedules system unavailability rectified within 3 hours and measured if all ordering platforms are down
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- did not winBunzl UK T/A Arrow County Supplies · West Midlands
- did not winCheeky Baby Products LtdSME · South East England
- did not winFindel Education · North West England
- did not winThe Brush Bus LtdSME · Yorkshire and the Humber
- wonPersonnel Hygiene Services Limited trading as PHS Group plc · West Midlands
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
5 commercial parties on the notice · 1 awarded- Bunzl UK T/A Arrow County SuppliesBidder / tenderer
- Cheeky Baby Products LtdBidder / tenderer
- Findel EducationBidder / tenderer
- Personnel Hygiene Services LimitedAwarded supplier
- The Brush Bus LtdBidder / tenderer
Official documents & specifications (8)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: For further information, please access the ITT documents via the Jaggaer e-Procurement platform (itt_3864).
- Signed contract
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender