Award

Provision of an Official Veterinary Service for the Imported Food Office (LHR)

LONDON BOROUGH OF HILLINGDON

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

11 Dec 2023 at 15:15

Summary of the contracting process

The London Borough of Hillingdon has awarded a contract for the Provision of an Official Veterinary Service for the Imported Food Office (LHR). The procurement process was completed on 11th December 2023 using a limited procurement method without prior publication of a call for competition. The contract has a value of £1,095,014 and was signed on 20th October 2023. The main procurement category is services within the veterinary services industry. The buying organisation is the London Borough of Hillingdon, with the contract awarded to Senlac Associates.

This tender presents opportunities for businesses in the veterinary services sector to provide official veterinary services for the Imported Food Office. Businesses interested in providing these services should consider that the current contract with Senlac Associates expires on 31st March 2024, and there are plans to go out to tender for a new contract starting in April 2026. Understanding the changes in checks required on products of animal origin due to the EU Exit will be crucial for future service provisions. Businesses with expertise in veterinary services and a focus on official food inspections are well-suited to compete for these opportunities.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Provision of an Official Veterinary Service for the Imported Food Office (LHR)

Notice Description

Checks on imports from the EU were originally due to commence from 1 July 2022. However, prior to that, in April 2022, the Brexit Opportunities Minister released a statement advising that all plans for EU-Transition-related imported food clearances had been put on hold until 2023 to allow time for the development of a target operating model which would set out a revised approach to these controls. The subsequent Border Target Operating Model (TOM) was released by the Cabinet Office on 29 August 2023. This Target Operating Model changes the approach that the Council's Imported Food Office (IFO) follows, not only for imports from the EU, but also for those from the rest of the world. The new checks are currently scheduled to be introduced from April 2024. For the Council to maintain its statutory obligations for the inspection and clearance of imported products of animal origin (POAO), it is necessary to have in place a contract for the provision of veterinary services. What remains unknown at this stage is the number of consignments that the IFO is likely to receive from the EU. Therefore, until this information is received, it is difficult to determine what the full impact will be on checks at London Heathrow Airport. It is also not known at this stage what changes there will be to trade patterns once checks on EU imports are introduced. For this reason, a single tender action was recommended to make a direct award to Senlac Associates, the Council's current provider of veterinary services for a two-year proposal provided by Senlac Associates.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Checks on imports from the EU were originally due to commence from 1 July 2022. However, prior to that, in April 2022, the Brexit Opportunities Minister released a statement advising that all plans for EU-Transition-related imported food clearances had been put on hold until 2023 to allow time for the development of a target operating model which would set out a revised approach to these controls. The subsequent Border Target Operating Model (TOM) was released by the Cabinet Office on 29 August 2023. This Target Operating Model changes the approach that the Council's Imported Food Office (IFO) follows, not only for imports from the EU, but also for those from the rest of the world. The new checks are currently scheduled to be introduced from April 2024. For the Council to maintain its statutory obligations for the inspection and clearance of imported products of animal origin (POAO), it is necessary to have in place a contract for the provision of veterinary services. What remains unknown at this stage is the number of consignments that the IFO is likely to receive from the EU. Therefore, until this information is received, it is difficult to determine what the full impact will be on checks at London Heathrow Airport. It is also not known at this stage what changes there will be to trade patterns once checks on EU imports are introduced. For this reason, a single tender action was recommended to make a direct award to Senlac Associates, the Council's current provider of veterinary services for a two-year proposal provided by Senlac Associates.

Procurement Information

The current contract with Senlac Associates expires on 31 March 2024. Given the recently confirmed change in the checks required on products of animal origin, there is an increased level of uncertainty and therefore, it would not be prudent to go out to tender as potentially interested bidders would be basing their tenders on the existing volume of consignments, which does not reflect a true indication of the future service requirements. It is anticipated that the potential impact of the EU Exit will become clearer during the two-year contract term recommended in this report and, accordingly, it is proposed that the Council goes out to tender for a new contract starting in April 2026. Once the volume of consignments and required inspections is stabilised, extensive pre-tender market engagement in Q1 of 2025/26 so that the market has a full understanding of requirements when the tender is advertised It is anticipated that the potential impact of the EU Exit will become clearer during the two-year contract term recommended in this report and, accordingly, it is proposed that the Council goes out to tender for a new contract starting in April 2026. Once the volume of consignments and required inspections is stabilised, Procurement will work with officers from the IFO to develop the new service requirements. These will be supported by clear and concise volume data, alongside extensive pre-tender market engagements in Q1 of 2025/26 so that the market has a full understanding of requirements when the tender is advertised.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04233a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036390-2023
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85200000 - Veterinary services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,095,014 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Dec 20232 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Oct 20232 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LONDON BOROUGH OF HILLINGDON
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
amayo@hillingdon.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
UXBRIDGE
Postcode
UB8 1UW
Post Town
Southall
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI74 Harrow and Hillingdon
Delivery Location
TLI74 Harrow and Hillingdon

Local Authority
Hillingdon
Electoral Ward
Uxbridge
Westminster Constituency
Uxbridge and South Ruislip

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SENLAC ASSOCIATES

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04233a-2023-12-11T15:15:43Z",
    "date": "2023-12-11T15:15:43Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04233a",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04233a",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Provision of an Official Veterinary Service for the Imported Food Office (LHR)",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "85200000",
            "description": "Veterinary services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "Checks on imports from the EU were originally due to commence from 1 July 2022. However, prior to that, in April 2022, the Brexit Opportunities Minister released a statement advising that all plans for EU-Transition-related imported food clearances had been put on hold until 2023 to allow time for the development of a target operating model which would set out a revised approach to these controls. The subsequent Border Target Operating Model (TOM) was released by the Cabinet Office on 29 August 2023. This Target Operating Model changes the approach that the Council's Imported Food Office (IFO) follows, not only for imports from the EU, but also for those from the rest of the world. The new checks are currently scheduled to be introduced from April 2024. For the Council to maintain its statutory obligations for the inspection and clearance of imported products of animal origin (POAO), it is necessary to have in place a contract for the provision of veterinary services. What remains unknown at this stage is the number of consignments that the IFO is likely to receive from the EU. Therefore, until this information is received, it is difficult to determine what the full impact will be on checks at London Heathrow Airport. It is also not known at this stage what changes there will be to trade patterns once checks on EU imports are introduced. For this reason, a single tender action was recommended to make a direct award to Senlac Associates, the Council's current provider of veterinary services for a two-year proposal provided by Senlac Associates.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "Checks on imports from the EU were originally due to commence from 1 July 2022. However, prior to that, in April 2022, the Brexit Opportunities Minister released a statement advising that all plans for EU-Transition-related imported food clearances had been put on hold until 2023 to allow time for the development of a target operating model which would set out a revised approach to these controls. The subsequent Border Target Operating Model (TOM) was released by the Cabinet Office on 29 August 2023. This Target Operating Model changes the approach that the Council's Imported Food Office (IFO) follows, not only for imports from the EU, but also for those from the rest of the world. The new checks are currently scheduled to be introduced from April 2024. For the Council to maintain its statutory obligations for the inspection and clearance of imported products of animal origin (POAO), it is necessary to have in place a contract for the provision of veterinary services. What remains unknown at this stage is the number of consignments that the IFO is likely to receive from the EU. Therefore, until this information is received, it is difficult to determine what the full impact will be on checks at London Heathrow Airport. It is also not known at this stage what changes there will be to trade patterns once checks on EU imports are introduced. For this reason, a single tender action was recommended to make a direct award to Senlac Associates, the Council's current provider of veterinary services for a two-year proposal provided by Senlac Associates.",
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "price"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "cancelled"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKI74"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "limited",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL",
                "id": "D_OUTSIDE_SCOPE",
                "description": "The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationale": "The current contract with Senlac Associates expires on 31 March 2024. Given the recently confirmed change in the checks required on products of animal origin, there is an increased level of uncertainty and therefore, it would not be prudent to go out to tender as potentially interested bidders would be basing their tenders on the existing volume of consignments, which does not reflect a true indication of the future service requirements. It is anticipated that the potential impact of the EU Exit will become clearer during the two-year contract term recommended in this report and, accordingly, it is proposed that the Council goes out to tender for a new contract starting in April 2026. Once the volume of consignments and required inspections is stabilised, extensive pre-tender market engagement in Q1 of 2025/26 so that the market has a full understanding of requirements when the tender is advertised It is anticipated that the potential impact of the EU Exit will become clearer during the two-year contract term recommended in this report and, accordingly, it is proposed that the Council goes out to tender for a new contract starting in April 2026. Once the volume of consignments and required inspections is stabilised, Procurement will work with officers from the IFO to develop the new service requirements. These will be supported by clear and concise volume data, alongside extensive pre-tender market engagements in Q1 of 2025/26 so that the market has a full understanding of requirements when the tender is advertised."
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "036390-2023-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-100413",
                    "name": "Senlac Associates"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-2799",
            "name": "London Borough of Hillingdon",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "London Borough of Hillingdon"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Civic Centre, High Street",
                "locality": "Uxbridge",
                "region": "UKI74",
                "postalCode": "UB8 1UW",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "amayo@hillingdon.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "REGIONAL_AUTHORITY",
                        "description": "Regional or local authority"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "01",
                        "description": "General public services"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-100413",
            "name": "Senlac Associates",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Senlac Associates"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "15 Sandringham House, 44 Windsor Way",
                "locality": "London",
                "region": "UKI3",
                "postalCode": "W14 0UD",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-51032",
            "name": "High Court of England and Wales ( Royal Courts of Justice)",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "High Court of England and Wales ( Royal Courts of Justice)"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Strand",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "WC1A 2LL",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-2799",
        "name": "London Borough of Hillingdon"
    },
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "036390-2023-1",
            "awardID": "036390-2023-1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 1095014,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2023-10-20T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
    ],
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 1
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}