Award

FSS-2025-020 Online Guidance on Charcuterie Safety

FOOD STANDARDS SCOTLAND (FSS)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

08 Oct 2025 at 10:19

Tender

04 Jul 2025 at 15:25

Summary of the contracting process

Food Standards Scotland (FSS), a national agency responsible for food safety in Scotland, recently completed the procurement of a service titled "FSS-2025-020 Online Guidance on Charcuterie Safety." This project falls under the research services category, specifically focusing on developing a new online safety tool for meat charcuterie products. The procurement process, which was carried out through an open procedure, concluded with the award being granted to Hutchison Scientific Ltd on 25th August 2025. The location of the service delivery is within the UK, with the tool expected to aid businesses in assessing and improving their food safety practices by addressing both microbiological and relevant chemical hazards. The procurement was finalized with a contract value of £58,650, with the process presently marked as complete.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in research services, particularly those with expertise in food safety and assessment tools. The project allows companies to contribute to the development of innovative solutions that enhance safety standards in food production. The award criteria prioritised quality over price, reflecting the importance of technical expertise and content knowledge. SMEs, like Hutchison Scientific Ltd, exemplify the suitable candidates for such contracts, offering tailored and specialised services that meet the stringent requirements of national agencies like FSS. Furthermore, engaging in such projects aligns with broader goals of economic growth, by positioning businesses as key contributors to public health and safety initiatives.

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Notice Title

FSS-2025-020 Online Guidance on Charcuterie Safety

Notice Description

Technical content and assessment aspects of a new online safety tool.

Lot Information

Lot 1

FSS is the public sector body responsible for ensuring food safety in Scotland, and producing guidance to support businesses to produce safe food is a core activity of the organisation. Businesses producing ready-to-eat (RTE) foods can experience problems in controlling microbiological risks, potentially leading to outbreaks and product recalls. The RTE foods most commonly contaminated with pathogenic bacteria are fresh produce (including salads and leafy greens), cooked sliced meats (cold cuts, charcuterie), soft cheeses and smoked fish. Recognising the higher risk of ready-to-eat foods, and the particular challenges faced by some types of RTE foods, FSS previously produced two online risk assessment tools to help businesses in Scotland to evaluate their processes and to promote best practice. The Safe Smoked Fish and Fresh Produce tools were well received by industry, and FSS received positive feedback for the provision of guidance in this interactive online format. The tools contain relevant scientific evidence and legal requirements to help FBOs assess their practices and provide clear and objective advice to reduce the risk of microbiological contamination of their product. FSS now wish to produce a new online risk assessment tool focused on the safe production and processing of meat charcuterie products (i.e. deli meats/cold cuts etc). This new tool will be of similar structure to the existing tools, containing an interactive risk assessment function to allow FBOs to review their practices, alongside useful resources, in an easy-to-use format. In contrast to the existing tools, this one will consider relevant chemical as well as microbiological hazards because these types of products often use chemical agents as part of their production. FSS require a Supplier to produce the technical content and assessment aspects of the tool.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05596f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063199-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£60,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£58,650 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
4 Aug 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
24 Aug 20256 months ago
Contract Period
24 Aug 2025 - 27 Feb 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FOOD STANDARDS SCOTLAND (FSS)
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
bethany.gold@gov.scot
Contact Phone
+44 1224285172

Buyer Location

Locality
ABERDEEN
Postcode
AB11 5RL
Post Town
Aberdeen
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM5 North Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Electoral Ward
Torry/Ferryhill
Westminster Constituency
Aberdeen South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

HUTCHISON SCIENTIFIC

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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