Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Provision of Laboratory Testing for the Imported Food Office

London Borough of Hillingdon

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 15:43

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

07 Apr 2026 at 09:42

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

18 Mar 2026 at 08:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

03 Mar 2026 at 13:54

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The London Borough of Hillingdon commissioned laboratory testing services for its Imported Food Office. The requirement covers analysis of imported feed and food for pesticide residues in fresh produce, microbiological contaminants, mycotoxins and other miscellaneous categories of testing. Suppliers could offer one, several or all of these service areas. The work is delivered for Hillingdon, in London. This is a public-sector food safety and analytical testing requirement, rather than a general laboratory supply contract. The buyer is the London Borough of Hillingdon, based at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge. The procurement is classified as laboratory services (CPV 71900000). The council does not guarantee a minimum or maximum number of samples, so the expected workload is variable and depends on imported food control activity.

The procurement is complete and an award has been made to Public Analyst Scientific Services Limited, subject to the standstill period. The award date is 31 July 2026 and the awarded value is £2,393,228.40 gross. The standstill ends on 1 September 2026. The contract is due to start on 1 December 2026 and run to 30 November 2030, with an extension option to 30 November 2032. The open procedure was evaluated on an equal 50% quality and 50% price basis. It was divided into four lots: pesticide residues in fresh produce, microbiological analysis, mycotoxins and other categories of analysis. The tender deadline was 5 May 2026 at 5pm; the enquiry deadline was 21 April 2026 and the award period ended on 10 August 2026. Two bids were received for each lot, with one final-stage bid per lot.

This procurement demonstrates sustained demand from Hillingdon for specialist food and feed testing across four analytical areas. Suppliers well placed for a future requirement would need laboratory capability covering pesticide-residue testing in fresh produce, microbiological analysis, mycotoxin testing and other food-safety analyses. The successful market response shows that an SME laboratory can compete for this work, and that suppliers may structure their offer around individual service areas rather than providing every test. Credibility would depend on demonstrating reliable analytical quality, appropriate testing methods, dependable sample handling and reporting, and the capacity to support a variable sample flow without guaranteed volumes. Because quality and price carried equal weight, a competitor would need both technically strong service delivery and commercially competitive pricing. The buyer's decision to award across all four areas also indicates value in coordinated laboratory provision.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Laboratory Testing for the Imported Food Office

Notice Description

The London Borough of Hillingdon were looking for a supplier or suppliers that can analyse imports of feed and food for the following contaminants:Pesticide residues (fresh produce), Microbiological contaminants, Mycotoxins and other miscellaneous testing. Suppliers could choose to submit a tender for all, some or none of the Lots as outlined above with the London Borough of Hillingdon reserves the right to award some, all of none of the Lots. The Council does not guarantee any minimum or maximum volume of samples under this contract. The Contract will be for an initial term of 4 years extendable at for a period of 2 years, giving a total of 6 years (the Term).

Lot Information

Pesticide residues (fresh produce)

Options: The Contract will be for an initial term of 4 years extendable at Hillingdon's sole discretion for a period of 2 years, giving a total of 6 years (the Term).

Renewal: The Contract will be for an initial term of 4 years extendable at Hillingdon's sole discretion for a period of 2 years, giving a total of 6 years (the Term).

Microbiological analysis

Options: The Contract will be for an initial term of 4 years extendable at Hillingdon's sole discretion for a period of 2 years, giving a total of 6 years (the Term).

Renewal: The Contract will be for an initial term of 4 years extendable at Hillingdon's sole discretion for a period of 2 years, giving a total of 6 years (the Term).

Mycotoxins

Options: The Contract will be for an initial term of 4 years extendable at Hillingdon's sole discretion for a period of 2 years, giving a total of 6 years (the Term).

Renewal: The Contract will be for an initial term of 4 years extendable at Hillingdon's sole discretion for a period of 2 years, giving a total of 6 years (the Term).

Other categories of analysis

Options: The Contract will be for an initial term of 4 years extendable at Hillingdon's sole discretion for a period of 2 years, giving a total of 6 years (the Term).

Renewal: The Contract will be for an initial term of 4 years extendable at Hillingdon's sole discretion for a period of 2 years, giving a total of 6 years (the Term).

Planning Information

To participate in our Pre-Market Engagement exercise please email to the following: jgasparette@hillingdon.gov.uk Please quote "Pesticide Analyses - market engagement" in the email title. (do not include any marking material) You will then be sent a short market engagement questionnaire, please then complete and return this by the stated deadline in the questionnaire. We would encourage all interested parties to register for free at https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/ where this opportunity will be advertised in due course.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0660e5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079584-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71900000 - Laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,100,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,260,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£2,393,228 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
5 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
7 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
31 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
2030-04-07

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
London Borough of Hillingdon
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
UXBRIDGE
Postcode
UB8 1UW
Postcode Area
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

Public Analyst Scientific Services Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...