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4-year Fellowship - endpoint toxicity for a mixture of chemicals

Food Standards Agency

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

31 Jul 2026 at 09:57

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

05 Jun 2026 at 11:30

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

09 Apr 2026 at 13:42

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

26 Mar 2026 at 09:14

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Food Standards Agency commissioned a research and development service to assess the endpoint toxicity of mixtures of chemicals using in-silico and in-vitro New Approach Methodologies. The work supports food safety by investigating chemical hazards in food and their potential impact on consumers, while developing human-relevant testing approaches, data systems, cross-government collaboration and scientific capability. It forms part of the Agency’s Chemical, Radiological and Allergy Research and Evidence Programme and aligns with its research priorities on chemical risks and novel analytical methods. The work is delivered for the Food Standards Agency, with the supplier identified as the University of Birmingham. The procurement is for services, including research laboratory and research consultancy activity.

The procurement is complete and awarded through an above-threshold open procedure. Two bids were received. The University of Birmingham was selected on 4 June 2026 for £663,565 excluding VAT (£796,278 including VAT). The contract was signed on 30 July 2026 and runs from 31 July 2026 to 28 March 2030, with an option to extend by up to six months to 28 September 2030. The original tender closed at noon on 14 May 2026, following an extension from 30 April; the enquiry period ended on 13 April 2026 and the award period ended on 1 June 2026. Evaluation weighted technical quality at 80% and commercial cost at 20%. Economic and technical selection requirements applied.

This requirement suits universities, research institutes, specialist laboratories and consultancies with demonstrable capability in chemical toxicology, food safety research and research programme delivery. Credible competitors would need expertise in applying in-silico and in-vitro New Approach Methodologies to chemical mixtures, assessing human-relevant toxicity endpoints, and interpreting or synthesising published scientific evidence. Laboratory capability, robust data management and the ability to develop or apply novel analytical tests are important, alongside capacity for collaborative work across government and other scientific partners. Suppliers should be able to recruit and support a research fellow, manage an evolving research scope and deliver outputs against agreed milestones, timelines and quality standards. The opportunity was assessed as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises, although specialist technical capability remains central.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

4-year Fellowship - endpoint toxicity for a mixture of chemicals

Notice Description

This research project being tendered links to the FSA Strategy 2022-2027. This strategy is based around the FSA's mission, food you can trust, alongside three key pillars: food is safe; food is what it says it is; food is healthier and more sustainable. The proposed project focuses on the first pillar, that food is safe, and by generating a new scientific case study focused on the assessment of mixtures of chemicals using in-silico and in-vitro New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), it will enable us to further protect consumers from chemical hazards and enable consumers to be empowered to make informed choices around the food that they eat. The Chemical, Radiological and Allergy (Food Hypersensitivity) Research and Evidence Programme (ChemRA REP) is a wider programme of work, under which this research project will sit. This research programme covers one of the FSAs Areas of research interest | Food Standards Agency (ARI) and sits under research priority two: chemical, radiological, and food hypersensitivity risks. Chemicals are present in food and feed whether they are added intentionally, the result of contamination, malicious intent, or simply naturally occurring. The main aim of this Research Programme is to conduct research on these chemicals, which may be present in food and feed. This research aligns with the FSA's second Area of Research Interest on chemicals, specifically addressing the question: What new analytical tests or novel approach methods can we use to assess these hazards and their impact on consumers?'. The goal of this project is to use in-silico and in-vitro NAMs to assess the hazards from chemical mixtures in food, and their impact on consumers, from assessing human relevant endpoints. The project also aims to develop cross government collaboration by aiming to improve data systems, encourage collaborative working, and enhance scientific capability across government departments.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Optional 6-month extension. Breakpoints: Continuation of the contract will be subject to (1) successful recruitment of the Fellow within 4-6 months of contract start, and (2) satisfactory annual progress reviews each March, to align with agreed milestones, the annual Committee on Toxicity presentation, and annual written updates.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067482
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072516-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

73111000 - Research laboratory services

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£670,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£670,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£663,565 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£663,565 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
14 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Jun 20264 months ago
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 28 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Food Standards Agency
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
YORK
Postcode
YO1 7PR
Postcode Area
York
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE2 North Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE21 York
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
York
Electoral Ward
Guildhall
Westminster Constituency
York Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

University of Birmingham

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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