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Additional Analytical Methods for NDNS Biomonitoring

Food Standards Agency

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

09 Sep 2026 at 16:39

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

06 Jul 2026 at 16:17

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

02 Jun 2026 at 18:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Food Standards Agency commissioned research and analytical services for National Diet and Nutrition Survey biomonitoring. The work covers identifying suitable urinary biomarkers for priority food additives, chemical contaminants and metals; developing and validating analytical chemistry methods to measure them quantitatively in human urine; and developing approaches to estimate systemic exposure and theoretical dietary intake from urinary biomarker excretion. The procurement was divided into three separate requirements: food additives, chemical contaminants and metals. The work is research and development consultancy (CPV 73000000, 73200000 and 73110000). The FSA is the buying organisation, based in York. The awarded supplier recorded for the chemical contaminants requirement is the University of Aberdeen, based in Aberdeen.

This procurement is complete and has reached award stage. It used an open procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, with electronic submissions in English. The tender deadline was 17 August 2026 at 12:00, enquiries closed on 27 July 2026 at 12:00, and the award period ended on 7 September 2026. The three lots were evaluated independently, with bids permitted for each lot and a maximum of one lot per supplier stated in the structured lot details. Each lot had an estimated value of £100,000 excluding VAT for food additives and £50,000 excluding VAT for chemical contaminants and metals. Award criteria were 80% technical quality including social value and 20% commercial. The University of Aberdeen was awarded the chemical contaminants requirement on 4 September 2026 for £129,931.27 excluding VAT (£155,917.52 including VAT), running from 1 October 2026 to 30 July 2027, with an optional three-month extension.

This requirement suits universities, specialist laboratories and research organisations able to carry out analytical method development and validation in human urine. Credible competitors would need capability in biomarker identification, quantitative measurement and exposure assessment, with practical expertise in techniques such as liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. They would need to handle priority groups of food additives, chemical contaminants or metals, develop defensible approaches to biomarker selection and ADME evaluation, and produce methods that are proven feasible. The buyer also expects robust scientific project management: representative sample handling, laboratory capacity, quality-controlled data, risk mitigation, stakeholder coordination and delivery of agreed outputs. Economic and technical capacity were both selection considerations, and collaborative or consortium delivery was permitted.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Additional Analytical Methods for NDNS Biomonitoring

Notice Description

Tenders were invited to undertake a research project to identify suitable biomarkers of priority (groups of) Chemical Contaminants (Lot 1) and Food Additives (Lot 2), Metals (Lot 3) and develop and validate analytical chemistry methods for their quantitative measurement in human urine. In addition, an approach for estimating systemic exposure and theoretical dietary intake of each chemical of interest, from measured urinary excretion of the biomarker(s), should be derived. The FSA requested that methods and approaches are determined, and proven for feasibility, for substances from the following food additive and other chemical contaminant groups, below or up to the estimated budget of PS100,000 (exc. VAT) Lot 1 and PS50,000 (exc VAT) each for lot 2 and 3. The substance groups have been prioritised in accordance with the FSA's food safety remit and specific priorities. All documents and communication for FSA funded projects were submitted through the health-family single e-Commercial System (Atamis), using the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Lot Information

Lot 1: Food Additives

Renewal: 3 month optional extension

Lot 2 : Chemical Contaminants

Renewal: 3 month optional extension

Lot 3: Metals

Renewal: 3 month optional extension

Planning Information

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is undertaking pre-market engagement to inform a potential future procurement for the development and validation of analytical methods to support biomonitoring of food additives and chemical contaminants. This engagement seeks to: Test the feasibility of identifying and quantifying suitable urinary biomarkers for priority additive and contaminant groups Understand market capability and capacity to deliver analytical method development and validation within the proposed timeframes and budget Gather insight into available methodologies (e.g. LC-MS, GC-MS, ICP-MS) and approaches to biomarker identification, including limitations and innovation opportunities Inform the future procurement strategy, including lot structure, specification design, achievable scope, and value for money considerations Suppliers are invited to provide feedback on the proposed scope, including: Feasibility of delivering the requirements within ~10 months per lot The number and type of substances that could realistically be covered within the indicative budget Approaches to biomarker selection, ADME evaluation, and method validation Any risks, constraints, or dependencies that should be considered The information gathered will be used solely to shape the FSA’s understanding of the market and to refine a potential future competitive procurement. Participation is voluntary, and non-participation will not disadvantage suppliers in any subsequent procurement process. All documents and communication for FSA funded projects must be submitted through the health-family single e-Commercial System (Atamis), using the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06abec
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085544-2026
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, 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

73110000 - Research services

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£129,931 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
17 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
30 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
4 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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 Aberdeen

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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