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Environmental Surveillance: OSMA and OSD

Food Standards Agency

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

03 Sep 2026 at 14:33

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

08 Jul 2026 at 10:17

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

08 Jul 2026 at 10:02

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Food Standards Agency commissioned a research and evidence project on environmental surveillance for foodborne disease and antimicrobial resistance. The work will assess whether combining a One Sample Many Analyses approach with targeted On Site Diagnostic technologies can strengthen surveillance using environmental samples already collected across government. It is a structured, phased programme focused on generating evidence, evaluating feasibility, operational value and cost-effectiveness, and supporting decisions about where these approaches add value compared with existing laboratory-based, single-organisation surveillance. The requirement is for research and development services and related consultancy (CPV 73000000). Delivery covers the United Kingdom. The single lot was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

The procurement is complete and was awarded by direct award under the Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5, Paragraph 6, on technical reasons and absence of competition. Fera Science Ltd was selected for the single lot. The award date was 8 July 2026 and the contract was signed on 17 August 2026. The contract runs from 17 August 2026 to 31 March 2029, with a possible three-month extension to 30 June 2029 and break clauses for each phase. Its value is £1,575,933.80 excluding VAT and £1,891,120.56 including VAT. The contract is active. Performance measures require deliverables and invoicing to be completed on time and in line with the payment schedule, with quarterly assessment against targets.

This award indicates demand for specialist scientific research supporting foodborne disease and antimicrobial-resistance surveillance, particularly where environmental sampling, multi-analysis laboratory methods and targeted on-site diagnostics are combined. A credible future competitor would need to design and deliver a phased evidence programme, compare new approaches with established laboratory surveillance, and produce robust evidence for operational and investment decisions. Relevant capability includes analytical method development and validation, laboratory capacity, representative sample handling, data-quality assurance, evaluation of feasibility and cost-effectiveness, and clear decision-support reporting. Suppliers would also need strong project governance to manage sampling-plan changes, sample availability, equipment failure, stakeholder dependencies, regulatory changes and uncertain research findings. Consistent delivery and accurate invoicing are important, with performance measured against demanding service targets.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Environmental Surveillance: OSMA and OSD

Notice Description

The FSA has awarded a contract for delivery of a research and evidence project to strengthen the FSA's environmental surveillance capability for foodborne disease (FBD) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The project will generate robust, transferable evidence to support a One Health approach to environmental surveillance, demonstrating the feasibility, operational value and cost effectiveness of combining a One Sample Many Analyses (OSMA) approach with targeted On Site Diagnostic (OSD) technologies, using environmental samples that are already collected across government. The requirement is to deliver a structured, phased programme of work that enables the FSA to determine where and how OSMA and OSD approaches provide added value relative to existing laboratory based, single organisation surveillance models, and where they do not. The emphasis is on evidence generation, evaluation and decision support, rather than deployment at scale.

Procurement Information

The direct award route is compliant with the Procurement Act 2023. Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 - Technical Reasons / Absence of Competition

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c5e6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083525-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,575,933 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,575,933 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
17 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 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

Fera Science Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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