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WP4 Social Science - Communicating changes to precautionary allergen labelling

Food Standards Agency

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

10 Aug 2026 at 21:49

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Food Standards Agency commissioned social research services on communicating changes to precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) and the potential effects of those changes on consumers. The work supports the Agency’s responsibility to explain food-safety risks, regulatory developments and the risks and benefits of changes to PAL and standardisation for pre-packed foods. It is aligned with research into food hypersensitivity risks, consumer and business behaviour, and better risk communication. The requirement is for research and communications insight rather than food manufacturing, laboratory testing or physical supply. The buying organisation is the Food Standards Agency, a central government public authority, based in York. The awarded supplier is based in London, while the research concerns communication with consumers affected by food-labelling changes.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct, below-threshold call-off without competition from the Social Science Call-Off framework. The Social Agency/Basis Social Limited was awarded the contract on 10 August 2026. The contract was signed on the same date and runs from 10 August 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £92,811.25 excluding VAT, or £111,373.50 including VAT. The contract is active and covers one completed lot. The award is for social research services, classified under CPV 79315000. The evaluation basis was the direct call-off route rather than a competed tender. The research relates to anticipated changes in precautionary allergen labelling and communication of their consumer impact.

This requirement indicates demand for specialist social research and public-facing risk communication on food hypersensitivity. Suppliers best placed for comparable work would combine robust qualitative or quantitative social research with a clear understanding of consumer behaviour, food safety and allergen risks. Credible expertise would include translating technical or regulatory change into accessible messages, testing how consumers understand precautionary allergen labelling, and assessing perceived risks and benefits. Experience working with a public authority, food policy or pre-packed-food labelling would strengthen a future response. The work also suits organisations able to connect research findings with practical communication recommendations, stakeholder insight and evidence-based behaviour change. A competitor would need to demonstrate relevant research quality, subject knowledge and the capacity to deliver a focused work package.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

WP4 Social Science - Communicating changes to precautionary allergen labelling

Notice Description

Calling off from C425727 Research: Social Science Call-Off. The FSA has a duty to inform consumers of changes that may influence food safety risk (regulatory or otherwise). The FSA want to conduct research to ensure we are effectively communicating to consumers potential changes to precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) and standardisation for pre-packed foods. This work is aligned to FSA's key area of research interest on food hypersensitivity risks: How can we use business and consumer behaviour insights to deliver better food hypersensitivity outcomes and improve risk communication? The EU has indicated its intention to legislate in this area by the end of 2027. By December 2027 the SPS agreement is likely to be in place, with the UK aligning on food hypersensitivity (FHS) issues. Therefore, changes to how and when PAL is applied will likely apply directly to us and we need to be able to communicate these changes, and their potential risks and benefits, to consumers.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e0b0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075961-2026
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
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79315000 - Social research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£92,811 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
10 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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

The Social Agency/Basis Social Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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