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EU harmonised surveillance of AMR E. coli and Salmonella found in beef and pork

Food Standards Agency

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 Sep 2026 at 14:53

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Tender

12 Aug 2026 at 15:40

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Food Standards Agency commissioned a national food-safety surveillance sampling service for antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and Salmonella in fresh beef and pork sold at retail in the UK. The work covers survey design, selecting and collecting samples from retailers, transporting them to the appointed testing laboratory, and sharing sampling data, metadata and supporting records. The sampling supplier must coordinate closely with a separate testing provider on schedules, delivery arrangements, operational issues and joint meetings. The wider programme supports monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and the reduction of foodborne disease. This is a research and laboratory-support service, with related research, market research and research-and-development activities. The buyer is the Food Standards Agency, based in York, and delivery takes place across UK retail outlets and the testing laboratory network.

The procurement is complete and awarded following a below-threshold open competition. The tender closed on 1 September 2026 at 12:00, after enquiries closed on 20 August 2026 at 12:00. HallMark Meat Hygiene Ltd (HallMark Veterinary & Compliance Services) was awarded the contract on 22 September 2026, and the contract was signed on that date. The contract runs from 1 October 2026 to 29 February 2028, with an optional extension of up to three months, potentially until 31 May 2028. Its awarded value is £70,727.84 including VAT (£84,873.41 gross as recorded). The procurement was one lot and was evaluated 80% on technical quality and 20% on commercial cost. The opportunity was identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This award shows that the Food Standards Agency buys specialist, operationally intensive sampling services to support national antimicrobial-resistance surveillance in retail meat. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to design a compliant sampling survey, collect representative fresh beef and pork samples from retailers across the UK, maintain reliable transport arrangements and deliver samples to a testing laboratory. Familiarity with Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1729 and the associated technical specifications for randomised sampling is central to the requirement. Suppliers would also need strong quality-control, data-management and documentation processes, together with the capacity to coordinate proactively with another laboratory contractor and the FSA. The work suits organisations able to manage dispersed field operations, secure traceability and resolve logistics promptly while supporting formal food-safety research.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

EU harmonised surveillance of AMR E. coli and Salmonella found in beef and pork

Notice Description

The objective of microbiological food safety research themes is to provide robust information on the presence, growth, survival, and elimination of pathogenic microorganisms throughout the food chain; the extent, distribution, causes, risks and burden of foodborne disease will also be considered where appropriate. The reduction of foodborne disease has been one of FSA's key objectives in ensuring food safety. The reduction of foodborne disease is a continuing priority, ensuring that food produced and sold in the UK is safe to eat. We are taking a targeted approach to the control and reduction of individual pathogens, with the aim of reducing the overall burden of foodborne disease in the UK. The FSA are inviting tenders to carry out a survey of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) E. coli found in fresh beef and pork meat on retail sale in the UK in 2027, in accordance with the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1729 and Technical specifications on a randomisation of sampling for the purpose of antimicrobial resistance monitoring from food-producing animals and food as from 2021. The applicant(s) must be familiar with both the Commission's Decision and technical specifications to ensure the survey is totally compliant with their specific requirements. The survey will be awarded in two procurements: 1. Sampling (This procurement): Survey design, sample collection at retail and transportation to the testing laboratory 2. Testing (Tendered separately): Microbiological testing, data analysis, reporting and archiving of recovered bacteria and their AMR profile. By submitting an application, tenders will be bidding to complete the work required for sampling. Suppliers should note that sampling is operationally dependent upon laboratory testing. The successful sampling supplier will be required to work collaboratively and proactively with the supplier appointed to testing throughout the contract duration. This will include, but not be limited to: * Agreeing sampling schedules and delivery arrangements. * Coordinating the transfer of samples to the testing laboratory. * Sharing sampling data, metadata and supporting documentation. * Resolving logistical and operational issues to prevent delays to testing activities. * Participating in joint meetings with the FSA and testing laboratory where required. The successful sampling supplier will be expected to cooperate fully with the testing laboratory to ensure successful delivery of the overall surveillance programme.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Description of Extensions October 2026 - February 2028. Sampling to be delivered January-December 2027, with an optional extension of up to 3 months.

Renewal: Description of Extensions October 2026 - February 2028. Sampling to be delivered January-December 2027, with an optional extension of up to 3 months.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e2e9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089722-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

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

CPV Codes

71900000 - Laboratory services

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73110000 - Research services

73111000 - Research laboratory services

73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

79310000 - Market research services

79315000 - Social research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£40,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£40,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£70,727 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
1 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 29 Feb 2028 1-2 years
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

Hallmark Meat Hygiene Ltd (Hallmark Veterinary & Compliance Services

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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