This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

08 Sep 2026 at 15:23

Award

08 Sep 2026 at 15:04

Summary of the contracting process

The Food Standards Agency commissioned the PATH-SAFE Genomic Data Platform – Strategy Strand, a scientific research and development and consultancy service. The 24-month project covers technical, governance and strategy work with government end-user agencies to resolve uncertainties identified through earlier work. Its purpose is to build evidence through datasets and appraisal reports, support decisions on the platform’s future design and operation, and move it towards operational readiness. The work is intended to strengthen national capability and resilience in responding to foodborne threats and antimicrobial resistance. It also supports sustained One Health collaboration across the Food Standards Agency, UK Health Security Agency, Animal and Plant Health Agency and partners, enabling more coordinated foodborne pathogen surveillance. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The requirement was a single lot and was marked suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

This procurement is complete and the supplier selected was Catalytic AI. The award date was 7 September 2026. It used a direct award, justified under the Procurement Act 2023 grounds for additional or repeat services, with continuity, technical compatibility and supplier uniqueness cited as reasons. The award value is £199,325 excluding VAT, or £239,190 including VAT. The contract period runs from 21 September 2026 to 31 March 2029, with signature scheduled for 21 September 2026 and a standstill period ending on 17 September 2026. The award covers research and development and related consultancy services. Evaluation was not conducted through an open competition; the stated rationale was that the selected supplier was required for continuity and compatibility with prior work. The award remains recorded as pending.

This requirement indicates demand for suppliers able to combine scientific research and development with strategic consultancy for a government genomic data platform. Credible competitors for a future requirement would need to work across technical, governance and strategy disciplines, produce robust datasets and appraisal reports, and turn research evidence into operational and investment decisions. Experience of progressing complex platforms from research towards operational readiness would be relevant, as would the ability to work across government agencies and sustain One Health collaboration. Suppliers should be able to manage scientific-project risks including representative sampling, sample quality and availability, laboratory capacity, analytical method development and validation, data quality, stakeholder dependencies and regulatory change. The direct-award rationale also shows the importance of demonstrable continuity, technical compatibility and distinctive expertise connected with earlier platform work.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

PATH-SAFE Genomic Data Platform - Strategy Strand

Notice Description

This requirement is for a 24-month project to work with relevant government end user agencies to conduct further R&D across three workstreams (technical, governance, and strategy) to address uncertainties identified through the 25/26 work. The project will: * Create a robust evidence base (datasets, appraisal reports, etc) to inform future platform design and operational decisions, reduce technical uncertainty and enable confident, data-driven progression of the platform towards operational deployment. * Realise tangible value from prior investment by advancing the platform to operational readiness, positioning it to strengthen long-term national capability and resilience around response to foodborne threats and antimicrobial resistance. * Deliver strengthened cross-government One Health collaboration, evidenced through established, sustained ways of working across FSA, UKHSA, APHA and partners, enabling more coordinated and effective foodborne pathogen surveillance.

Procurement Information

* STAs are justified under Schedule 5 (direct award grounds) of the Procurement Act 2023, specifically "additional or repeat goods, services or works", where continuity, technical compatibility, and supplier uniqueness are required.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f4c7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085011-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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
£199,325 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
21 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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

CATALYTIC AI LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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