---
title: "Specialist Science and Contingency Services (SSCS)"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-be2e82b5-6c95-4be2-a71c-93d2f245d4c0"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-be2e82b5-6c95-4be2-a71c-93d2f245d4c0"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-be2e82b5-6c95-4be2-a71c-93d2f245d4c0.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-be2e82b5-6c95-4be2-a71c-93d2f245d4c0.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFRA"
published: "2025-04-22"
---

# Specialist Science and Contingency Services (SSCS)

Buyer: DEFRA  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-be2e82b5-6c95-4be2-a71c-93d2f245d4c0

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## Summary

The procurement process titled "Specialist Science and Contingency Services (SSCS)", conducted by Defra, has reached the award stage. This contract, awarded to Fera Science Ltd, involves providing essential diagnostic, testing, advice, and research services, focusing on biosecurity, agriculture, food standards, and environmental protection. With a total value of £345,710,030, this process employs a negotiated procedure without prior publication, above the threshold. The contract will run from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030 and aims to serve multiple locations including the United Kingdom and global territories. This initiative belongs to the "Research and development services and related consultancy services" industry category.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those with expertise in science and contingency services. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), are well-positioned to leverage this opportunity, given the suitability criteria outlined in the procurement process. Engaging in this contract can lead to business growth by expanding service offerings and gaining exposure to large-scale governmental projects. Firms with robust capabilities in providing innovative and compliant solutions in biosecurity and environmental sectors would particularly benefit from participating in such endeavours.

## Notice

The SSCS contracts give government customers access to specialist diagnostic, testing, advice and research services to support compliant statutory obligations relating to biosecurity, agriculture, food standards/ safety and environmental protection relating to plant health and wildlife. The contracts also provide incident and contingency services.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/620206d7-aedd-4fcb-8777-1ee6f645114b |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated procedure without prior publication (above threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Apr 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 9 Aug 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 30 Mar 2025 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2025 - 31 Mar 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £345,710,030 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £345,710,030 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEFRA |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | FERA SCIENCE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 22 Apr 2025 at 10:54 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/620206d7-aedd-4fcb-8777-1ee6f645114b

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/620206d7-aedd-4fcb-8777-1ee6f645114b
  22nd April 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/5616b6a6-3dfb-438a-af90-6c85397db177
  Overarching SSCS Contract (31.03.2025) (Final - redacted for FTS)_Redacted

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-be2e82b5-6c95-4be2-a71c-93d2f245d4c0. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-be2e82b5-6c95-4be2-a71c-93d2f245d4c0.json.