---
title: "Research and Development Framework"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-051b10"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051b10"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051b10.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051b10.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE"
published: "2025-08-22"
---

# Research and Development Framework

Buyer: HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051b10

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## Summary

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has successfully concluded the procurement for a Research and Development (R&D) Framework with an open procedure, with the awards announced on 22nd August 2025. The framework, which involves six lots ranging from Chemistry to Toxicology, aims to facilitate research and development services under the Chemicals Regulation Division. Located primarily in the United Kingdom, and operating within the central government arena, this four-year contract, valued at £2,000,000, will enable a faster turnaround for R&D projects across various HSE teams. The completion stage of this procurement followed a prior planning and tender process that began with market engagement notices, leading up to the award phase.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for growth for both large businesses and SMEs specialising in R&D services, especially those with expertise in specific scientific and regulatory domains relevant to the framework's lot categories. As the framework allows multiple suppliers per lot, businesses equipped with specialized skill sets can secure a place and potentially receive call-off contracts over the framework’s term. It is an appealing opportunity for companies ranging from laboratory and field research entities to consultancy firms that can contribute to a diverse range of projects, including analysis, innovation in application methods, and regulatory impact assessments. Notably, one of the lots was won by an SME, underscoring the accessibility of the framework to smaller enterprises, which can leverage it to enhance their visibility and credibility within the public sector.

## Notice

The Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) wishes to establish a new research and development (R&D) framework with six specific lots (A-F). This framework will be structured into specialism based lots. Each lot is designed to hold more than one supplier to allow a varied skill set across each lot. A specification will be written for each project and HSE will then consider the specification against each supplier to determine which supplier's expertise is best suited to the project. If more than one supplier has the relevant experience, a cab rank system will be used (further detail on this process is provided in section 4). Due to the nature of the type of R&D projects that will be brought forward, we are aware that not all suppliers in a lot may necessarily be able to undertake all the projects brought forward, so this approach ensures projects will be allocated to the most relevant supplier. HSE reserve the right to allocate projects to other suppliers in the framework, outside of the specified lot, if all the suppliers allocated to a lot are not able to undertake the project. This framework will be open to usage from all HSE teams. The framework will enable faster turnaround of R&D. It also provides a more cost effective and less burdensome way of commissioning research projects. The framework is designed to be a 4 year contract. We are unsure how many times we will use each individual Lot on the R&D Framework throughout the four year period. The award of each individual Lot does not guarantee any amount of work during the contract agreement period. Whilst we anticipate using each individual Lot on the R&D Framework to fulfil our needs, we do reserve the right to choose to commission such work through other means and with other suppliers as we see fit. SCOPE OF THE SERVICES REQUIRED The R&D Framework will be structured into 6 specialism based lots: * Lot A - Chemistry * Lot B - Ecotoxicology * Lot C - Efficacy * Lot D - Fate and Behaviour * Lot E - Residues * Lot F - Toxicology Suppliers may, apply for one, some or all of lots (A-F). We intend to appoint 4 suppliers for each lot. THIS IS A CALL-OFF FRAMEWORK WITH A VALUE OF PS2,000,000 ACROSS THE 4 YEARS. THE BUDGET WILL BE USED ACROSS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS ACROSS ALL LOTS. CONTRACT AWARDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED ON THAT BASIS

### Lot Information

Chemistry

Lot A - Chemistry Primary quantitative research and analysis All types of primary quantitative research. To exemplify, primary methods may include (but not be limited to): * Method development * Application and validation of methods and techniques * Adaptation and extension of existing techniques * Associated work such as: securing samples, interpreting data and results, * Analyses, reporting and the generation of key scientific eoutcomes and recommendations from the work To include, but not be limited to methods and approaches that enable the development of methods for the analysis of pesticide active substances, impurities and co-formulants in pesticide formulations, and of residues of pesticide active substances and metabolites in food and feeds

Ecotoxicology

All types of secondary analysis. To exemplify, methods may include (but are not limited to): * Desk research * Literature reviews * Quantitative summaries * Systematic reviews * Horizon scanning * Plus analyses, reporting and the generation of key scientific evidence, regulatory developments and recommendations from the work. Topics may include * Birds * Mammals * Aquatic (including sediment) organisms * Bees and other polinators * Non-target arthropods * Soil organsims * Non-target plants * Biopesticides * Endocrine disruption * Effect modelling * Linking exposure and effects * New technology * Risk assessment for precision agriculture * Climate change * Bioaccumulation * Biodiversity * Protection Goals * Risk mitigation * Novel / alternative application methods * Chemical mixtures and mulitple stressors * Landscape scale assessment * Sublethal effects * Community and ecosytstems

Efficacy

* Evidence on the impact of selection pressures exerted by the use of plant protection products on resistance development and the mechanisms of resistance. Informing the development of resistance management strategies to support sustainable crop production. * Evidence on developing novel and integrated approaches for the control of pests, weeds and diseases, taking into account any adaptation and mitigation measures arising from climate change, and what impact this may have on efficacy regulatory requirements. * Evidence on the impact of different application technologies on the efficacy of plant protection products, including impacts on resistance development, and what changes or adaptations to efficacy regulatory requirements may be needed. * Evaluating the scope of new technologies for assessing biological parameters in efficacy field trials. * Evaluating the current and changing status of target species, cropping practices and PPP availability to inform the assessment of the agronomic relevance of PPPs and establish future challenges for pest and resistance management. * The impact of formulation chemistry on the biological efficacy of PPPs

Fate and Behaviour

All types of secondary analysis. To exemplify, methods may include (but are not limited to): * Desk research * Literature reviews * Quantitative summaries * Systematic reviews * Horizon scanning * Model or software development * Plus analyses, reporting and the generation of key scientific evidence, regulatory developments and recommendations from the work. * Proactive secondary collection (e.g. contacting organisations via phone/web to gather evidence and examples of practice - which may include interviews) Topics may include * Degradation * Sorption * Environmental fate and behaviour in soil, water, sediment, air * Routes of environmental exposure * Spray drift * Runoff * Drainflow * Groundwater leaching * Long range transport * Plant uptake * POPs and PBTs * Exposure modelling * Scenario development * Surrogate crops * Linking exposure and effects * New technology * Drones * Novel / alternative application methods * Crop specific exposure assessments * Hard surfaces * Biopesticides * Metals * Metabolites * Unextracted residues * Climate change * Risk mitigation * Higher tier modelling * Spatial assessments * Landscape or catchment scale exposure assessments * Water treatment processes * Environmental monitoring * Exposure assessment goals

Residues

All types of secondary analysis. To exemplify, methods may include (but are not limited to): * Desk research * Literature reviews * Quantitative summaries * Systematic reviews * Horizon scanning * Plus analyses, reporting and the generation of key scientific evidence, regulatory developments and recommendations from the work. Topics may include * Impact of new application techniques, including drones on residue levels in crops * Storage stability * Metabolism in plants and animals, including fish * Extraction efficiency * Uncertainties within the residues assessment, MRL setting and consumer risk assessments * Residue trial parameters, and their impact on residue levels * Proportionaility/ scaling of residues * Crop to crop extrapolations * Impact of processing * Residues in rotational crops * Residues in honey and other bee products * Residues in fish, including the diets of farmed fish * Consumption data * Approaches to consumer risk assessments

Toxicology Secondary Analysis

All types of secondary analysis. To exemplify, methods may include (but are not limited to): * Desk research * Literature reviews * Quantitative summaries * Systematic reviews * Horizon scanning * Plus analyses, reporting and the generation of key scientific evidence, regulatory developments and recommendations from the work. Topics may include * Acute toxicity * Skin and eye irritation * Skin sensitisation * Phototoxicity * Repeated dose toxicity * Genotoxicity * Carcinogenicity * Reproductive toxicity * Developmental neurotoxicity * Endocrine disruption * ADME and dermal absorption * Modelling * In silico tools * TTC approach * NAMs * Epidemiology * Uncertainty * NGRA * Protection Goals * Risk mitigation * Risk communication * Co-formulants * 3Rs * Chemical mixtures * Biopesticides * Antimicrobial resistance * Effects on the gut microbiome * Dose setting and maximum tolerated dose * Kinetically-informed maximum dose

### Planning Information

HSE is issuing this Pre-Market Engagement (PME) notice to identify potential suppliers for the Framework.
HSE will run a market engagement event via Microsoft teams on Monday 2nd June 2025 between 12:30 and 14:30 ahead of publishing the invitation to tender, expected W/C 16th June 2025. HSE therefore invites interested suppliers to contact tenders@hse.gov.uk on or before 29th May 2025 to register their interest and receive the associated documents.
Interested parties that make contact will be sent a MS Teams invitation with the draft specification attached.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050920-2025 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Aug 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 14 Jul 2025 |
| Future notice date | 16 Jun 2025 |
| Award date | 21 Aug 2025 |
| Contract period | 4 Sep 2025 - 4 Sep 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,666,667 |
| Lots value | £1,666,662 |
| Awards value | £1,600,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE |
| Locality | LIVERPOOL |
| Post town | Liverpool |
| Postcode | L20 7HS |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD7 Merseyside |
| ITL 3 | TLD73 Sefton |
| Local authority | Sefton |
| Electoral ward | Linacre |
| Westminster constituency | Bootle |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 5 |
| Supplier names | ENVIRESEARCH; FERA SCIENCE; RICARDO-AEA; RSK ADAS; SILSOE SPRAY APPLICATIONS UNIT |

## 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 Aug 2025 at 13:29 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050920-2025
- 18 Jun 2025 at 15:40 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033471-2025
- 18 Jun 2025 at 15:26 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033464-2025
- 21 May 2025 at 13:32 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023999-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050920-2025
  22nd August 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033471-2025
  18th June 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033464-2025
  18th June 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023999-2025
  21st May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://adas.co.uk/
- http://www.enviresearch.com
- http://www.fera.co.uk
- http://www.hse.gov.uk
- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/hse
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.ricardo.com/en
- https://www.ssau.co.uk/

## 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-h6vhtk-051b10. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051b10.json.