---
title: "Utilising in silico, in vitro and 'omics New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for priority-setting and safety assessment of tropane alkaloids (TAs) and other plant toxins as potential food contaminants. A case study for progressing the acceptance of NAMs for"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0565d3"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0565d3"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0565d3.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0565d3.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY"
published: "2025-10-27"
---

# Utilising in silico, in vitro and 'omics New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for priority-setting and safety assessment of tropane alkaloids (TAs) and other plant toxins as potential food contaminants. A case study for progressing the acceptance of NAMs for

Buyer: FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0565d3

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## Summary

The Food Standards Agency, based in York, United Kingdom, has completed a public procurement process to assess safety and set priorities for tropane alkaloids and other plant toxins in foods. The procurement, identified by the title "Utilising in silico, in vitro and ‘omics New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for priority-setting and safety assessment of tropane alkaloids (TAs)", was handled through a direct award process. The contract, valued at £586,050.60 gross, was signed with the University of Birmingham, starting on 25th September 2025, with a completion date set for 31st May 2028. This procurement falls under the industry category of research and development services and takes place across multiple stages for comprehensive testing and evaluation.

This contract represents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in research services, particularly those experienced in advanced testing methodologies like in silico and in vitro models. Businesses equipped with intellectual property in such specialised systems, like the University of Birmingham, are well-suited to compete in this area. The procurement highlights a sector interested in cutting-edge technological applications to address food safety concerns, presenting growth opportunities by engaging in similar government projects that require innovative research capabilities and offer significant budgets for extended contract periods.

## Notice

Tenders were invited to carry out a range of project delivery options, to deliver against stages 1, 2 and 3 as described below: Stage 1: This case study is to support the UK FSA's policy need to determine which TAs are the most potent (neuro)toxicants so as to prioritise specific substances and inform decisions on the UK's monitoring of these alkaloids in foods. An integral part of this aim is to confirm that neurotoxicity is the primary mode of action of these alkaloids. This aim will be achieved using a tiered-testing strategy of in silico, in vitro and 'omics NAMs. This will then be extended to other plant alkaloids such as glycoalkaloids and pyridazine alkaloids. Stage 2: To derive a HBGV for human exposure for the top priority, i.e. most potent substance within the class of TAs. This will utilise physiologically-based kinetic (PBK) modelling and quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE). This will then be extended to other plant alkaloids such as glycoalkaloids and pyridazine alkaloids. Stage 3: From a methodological perspective, a broader third objective of the case study is to evaluate and attempt to build confidence within the FSA in the application of a series of relevant NAMs that have been integrated in a manner to address policy needs. These NAMs are tiered and incorporate existing human in vivo data as well as new testing on human in vitro cell lines, to maximise the relevance and accuracy to human food safety. Please note contract start date is 22/09/2025

### Procurement Information

University of Birmingham have IPR rights to the systems that will be used as part of the case study.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068648-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Oct 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 24 Jul 2025 |
| Contract period | 24 Sep 2025 - 31 May 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £488,375 |
| Contracts value | £488,375 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active, Pending |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY |
| Locality | YORK |
| Post town | York |
| Postcode | YO1 7PR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE2 North Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE21 York |
| Local authority | York |
| Electoral ward | Guildhall |
| Westminster constituency | York Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 73110000 - Research services
- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 27 Oct 2025 at 15:26 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068648-2025
- 9 Sep 2025 at 10:48 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054952-2025
- 24 Jul 2025 at 15:43 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042934-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068648-2025
  27th October 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054952-2025
  9th September 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042934-2025
  24th July 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.birmingham.ac.uk
- https://www.food.gov.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-0565d3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0565d3.json.