---
title: "Sampling and testing of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in waterways"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05a75a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05a75a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a75a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a75a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY"
published: "2026-02-18"
---

# Sampling and testing of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in waterways

Buyer: FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05a75a

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05a75a)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a75a.json)

## Summary

The Food Standards Agency has successfully completed the procurement process for the "Sampling and testing of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in waterways" project, through an open procedure. This contract was awarded on 18th February 2026 to 20/30 Labs Ltd, based in Northampton. The project, which falls under the services category, aims to improve the identification of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains near livestock farms, potentially impacting food safety management for products like salad crops. The work is located across the United Kingdom, with crucial activities beginning on 16th February 2026 and continuing until 31st May 2027. This indicates the project is in its Award stage, following an initial tender period that ended in November 2025 and an award period concluding in December 2025.

This tender represents significant growth opportunities for businesses engaged in research services, particularly those involved in food safety and environmental monitoring. SMEs, such as the awarded 20/30 Labs Ltd, demonstrate an ability to engage in specialised high-impact research projects, indicative of growth potential within scientific and environmental sectors. Companies with expertise in laboratory services and consultancy, especially those prepared to meet high standards of deliverable performance, are well-positioned to compete. The procurement method favours innovation, offering a structured yet open pathway for qualified businesses to contribute to critical public health research and development services.

## Notice

The Food Standards Agency has awarded a contract for sampling and testing of shiga toxin-producing e-coli (STEC) in waterways. The purpose of the work described here is to characterise the diversity of STEC strains present in the environment nearby areas used for farming different livestock species, by sampling and testing nearby waterways. By establishing a better "fingerprint" of STEC strains typically associated with livestock farm types, we can attribute the proportion of human STEC cases to different livestock species which will help to understand sources and pathways of contamination of secondary food types such as salad crops. Understanding what proportion of human cases of STEC are attributable to different livestock farm types may also help growers take a proportionate risk management approach to protecting consumers.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014946-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 4 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 16 Feb 2026 - 31 May 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £300,000 |
| Lots value | £300,000 |
| Awards value | £265,017 |
| Contracts value | £265,017 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| 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 | 20/30 LABS |

## 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
- 73111000 - Research laboratory services
- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 18 Feb 2026 at 16:18 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014946-2026
- 12 Dec 2025 at 13:12 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082466-2025
- 2 Oct 2025 at 16:34 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061924-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014946-2026
  18th February 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082466-2025
  12th December 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061924-2025
  2nd October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- 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-05a75a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a75a.json.