Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Food Standards Agency
Floors 6 and 7, Clive House, 70 Petty France
London
SW1H 9EX
Contact
FSA Commercial
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI32 - Westminster
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Chemical Testing for Northern Ireland
Reference number
FS900109e / C285155
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The National Reference Laboratory(ies) for Chemical and Contaminant Testing for Northern Ireland (NI) will play a vital role in protecting consumers from illness that could arise from the consumption of food or feed contaminated with chemical contaminants such as metals, nitrogenous compounds, processing contaminants and halogenated persistent organic pollutants. The NRL will provide specialist advice as requested by the FSA and technical support to the NI enforcement process for food, feed and products thereof.
This is a multiple lot tender. Tenders are invited to bid for all lots, several lots together or one lot.
The designated laboratory(ies) will carry out the provision of Services for the NRLs for NI for the following areas:
Lot 1 NRL for Metals and Nitrogenous Compounds in Feed and Food
Lot 2 NRL for Processing Contaminants
Lot 3 NRL for Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants
This is a 4 year contract with an optional 2 year extension.
The estimated value of the Contract is estimated to be between £0 - £252,000 (inc VAT) for the total duration, including the 2 year extension. The FSA is not required to take the extension.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
2. Lot 1 NRL for Metals and Nitrogenous Compounds in Feed and Food
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73111000 - Research laboratory services
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 71900000 - Laboratory services
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Contamination of food and feed with metals and nitrogenous compounds can pose various risks to human health and chronic exposure can lead to long-term health problems. Acute poisoning due to sudden high exposure can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and neurological disturbances, with vulnerable populations being more susceptible to the adverse effects of contamination. Maximum allowable limits for these contaminants in food have been set to protect public health.
Heavy metals in foods are contaminant substances that have not been intentionally added. They may be present in food as a result of the various stages of production, packaging, transport or holding. They can also result from environmental contamination. Such contamination has a negative impact on the quality of food and may imply a risk to human health. European legislation (EU 2023/915) lays down maximum allowed limits in foodstuffs including heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury, inorganic arsenic, total arsenic and inorganic tin.
Nitrogenous compounds include chemicals such as nitrates and nitrites. Nitrites and nitrates are naturally present in vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, celery and beetroot. These are the main sources of dietary exposure to nitrates with only around 5% coming from use as a food additive. Nitrites and Nitrates are also used as preservatives in certain cheeses and cured meats and excessive consumption can lead to the formation of nitrosamines, which are potential carcinogens but their main role as a food additive is to reduce the growth of harmful microorganisms such as Clostridium botulinum. High levels of ammonia in food can also cause gastrointestinal issues, liver damage, and respiratory problems and can lead to kidney dysfunction.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 April 2025
End date
31 March 2029
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The FSA is entitled to extend the Contract by 2 years subject to giving notice in accordance with the terms of the Contract. See the Award Form and Core Terms of the Contract for more information.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
3. Lot 2 NRL for Processing Contaminants
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 71900000 - Laboratory services
- 73111000 - Research laboratory services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Food processing contaminants are substances that form in food or in food ingredients when they undergo chemical changes during processing. Processing methods include high-temperature cooking, fermentation, smoking, drying, refining of vegetable and animal fats. These chemicals may be harmful to health and some are carcinogenic. Examples include acrylamide, 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters, Furans and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 April 2025
End date
31 March 2029
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The FSA is entitled to extend the Contract by 2 years subject to giving notice in accordance with the terms of the Contract. See the Award Form and Core Terms of the Contract for more information.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
4. Lot 3 NRL for Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73111000 - Research laboratory services
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 71900000 - Laboratory services
- 73111000 - Research laboratory services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) contaminants can be found in found in food and feed. They are toxic and persistent chemicals and their effects on human health include dermal toxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive effects and teratogenicity, endocrine disruption and carcinogenicity. They are present in the environment, especially from pollution events and there are concerns around negative human health effects from long-term exposure to even the smallest amounts of Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Examples include PCBs and dioxins, brominated and fluorinated persistent contaminants such as flame retardants.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 April 2025
End date
31 March 2029
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The FSA is entitled to extend the Contract by 2 years subject to giving notice in accordance with the terms of the Contract. See the Award Form and Core Terms of the Contract for more information.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
8 July 2024
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
8 July 2024
Local time
12:00pm
Place
All bids will be opened using the e-procurement site Atamis.
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure
All bids will be opened at noon on the tender closing date, bids received after this time may be excluded and may not be evaluated.
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: The FSA is entitled to extend the Contract by 2 years subject to giving notice in accordance with the terms of the Contract. See the Award Form and Core Terms of the Contract for more information.
six.3) Additional information
This is a 4 year contract with an optional 2 year extension.
The estimated value of the Contract is estimated to be between £0 - £252,000 (inc VAT) for the total duration, including the 2 year extension. The FSA is not required to take the extension.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice for England and Wales
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom