Official UK procurement notice
4-year Fellowship - endpoint toxicity for a mixture of chemicals
Authority: Food Standards Agency (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis research project being tendered links to the FSA Strategy 2022-2027. This strategy is based around the FSA’s mission, food you can trust, alongside three key pillars: food is safe; food is what it says it is; food is healthier and more sustainable.
The proposed project focuses on the first pillar, that food is safe, and by generating a new scientific case study focused on the assessment of mixtures of chemicals using in-silico and in-vitro New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), it will enable us to further protect consumers from chemical hazards and enable consumers to be empowered to make informed choices around the food that they eat.
The Chemical, Radiological and Allergy (Food Hypersensitivity) Research and Evidence Programme (ChemRA REP) is a wider programme of work, under which this research project will sit. This research programme covers one of the FSAs Areas of research interest | Food Standards Agency (ARI) and sits under research priority two: chemical, radiological, and food hypersensitivity risks. Chemicals are present in food and feed whether they are added intentionally, the result of contamination, malicious intent, or simply naturally occurring.
The main aim of this Research Programme is to conduct research on these chemicals, which may be present in food and feed.
This research aligns with the FSA’s second Area of Research Interest on chemicals, specifically addressing the question: What new analytical tests or novel approach methods can we use to assess these hazards and their impact on consumers?’. The goal of this project is to use in-silico and in-vitro NAMs to assess the hazards from chemical mixtures in food, and their impact on consumers, from assessing human relevant endpoints. The project also aims to develop cross government collaboration by aiming to improve data systems, encourage collaborative working, and enhance scientific capability across government departments.
CPV: Research and development consultancy services · Research and development services and related consultancy services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£670,000
- Economic & financial standing
See PSQ
- Technical & professional ability
See Technical Envelope and Specification
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical: 80%
- Commercial: 20%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical: See Specification for more details. The technical criteria is broken down into sections.
- Commercial: See specification for more details. The Commercial section is split into 5 sub-sections.
- Economic & financial standing
See PSQ
- Technical & professional ability
See Technical Envelope and Specification
- Price carries 20 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 26 Mar 2026, 09:14 GMT
- Last source update
- 31 Jul 2026, 09:57 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Jun 2026
- Authority reference
C430597- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-027653- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-067482Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
Payment of valid and undisputed invoices will be made within 30 days of receipt of the invoice or, if later, the date by which the payment falls due in accordance with the invoice, which must be submitted promptly by the Supplier.
All invoices must be sent, quoting a valid Purchase Order Number (PO Number) and any other relevant details including the minimum required information set out in Section 68(9) of the Procurement Act 2023, to: [email protected].
Within 10 Working Days of receipt of your countersigned copy of this Order Form, we will send you a unique PO Number. You must be in receipt of a valid PO Number before submitting an invoice.
To avoid delay in payment it is important that the invoice is compliant and that it includes a valid PO Number, item number (if applicable) and the details (name, email, and telephone number) of your Buyer contact (i.e., Buyer Authorised Representative). Non-compliant invoices may be sent back to you, which may lead to a delay in payment.
- Risks
As this is an evolving research project risks are spread across the deliverables, including but not limited to, scope, timings, regulatory changes, new scientific ways of working. Delays in obtaining, analysing, or synthesising published material could also impact delivery timelines.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 14 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 13 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Tenders for FSA funded projects must be submitted through the health-family single e-Commercial System (Atamis), using the following link: health-family.force.com/s/Welcome ↗
Timeline
26 Mar 2026 → 31 Jul 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published204 days ago26 Mar 2026, 09:14 GMT
- Clarification questions by186 days ago13 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline155 days ago14 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by137 days ago1 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent134 days ago5 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Contract starts124 days ago15 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends121 days ago17 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published77 days ago31 Jul 2026, 09:57 BST
Notice history
7 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 26 Mar 2026- Tender notice published26 Mar 2026, 09:14 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published9 Apr 2026, 13:42 BSTUK4
- Deadline moved to 14 May 2026, 12:00 BST9 Apr 2026, 13:42 BST+14 days · was 30 Apr 2026, 12:00 BST
- Contract award notice published5 Jun 2026, 11:30 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete5 Jun 2026, 11:30 BST
- Contract signature expected22 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published31 Jul 2026, 09:57 BSTUK7
Published amendments (1)
ITT closing date has been extended from noon on 30th April to noon on 14th May 2026.
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-03: 1 release · 26 Mar 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of BirminghamCan in silico and in vitro methods be used in a tiered approach to predict endpoint toxicity for a mixture of chemicals?29 Jun 2026 – 31 Mar 2030 · up to 30 Sept 2030Extensions: optional 6-month extension · Options: Continuation of the contract will be subject to (1) successful recruitment of the Fellow within 4–6 months of contract start, and (2) satisfactory annual progress reviews each March, to align with agreed milestones | £663,565 | 4 Jun 2026standstill to 17 Jun 2026 | Standstill |
| University of Birmingham | — | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Can in silico and in vitro methods be used in a tiered approach to predict endpoint toxicity for a mixture of chemicals? · University of Birmingham
- Signed
- 30 Jul 2026
- Value
- £663,565
- Period
- 31 Jul 2026 – 28 Mar 2030 · up to 28 Sept 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The Buyer may extend the Contract for a period of up to 6 Months by giving not less than 10 Working Days' notice in writing to the Supplier prior to the Expiry Date. The Conditions of the Contract shall apply throughout any such extended period.
- Options
- Breakpoints: (1) successful recruitment of the Fellow within 4–6 months of contract start, (2) satisfactory annual progress reviews each March,
1 agreed KPI: Deliverables
- Deliverables, The Supplier shall deliver all contractual deliverables in accordance with the agreed specification, timeline, and quality standards set out in the Contract. Performance will be measured based on: Timeliness: Deliverables submitted in line with agreed milestones and deadlines Quality: Deliverables meeting the required standards and accepted by the Authority with minimal revisions Completeness: Deliverables fully addressing the requirements set out in the specification Failure to meet agreed standards or timelines may result in remedial action, performance management measures, or application of contractual remedies.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- University of BirminghamAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender