Official UK procurement notice
Badger Hair Genotyping (APHA)
Authority: ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY (Defra Network eTendering Portal)·On behalf of: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis Contract is formed of two sampling requirements:
Requirement 1: Single Badger Hair DNA extraction for the National Badger Sett Survey (25-28)
Requirement 2: DNA extraction from clumps of badger hair.
Requirement 1 requires the Supplier to extract DNA from single badger hairs and amplify using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology to identify sufficient material to determine which alleles are present at each pre defined Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP). The output data from this analysis will be used to determine the number of individual badgers.
Requirement 2 requires the Supplier to extract DNA from clumps of Badger guard hairs (including roots); while samplers were asked to try to aim for a good number of hairs more than fifteen (number more than 15), this was not always feasible due to the nature of the work, and a minority of samples are of smaller size. The DNA should be processed to identify which specific SNP is present in the individual. The Buyer estimates that due to high rates of within-population homogeneity, and allelic drop out, the panel will need to include approximately five thousand five hundred (5,500) SNPs.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 9 Jul 2026, 14:52 BST
- Last source update
- 28 Jul 2026, 12:01 BST
- Authority reference
C34854- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-071159- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c7aeFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
This Direct Award is compliant under Schedule 5, Paragraph 6(a) and (b) of the Procurement Act 2023, which permits a direct award where:
(a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods or services required; and
(b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods or services.
Absence of Competition for Technical Reasons:
The requirement is for the extraction and genotyping of DNA from badger hair samples, including samples comprising a single hair, using a methodology capable of generating reliable and reproducible data suitable for incorporation into APHA's existing population modelling and epidemiological analysis. LGC Genomics is the only UK supplier capable of providing all elements of the requirement, particularly the need to analyse low-volume and poor-quality wildlife samples.
The technical characteristics of the requirement, particularly the need to process low-volume badger hair samples and generate compatible SNP genotyping data, mean that competition is absent for genuine technical reasons.
No Reasonable Alternative:
The Authority has identified a material risk of delays, additional administrative burdens, customs-related issues and potential loss or destruction of samples during transit. Given the specialist nature of the samples and the programme's dependency on a continuous and reliable flow of data, overseas providers do not represent a reasonable alternative.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
21 Jul 2026 → 28 Jul 2026 · 2 dates- Standstill ends97 days ago21 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
- Notice published90 days ago28 Jul 2026, 12:01 BST
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 9 Jul 2026- Transparency notice published9 Jul 2026, 14:52 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published9 Jul 2026, 15:08 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected24 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published28 Jul 2026, 12:01 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGC Genomics LimitedShort Form Contract - Badger Hair Genotyping (APHA)27 Jul 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2028Extensions: 01/04/2028 - 30/09/2028 The Buyer may extend the Contract for a period of up to six (6) months through issuing a Contract Change Note (CCN). The Contract duration shall not exceed twenty-six (26) months from the Start Date. | £120,636 | 9 Jul 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Short Form Contract - Badger Hair Genotyping (APHA) · LGC Genomics Limited
- Signed
- 24 Jul 2026
- Value
- £120,636
- Period
- 27 Jul 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 30 Sept 2028 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 01/04/2028 - 30/09/2028 The Buyer may extend the Contract for a period of up to six (6) months through issuing a Contract Change Note (CCN). The Contract duration shall not exceed twenty-six (26) months from the Start Date.
1 agreed KPI: KPI 1 - Delivery on time KPI 2- Quality of sequencing data supplied
- KPI 1 - Delivery on time KPI 2- Quality of sequencing data supplied, KPI 1 - Data delivered within forty (40) Working Days of receipt of samples. KPI 2 - Sequencing must be provided in accordance with the Specification.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRSProcuring entityCarrying out Procurement on behalf of the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- LGC GENOMICS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
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
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender