Official UK procurement notice
Specialist Science and Contingency Services
Authority: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe SSCS contracts give government customers access to specialist diagnostic, testing, advice and research services to support compliant statutory obligations relating to biosecurity, agriculture, food standards/ safety and environmental protection relating to plant health and wildlife. The contracts also provide incident and contingency services.
CPV: Endangered species protection services · Environmental monitoring other than for construction · Environmental protection · Environmental rehabilitation · Environmental safety services · Food or feed contamination protection services · Genetic resources protection services · Marine research services · Natural resources management or conservation strategy planning services · Natural risks or hazards protection services · Pollution investigation services · Research and development consultancy services · +5 more
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1The existing Long Term Service Agreement framework expired on 31 March 2025Awarded
The existing Long Term Service Agreement framework expired on 31 March 2025. Defra sought a replacement commercial arrangement to provide continued access to critical scientific evidence and contingency services to support its policy making and operational responsibilities, including emergency response capabilities in relation to food and the environment. The contract is also used by other government departments, including but not limited to the Food Standards Agency and the Home Office. The Supplier has the ability to competitively deliver reliable, high quality business and scientific services; well-proven transition and transformation capabilities within challenging timeframes; and possesses a vision and commitment to enhance relevant scientific capability into the future. The seamless continuation of services is essential due to statutory requirements, and Defra therefore must have a supplier that has the required capability in place as of the effective date. The contract is awarded for a period of five years and has the option to extend for an additional five years (+2+1+1+1).
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- 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
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 Apr 2025, 11:19 BST
- Last source update
- 22 Apr 2025, 11:19 BST
- Authority reference
C24955- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-016174- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05057aFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons
- Published justification
Defra has awarded a contract using the negotiated procedure without prior publication, in accordance with Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) (competition absent for technical reasons) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015.<br/>The previous contract expired on 31 March 2025 and the contract must be made to ensure critical statutory specialist science and contingency services continue to be provided. This contract has been awarded to Fera Science Limited for the provision of specialist science and contingency services.<br/>To inform its decision-making, Defra has undertaken three rounds of market engagement with interested suppliers. Before each round, it has published a prior information notice (PIN), ensuring that all interested suppliers are aware of the re-procurement and have had the opportunity to express interest and provide evidence of their capacity and capabilities to perform all or part of the services. Three elements of the specification were identified:<br/><br/>(a) those aspects where there is no competition, eg, those parts of the specification that relate to the required specialist facilities for this contract; <br/>(b) those parts where there may be genuine competition.<br/>(c) those parts where competitors have expressed an interest in supplying all or part of the requirement, but have not provided sufficient information when requested to establish that they have, or could develop in the time available, the necessary capacity or capability.<br/><br/>In relation to (b) there are some services for Government Departments, FSA, HSE and DAERA, where reasonable alternatives in the market were identified, as such, those services have been disaggregated and those respective Departments will identify a route to market outside of this contract. Some research and development requirements that are not related to (a), will be procured through Defra’s existing RDE Framework or such other route to market. As such these services no longer form part of the specification for this contract. <br/><br/>In relation to (a) and (c), the market engagement has identified that currently there is no candidate who is able to deliver the requirements of the specification and competition is absent for technical reasons.<br/><br/>As such this contract has been awarded by direct award in accordance with Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii).
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fera Science Ltd | £345,710,030 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 016174-2025-1 · Fera Science Ltd
- Signed
- 28 Mar 2025
- Value
- £345,710,030
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids | 0 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- HIGH COURT ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICEMediation body
- Public Procurement Review BodyReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Fera Science LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.