Provision of Wildlife Scanning Surveillance

Concepts

• veterinary services
• apha
• provision of wildlife scanning surveillance
• surveillance intelligence unit
• surveillance activities
• high quality surveillance data
• apha delivery of surveillance of wildlife disease
• wildlife
• field investigations of wildlife mortality
• wildlife health

Location

London

Description

The Surveillance Intelligence Unit (SIU) at APHA manages veterinary scanning surveillance activities to quickly detect, characterise and manage threats and risks in livestock and wildlife in Great Britain. The SIU generates intelligence on these animal health threats from information and data gathered through the Great Britain (GB) diagnostic network, from a variety of sources, including networks of specialist expertise both within and external to APHA. Threats are diverse and can include: • A novel disease or pathogen such as Schmallenberg virus • Exotic or notifiable disease, such as Bluetongue • A new pathogen variant or subtype, such as the RHD2 variant in rabbits • Novel or rare antimicrobial resistance, such as transferable colistin resistance • Public health concern due to zoonoses or toxicity, such as Salmonella • Changes in endemic disease trends

Total Quantity or Scope

Services to support APHA delivery of surveillance of wildlife disease which may threaten human, livestock and wildlife health in England and Wales. The services required in order to deliver this are: • Providing high quality surveillance data through a number of different reports to APHA. • Providing specialist advice services • Carrying out field investigations of wildlife mortality across the country • Carrying out post-mortem examinations and laboratory investigations of wildlife carcases. • Providing threat notification where a new or perceived threat is identified to APHA.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 85200000 - Veterinary services

Indicators

Legal Justification

Following a market engagement & review by APHA in 2017, the Institute of Zoology were identified as the only supplier capable of delivering these services due to the unique expertise, specialised training, resources, capability and capacity required. IoZ were also in a unique position to collect data from alternative sources via the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden Wildlife Health Scheme. These services include: • Monthly Emerging Threat Reports • Monthly Horizon-Scanning report on wildlife disease threats identified globally • Specialist advice including ad-hoc consultancy on specific disease issues/threats • Post-mortem examinations performed to ISO17025 standard • Laboratory diagnosis/investigations performed to ISO17025 standard • Sample collection for West Nile Virus (WNV) testing • Bio-secure carcase storage facilities • Threat notification Given APHA’s close working relation with the market through professional associations & contractually, the Agency is satisfied that the market situation has not changed since the previous market engagement was conducted. Therefore, STA justification is on the grounds of PCR 2015 clause 32(b)(b): (ii) competition is absent for technical reasons.

Other Information

If you have concerns regarding this decision please ensure that you contact Melanie Swain, Defra Group Commercial, at john.forecast@defra.gov.uk clearly detailing the basis of your concerns within 10 calendar days of the publication of this notice.