Specialist Science and Contingency Services

Concepts

• research and development
• consultancy services
• veterinary services
• research services
• contingency services
• reliable, high quality business and scientific services
• incident and contingency services
• long term service agreement
• specialist
• science

Location

United Kingdom

Description

The 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.

Total Quantity or Scope

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).

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
• 90721000 - Environmental safety services
• 90720000 - Environmental protection
• 90721400 - Genetic resources protection services
• 90721700 - Endangered species protection services
• 79311300 - Survey analysis services
• 90712400 - Natural resources management or conservation strategy planning services
• 90721300 - Food or feed contamination protection services
• 90721800 - Natural risks or hazards protection services
• 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
• 90715000 - Pollution investigation services
• 73100000 - Research and experimental development services
• 90711500 - Environmental monitoring other than for construction
• 85200000 - Veterinary services
• 73112000 - Marine research services
• 73110000 - Research services
• 90722000 - Environmental rehabilitation

Legal 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.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.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:(a) those aspects where there is no competition, eg, those parts of the specification that relate to the required specialist facilities for this contract; (b) those parts where there may be genuine competition.(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.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. 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.As such this contract has been awarded by direct award in accordance with Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii).

Other Information

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