UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

FSA would like to commission a study to assess the effectiveness of interventions typically carried out by red meat and poultry slaughterhouses and cutting/processing plants within England, Wales and Northern Ireland following unsatisfactory PHC findings. The evidence generated will be used to inform strategic risk assessments on the relative risk to consumers of meat from Size 5 slaughterhouses and cutting plants that processes equal or less than 2 metric tonnes of meat per week which are currently exempt from sampling, when compared to those slaughterhouses and cutting plants which do currently sample, and support the FSA in improving regulatory compliance. In addition, the published results of this survey may be used by FBOs to support decision-making on interventions following unsatisfactory PHC findings. The objective of the microbiological food safety research themes is to provide robust information on the presence, growth, survival and elimination of pathogenic microorganisms throughout the food chain; the extent, distribution, causes, risks and cost of foodborne disease will also be considered where appropriate. Phase 1. Design and carry out interviews of slaughterhouse and cutting plant stakeholders to determine which interventions are carried out by meat processing establishments in response to unsatisfactory PHC results. Phase 2. A critical literature review of the effectiveness of interventions identified in Phase 1 in correcting unsatisfactory PHC results. The final output of the project will be a technical report consisting of anonymised findings from the survey of slaughterhouse and cutting plant stakeholders (Phase 1) and the critical review of efficacy for each identified intervention (Phase 2).

Premarket engagement for Additional Analytical Methods for NDNS Biomonitoring. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking early market input to inform a potential future procurement relating to the development of analytical methods to support biomonitoring of food additives and chemical contaminants. This work forms part of the FSA Chemical Hazards Programme and aims to improve understanding of UK consumer exposure through novel biomonitoring approaches. The information gathered will be used solely to shape the FSA’s understanding of the market and to refine a potential future competitive procurement. Participation is voluntary, and non-participation will not disadvantage suppliers in any subsequent procurement process. All documents and communication for FSA funded projects must be submitted through the health-family single e-Commercial System (Atamis), using the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 on the microbiological criteria of foodstuffs sets rules for sampling frequencies for process hygiene criteria (PHC) in slaughterhouses and cutting plants. The regulation grants sampling exemptions for small meat processing establishments; however, it is poorly understood how these exemption may affect risk to consumers. The FSA therefore is proposing to commission a project to assess the effectiveness of corrective actions typically taken by meat processing establishments following unsatisfactory PHC findings. This knowledge will be used to inform the risk to consumers from PHC sampling exemptions for small meat processing establishments, and support the FSA in improving regulatory compliance. This project will consist of two phases: 1) semi-structured qualitative interviews of slaughterhouse and cutting plant stakeholders to determine which actions are taken by meat processing establishments in response to unsatisfactory PHC results; followed by 2) a critical literature review of the effectiveness of interventions identified in Phase 1 in correcting unsatisfactory PHC results. The final output of the project will be a technical report consisting of findings from Phases 1 and 2, for publication with the FSA. Tenderers should have expertise designing and conducting qualitative questionnaires and interviews, and experience conducting critical literature reviews. Experience of slaughterhouse and meat cutting plant hygiene processes and microbiological process hygiene criteria is highly desirable.