Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Food Standards Scotland (FSS)
4th Floor, Pilgrim House, Old Ford Road
Aberdeen
AB11 5RL
UK
Contact person: Maxine Mullen
Telephone: +44 1224285172
E-mail: maxine.mullen@gov.scot
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.foodstandards.gov.scot
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA24524
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Scottish Authorities Food Enforcement Rebuild (SAFER) Food Business Social Research
Reference number: CASE/792740
II.1.2) Main CPV code
73110000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
FSS has a requirement for research to be conducted and evidence gathered from Food Business Operators to support both the development of the SAFER programme as well as FSS’s statutory business-as-usual responsibilities to support businesses to comply with food law.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
120 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73110000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Requirement for research to be conducted and evidence gathered from Food Business Operators to support both the development of the SAFER programme as well as FSS’s statutory business-as-usual responsibilities to support businesses to comply with food law.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 75
Price
/ Weighting:
25
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 8
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Option to extend for additional 4 months at sole discretion of the Purchaser
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
As part of the contract agreement, A rate card will be obtained to provide fixed costing for any additional Ad-Hoc research required in connection to research subject matter and solely within specified contract period.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
INSURANCE(s)
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Employers (compulsory) Liability Insurance in accordance with any legal obligations at the time being in force.
Public Liability Insurance = 1 Million GBP
Professional Indemnity Insurance = 1 Million GBP
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Stated within tender documents
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
13/08/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
13/08/2025
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=799567.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
(SC Ref:799567)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=799567
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court & Justice of the Peace Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
24/06/2025