Published date: 1 September 2015

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Closing: 29 September 2015

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73000000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£0

Procurement reference

FS101143

Published date

1 September 2015

Closing date

29 September 2015

Contract start date

2 November 2015

Contract end date

31 December 2016

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The FSA has commissioned a study to assess the contribution made by the food chain to the burden of UK-acquired norovirus (NoV) infection. This Norovirus Attribution Study (NoVAS) consists of a number of work packages which will together provide an indication of the proportion of norovirus infection that is foodborne. Work Package 5 (WP5), led by the University of Liverpool, will examine the role of caterers in the transmission of norovirus through the food chain, and in collaboration with Environmental Health Officers (EHOs), will undertake a prevalence survey of NoV in the catering environment in outbreak and non-outbreak premises, allowing us to assess the contribution of food handlers to contamination of the catering environment.
In order to further inform this research, the FSA wishes to engage with social research to assess specifically the role of food handlers in the transmission of the virus. This research will consider whether cases of NoV could be linked to catering staff, and, if so, to assess where the virus may have been contracted, taking into consideration circumstances within and beyond the workplace, as well as how the transmission could have taken place, and what measures are in place to prevent the transmission of norovirus. The aim of this research is not to audit current processes, but to observe and identify behaviours which might increase the risk of transmission of norovirus, and to understand how these risks might be mitigated in the future. No enforcement action will be taken as a result of this research.

More information

Attachments

Additional text

This procurement will be managed electronically via the Food Standards Agency e-tendering portal. To participate in this procurement, participants must first be registered on the electronic Public Procurement System (ePPS). If you have not yet registered on ePPS, this can be done online at https://fsa-esourcing.eurodyn.com/epps/home.do
Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found on the front screen and in the 'Help' tab at the top of the web page.

About the buyer

Address

Foss House, Peasholme Green, York
York
YO1 7PR
England

Email

FSA.Procurement@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk