Parcel collection and delivery service for samples of food of animal origin

Tender description

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine requires a parcel collection and delivery service for samples of food of animal origin (meat, milk, eggs, honey) taken by the Contracting Authority’s regional inspectorate on-farm or at Irish meat plants. The samples which are taken as part of the National Residue Control Plan are analysed for residues of veterinary drugs, pesticides and contaminants. The samples are classed as ‘exempt animal specimens’. Prospective tenderers will be required to provide a service that involves the collection of these samples from various locations in the Republic of Ireland and to deliver them to various locations on the island of Ireland and to return empty boxes to their original location either on the next pick up from the original location or as otherwise agreed with the Contracting Authority. Records indicate that approximately 20,000 samples are taken each year at more than 100 sampling points nationwide. The number of corresponding deliveries (including the return of the empty boxes back to the sampling points) is approximately 10,000.