Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

Tender description

HSE requires a specialist sample collection body to arrange for the collection of fresh and processed food samples throughout the UK in support of a government official food testing programme for the 2021 calendar year. HSE requires a specialist sample collection body to arrange for the collection of fresh and processed food samples throughout the UK in support of a government official food testing programme for the 2021 calendar year. Food is collected in line with specified detailed protocols. The food must be collected from proscribed locations around the UK (usually 24 locations, rotated in two weekly cycles in groups of 6 locations). Samples collection is on a two week cycle for rapid delivery to a network of official laboratories undertaking a detailed analytical programme. The detailed specification requires a comprehensive understanding of the type of food to be sampled,when and where it must be collected from, how it must be sampled to meet an international definition of a sample, how official documentation must be completed, the manner that it must be prepared and dispatched for courier together with the importance of ensuring that the sample arrives on time in good condition. With the Covid pandemic additional flexibility has been required to accommodate changes in the supply chain and local Covid security measures which affect ability to collect samples.