Provision of Wildlife Scanning Surveillance

Tender description

The Surveillance Intelligence Unit (SIU) at APHA manages veterinary scanning surveillance activities to quickly detect, characterise and manage threats and risks in livestock and wildlife in Great Britain. The SIU generates intelligence on these animal health threats from information and data gathered through the Great Britain (GB) diagnostic network, from a variety of sources, including networks of specialist expertise both within and external to APHA. Threats are diverse and can include: • A novel disease or pathogen such as Schmallenberg virus • Exotic or notifiable disease, such as Bluetongue • A new pathogen variant or subtype, such as the RHD2 variant in rabbits • Novel or rare antimicrobial resistance, such as transferable colistin resistance • Public health concern due to zoonoses or toxicity, such as Salmonella • Changes in endemic disease trends Lot 1: Services to support APHA delivery of surveillance of wildlife disease which may threaten human, livestock and wildlife health in England and Wales. The services required in order to deliver this are: • Providing high quality surveillance data through a number of different reports to APHA. • Providing specialist advice services • Carrying out field investigations of wildlife mortality across the country • Carrying out post-mortem examinations and laboratory investigations of wildlife carcases. • Providing threat notification where a new or perceived threat is identified to APHA. Additional information: If you have concerns regarding this decision please ensure that you contact Melanie Swain, Defra Group Commercial, at john.forecast@defra.gov.uk clearly detailing the basis of your concerns within 10 calendar days of the publication of this notice.