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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Utilising in silico, in vitro and ‘omics New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for priority-setting and safety assessment of tropane alkaloids (TAs) and other plant toxins as potential food contaminants. A case study for progressing the acceptance of NAMs for

Food Standards Agency · Transparency notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 06:36.

Opportunity overview

Tenders were invited to carry out a range of project delivery options, to deliver against stages 1, 2 and 3 as described below: Stage 1: This case study is to support the UK FSA’s policy need to determine which TAs are the most potent (neuro)toxicants so as to prioritise specific substances and inform decisions on the UK’s monitoring of these alkaloids in foods. An integral part of this aim is to confirm that neurotoxicity is the primary mode of action of these alkaloids. This aim will be achieved using a tiered-testing strategy of in silico, in vitro and ‘omics NAMs. This will then be extended to other plant alkaloids such as glycoalkaloids and pyridazine alkaloids. Stage 2: To derive a HBGV for human exposure for the top priority, i.e. most potent substance within the class of TAs. This will utilise physiologically-based kinetic (PBK) modelling and quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE). This will then be extended to other plant alkaloids such as glycoalkaloids and pyridazine alkaloids. Stage 3: From a methodological perspective, a broader third objective of the case study is to evaluate and attempt to build confidence within the FSA in the application of a series of relevant NAMs that have been integrated in a manner to address policy needs. These NAMs are tiered and incorporate existing human in vivo data as well as new testing on human in vitro cell lines, to maximise the relevance and accuracy to human food safety. Please note contract start date is 22/09/2025

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

University of Birmingham

No match
Published award value
£488.4k
Awarded
24 Aug 2025
Award ID
1
Status
pending
Identifier
GB-PPON PHCQ-3464-LVTM
Location
Birmingham, UKG31, B15 2TT, United Kingdom

University of Birmingham

No match
Contract value
£488.4k
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
23 Sept 2025
Including VAT
£586.1k
Award ID
2
Status
active
Identifier
GB-PPON PHCQ-3464-LVTM
Location
Birmingham, UKG31, B15 2TT, United Kingdom

Classification

No classification was supplied.

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
C367576
Status
complete
Published risks
Delays in the overall delivery of the contract. Delays in the delivery of individual Milestones and/or Deliverables. Unplanned work that must be accommodated. Selection of service providers (subcontractors) proves challenging, i.e., they do not meet our criteria for high-quality, cost-effective. Delays imposed at import and export hubs during the shipment of samples (leading to thawing and degradation of cell samples). Insufficient data quality or poor reproducibility of omics data. Proposed experimental designs induce minimal (and non-significant) toxicological responses (Tier 2) and omics responses (Tier 3). While accurate budgeting has been completed during the planning phase, deviations are noted during the course of the contract. Availability of experienced scientists with sufficient expertise to cover all aspects of the proposed contract. Training courses are delivered at the wrong level.
Procurement Method
direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Why this procedure was chosen
University of Birmingham have IPR rights to the systems that will be used as part of the case study.

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Procedure reasons

Entry 1
Id
singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
complete

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Document Type
conflictOfInterest

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-PPON-PJRM-6866-LYYX
Name
Food Standards Agency

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKE21
Country
GB
Locality
York
Postal Code
YO1 7PR
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
YO1 7PR

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
publicAuthorityCentralGovernment
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Public authority - central government

Identifier

Id
PJRM-6866-LYYX
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Name
FSA Commercial
Organisation 2
Id
GB-PPON-PHCQ-3464-LVTM
Name
University of Birmingham

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UKG31
Country
GB
Locality
Birmingham
Postal Code
B15 2TT
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Edgbaston

Details

Vcse
No
Scale
large
Sheltered Workshop
No
Public Service Mission Organization
No

Identifier

Id
PHCQ-3464-LVTM
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Award information

Award 1
Id
1
Date
25 Aug 2025, 00:00
Title
Utilising in silico, in vitro and ‘omics New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for p
Status
pending
Above Threshold
Yes
Main Procurement Category
services

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
73000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Research and development services and related consultancy services

Value

Amount
488,375.5
Currency
GBP
Including VAT
586,050.6

Documents

Entry 1
Id
042934-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK5
Description
Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
awardNotice
Published
24 Jul 2025, 16:43
Entry 2
Id
054952-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK6
Description
Contract award notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
awardNotice
Published
9 Sept 2025, 11:48

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-PPON-PHCQ-3464-LVTM
Name
University of Birmingham

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
1
Type
futureSignatureDate
Status
scheduled
Due
22 Sept 2025, 23:59

Related lots

1

Contract period

Ends
10 May 2028, 23:59
Starts
29 Sept 2025, 00:00

Subcontracting

Subcontracts

Entry 1
Id
1
Description
N/A

Main Contractors

Entry 1
Id
GB-PPON-PHCQ-3464-LVTM
Name
University of Birmingham

Standstill Period

Ends
18 Sept 2025, 23:59
Award 2
Id
2
Status
active
Main Procurement Category
services

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
73110000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Research services
Entry 2
Id
73200000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Research and development consultancy services

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-PPON-PHCQ-3464-LVTM
Name
University of Birmingham

Related lots

1

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
2
Title
Utilising in silico, in vitro and ‘omics New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for
Status
active
Award ID
2
Date Signed
24 Sept 2025, 00:00
Has Renewal
Yes
Above Threshold
Yes

Value

Amount
488,375.5
Currency
GBP
Including VAT
586,050.6

Period

Ends
31 May 2028, 23:59
Starts
25 Sept 2025, 00:00
Max Extent Date
31 Aug 2028, 23:59

Renewal

Description
The Buyer may extend the Contract for a period of up to 3 Months by giving not less than 10 Working Days' notice in writing to the Supplier prior to the Expiry Date. The Conditions of the Contract shall apply throughout any such extended period.

Documents

Entry 1
Id
068648-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK7
Description
Contract details notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
contractNotice
Published
27 Oct 2025, 15:26

Agreed Metrics

Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Wellbeing: Improving Health and Wellbeing
Description
To be agreed at the initiation meeting

Observations

Entry 1
Id
frequency

Period

Duration In Months
12

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · York · UKE21 · YO1 7PR · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-0565d3-2025-10-27T15:26:01ZTransparency notice on Find a Tender ·