Procurement

Details of any current requirements

• current research requirements
• current non-research requirements

The FSA is part of an EU funded project called an ERA NET, which aims to develop closer working between national funders of research. The ERA NET on food safety, called SAFEFOODERA, has just launched a call for research - there are 9 topic areas of which the Agency has funding interests in 3 - traceability, development of screening methods for GMOs and issues related to antibiotic resistance.

If you want to find out more about this call and how to apply, please see the home page at www.safefoodera.net. Applications must be from transnational consortia with partners from within at least 2 of the countries funding in each topic area and should take account of any special conditions outlined in the background information. There is a partner search forum facility on the homepage (see the "Forum" tab). Closing date is 15 September.

Procurement and Contracts Team (PACT)
Room 224 Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6NH
United Kingdom

Telephone:
(44) 207 276 8011 Frank Wright (Head of Procurement)
(44) 207 276 8251: Helen Glover (Deputy Head of Procurement)

Fax: 0207 276 8289
Email procurement@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force on 1 January 2005.

In general terms, the Act obliges public authorities to consider disclosing recorded information, either proactively by following their publication schemes, or following a request to do so.

When it receives a request the Agency must consider disclosing all appropriate information held at the time of the request, irrespective of when it was created, or by whom.

There are a number of possible exemptions to disclosure contained within the Act. Most are not absolute but rely upon a consideration of the public interest for and against disclosure.

For example, trade secrets or information that, if disclosed, could prejudice a person's commercial interests, are potentially exempt from disclosure. The Agency will rely on the exemption where it considers the balance of public interest is in favour of withholding the information sought.

It is not possible for the Agency to state, at the time of receipt of information from suppliers, whether it is exempt from disclosure, since the balance of public interest may alter with time and the circumstances in existence when a request is received.

However, if we are asked to disclose information which has been received from a supplier, and the disclosure decision is not obvious, we will consult you about the request and give you five working days in which to respond.

Suppliers may wish to obtain their own legal advice about the implications of the Act, but further information is available on the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), Information Commissioner, and Department for Constitutional Affairs websites. You can find links to these organisations on this page.

The Food Standards Agency's environmental aim is to reduce the environmental impact in all geographical areas of its work and to work towards sustainable development in its operations.

To help achieve this, the Agency has developed an Environmental Management System (EMS).

The scope of the EMS includes all of the main activities of the procurement of goods and services, particularly in the facilities management and utilities areas, but also monitoring of all contracts where sustainability issues can be applied.

The Agency's objectives

• to develop procurement in a way that supports the Agency's environmental and equalities aims
• to develop new methodologies to achieve continual improvement to each area of the Agency's operations, which is determined by its commitment to the promotion of sustainable procurement. This will also include schemes to reduce energy use in Agency buildings, emissions from its vehicle use and the waste it produces from its activities.
• to comply with relevant UK, European and International legal requirements and other requirements that relate to its environmental aspects, the Agency will apply best practise in initiating protocols before legislation becomes obligatory.
• to provide an environmental management system that complies to ISO 14001 will monitor and review the Agency's environmental impacts and set objectives and targets to meet its environmental responsibilities. The Agency will audit its procedures to work towards continual improvement.
• to communicate the implementation and maintenance of its activities and initiatives throughout the Agency and to all its contracted suppliers. It will encourage ownership within its departments and provide advice and support through procurement and contract activity.
• to minimise significant adverse environmental impacts from its new operations and developments through the use of integrated environmental management procedures.
• to encourage its suppliers and contractors to continually improve their own environmental performance to ensure that goods and services, procured for, or on behalf of, the Agency, support its environment policy.

The Agency's environmental objectives and associated targets will be set annually and reviewed against each contract/procurement renewal as appropriate.