FERA Science Limited, which offers crop testing and molecular facilities to help UK potato growers, will be providing future scientific and strategic services to government after being awarded the Specialist Science and Contingency Services (SSCS) contract by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Food Standards Agency and the Home Office.
This contract has been awarded for an initial five-year term, with options to extend for up to five further years.
Building upon a decade of support to the government under a Long-Term Services Agreement (LTSA) since 2015, this new contract ensures the continuation and expansion of its scientific work. Under the LTSA, Fera has supported Defra and other government departments across a broad spectrum of strategic science services, including advancing research, enhancing data analysis, strengthening border security, protecting the natural environment and helping to ensure food safety.
The SSCS contract is designed to maintain consistency and quality while delivering value for money through structured pricing and rigorous performance measures. Additionally, it aims to drive further excellence in service delivery, fostering innovation and scientific advancement over its term.
Fera Chief Executive Officer Andrew Swift said the award would enable Fera to reinforce its strong relationship with Defra, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), while building on past successes.
“The specialist scientific and strategic services delivered under this contract will have the potential to support the government’s effort to drive growth for the UK economy,” he said.
“The translatable nature of innovation and scientific service being delivered under the SSCS will foster and strengthen the private sector by supporting the early adoption of technology, cutting-edge research, data-driven insights and sustainable solutions.”
