Supply of Specified Pathogen Free (SPF) Eggs to APHA (Re-Tender)

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has an ongoing requirement for the supply of Specified Pathogen Free (SPF) Eggs.

The Authority intends to launch a tender in August 2024, with contract commencement from February 2025, following a three month transition period.

The Authority anticipates that the new contract will run for a minimum of 3 years with the option to extend, based on the future requirements of the APHA, which are yet to be confirmed.

The APHA is an executive agency working on behalf of Defra, Scottish Government and Welsh Government. APHA's role is to safeguard animal health and welfare as well as public health, protect the economy and enhance food security through research, surveillance and inspection.

The APHA's range of responsibilities includes statutory work for the UK government for disease control through surveillance activities, research and consultancy. A number of these animal related research and surveillance activities, such as vaccine development and identification of types of disease, require Eggs to provide tissues, embryos and live birds. It is important that these Eggs are free of specified pathogens or extraneous agents, as they could cause infection or contaminate the work. In addition there is a legal requirement that Eggs used in the production and quality controls of vaccines are free from specified pathogens.