Research and Development Framework

The Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) wishes to establish a new research and development (R&D) framework with six specific lots (A-F).

This framework will be structured into specialism based lots. Each lot is designed to hold more than one supplier to allow a varied skill set across each lot.

A specification will be written for each project and HSE will then consider the specification against each supplier to determine which supplier's expertise is best suited to the project. If more than one supplier has the relevant experience, a cab rank system will be used (further detail on this process is provided in section 4). Due to the nature of the type of R&D projects that will be brought forward, we are aware that not all suppliers in a lot may necessarily be able to undertake all the projects brought forward, so this approach ensures projects will be allocated to the most relevant supplier.

HSE reserve the right to allocate projects to other suppliers in the framework, outside of the specified lot, if all the suppliers allocated to a lot are not able to undertake the project.

This framework will be open to usage from all HSE teams. The framework will enable faster turnaround of R&D. It also provides a more cost effective and less burdensome way of commissioning research projects.

The framework is designed to be a 4 year contract.

We are unsure how many times we will use each individual Lot on the R&D Framework throughout the four year period. The award of each individual Lot does not guarantee any amount of work during the contract agreement period.

Whilst we anticipate using each individual Lot on the R&D Framework to fulfil our needs, we do reserve the right to choose to commission such work through other means and with other suppliers as we see fit.

SCOPE OF THE SERVICES REQUIRED

The R&D Framework will be structured into 6 specialism based lots:

• Lot A - Chemistry
• Lot B - Ecotoxicology
• Lot C - Efficacy
• Lot D - Fate and Behaviour
• Lot E - Residues
• Lot F - Toxicology

Suppliers may, apply for one, some or all of lots (A-F). We intend to appoint 4 suppliers for each lot.

THIS IS A CALL-OFF FRAMEWORK WITH A VALUE OF £2,000,000 ACROSS THE 4 YEARS. THE BUDGET WILL BE USED ACROSS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS ACROSS ALL LOTS. CONTRACT AWARDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED ON THAT BASIS