Locum Remote Official Veterinarian/Meat Health Inspection Services

Descriptions

Food Standards Scotland’s (FSS) primary concern is consumer protection - making sure that food is safe to eat; ensuring consumers know what they are eating and improving nutrition. This contract will support this objective through the provision of verification through inspection and health marking in FSS Approved Meat Establishments (AMEs). The suppliers will provide a service for the delivery of Official Controls (OCs) in accordance with relevant UK law in FSS AMEs. Typically, this also includes routine attendance in Approved Game Handling Establishments (AGHEs) for joint veterinary and inspector functions and duties. These contracts cover remote areas within Scotland or reduced attendance requirements, where it would be uneconomical for FSS to deploy its own official veterinarians and/or meat hygiene inspectors. The requirement for these services is on a locum basis. The initial contract period is for three years. There is an option to extend the contract for up to a further two years, i.e. up to a maximum contract period of five years. The requirement has been divided into 6 lots by geographical area of performance. The collective estimated value of all contracts over the 5-year period is approximately GBP500K . These contracts are to be awarded to the following suppliers: - Joanne Drew; - Chris Williamson; - Conanvet Ltd; - Eaglen Veterinary Services Ltd; - John Kelso; and - VSK Associates Ltd. Whilst conducting market research it was found that there were no other qualified suppliers who could provide the services required under this contract on a local basis. The following justifications were given for this contract to be established via Non-competitive action with VEAT: - The current contracts are reported to have been performing well to date. - No alternative suppliers were identified through the market research/benchmarking exercise.