Food Standards Agency
Sunday 5 July 2009
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Listen to this siteThe Food Standards Agency buys in goods, services and works using a competitive process wherever possible, in line with public sector and European Union (EU) policy requirements. Its aim is to achieve value for money, which is viewed as the 'most economically advantageous tender', to meet the needs of the user.
You can find details of past tenders/awarded procurements at this page .
The Agency's purchasing guidelines set out financial levels at which various purchasing activity takes place.
Procurement authority within the Food Standards Agency resides with the Chief Executive as Accounting Officer.
The Chief Executive is required to ensure that the Agency complies with the principles of Government procurement, namely:
In addition, the FSA procurement procedures, endorsed by the Chief Executive, further defines standards and rules relating to the procurement process.
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Details of any current requirements
Procurement and Contracts Team (PACT)
Room 1b Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6NH
United Kingdom
Telephone:
(44) 207 276 8734: Cary Rigler (Interim Procurement Director)
(44) 207 276 8251: Helen Glover (Deputy Head of Procurement)
Fax: 0207 276 8132
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.
Back to topThe 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
The Agency's environmental objectives and associated targets will be set annually and reviewed against each contract/procurement renewal as appropriate.
Back to topThis contracts list contains details of contracts awarded by the Food Standards Agency following a formal procurement process and those used by the FSA but awarded by other public sector bodies.
Details of non-research procurement.
The Food Standards Agency commissions research and survey work to develop and support its policies on a contract basis. The Agency does not provide research grants or support for basic academic research.
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