Source Attribution Studies for Infectious Disease and Antibiotic Resistance

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is conducting pre-market engagement to gather supplier input on the feasibility of conducting source attribution studies to understand how intestinal infectious diseases are transmitted and where antibiotic resistance (AMR) originates. This engagement aims to assess whether the proposed budget of £500,000 and 24-month timeline are realistic for delivering meaningful research outcomes. The FSA acknowledges that not all research questions or pathogens may be addressable within these constraints. Suppliers are invited to provide feedback on: • What analysis scope is achievable within the budget and timeline • Whether existing datasets are sufficient or if additional sequencing, data generation, and sampling are needed • Whether the budget and timeline are adequate to meet core research objectives with appropriate scientific rigor This feedback will help the FSA refine its understanding of market capabilities before launching a future procurement. Participation is voluntary and will not affect your eligibility in any subsequent tender process. Submissions must be made through the Health and Family Single e-Commercial System (Atamis) at: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome