- Home
- Tenders
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Courier Services for Hampshire Scientific Services
Courier Services for Hampshire Scientific Services
AI Summary
Hampshire County Council is inviting suppliers to provide dedicated courier services to support Hampshire Scientific Services. The contract aims to supply a reliable, same‑day delivery solution for highly time‑critical samples that are collected at ports in East Suffolk and transported to analytical laboratories in Kent and Hampshire. The service is essential to the statutory enforcement role of Hampshire Scientific Services, ensuring that food and feed samples are handled securely and reach their destination within the required 24‑hour window.
The required service demands secure, direct transport that minimizes handling or delays while maintaining strict chain of custody. Operators must be capable of meeting regular weekday demand and must have flexibility to accommodate occasional weekend deliveries. The arrangement will enable rapid, traceable movement of samples, preserving their integrity and facilitating timely compliance testing for public health and safety.
The initial award period will last 19 months with an option to extend for up to two additional 12‑month terms, potentially extending service provision until June 2030. The selected supplier will be expected to demonstrate the ability to deliver secure, direct transport while managing capacity needs and ensuring adherence to chain‑of‑custody and sample integrity protocols.
Description
HSS provides accredited scientific advisory and analytical services to public authorities across the UK, supporting statutory functions to ensure public health and safety.
As part of its work with Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority (SCPHA), HSS is responsible for coordinating the transport of imported food and feed samples from ports in East Suffolk (Felixstowe, Harwich, and Ipswich) to laboratories in Kent and Hampshire. These samples are collected for enforcement testing and are highly time‑critical, with some requiring collection, delivery, and analysis within a strict 24 hour window. Maintaining chain of custody, sample integrity, and timely delivery is therefore essential.
The purpose of this procurement is to appoint a suitably capable same‑day courier to deliver a reliable and responsive service. The supplier will be required to provide secure, direct transport that avoids unnecessary handling or delays, and to provide scalable capacity to meet regular weekday demand, with flexibility for occasional weekend requirements.
The contract will be for an initial period of 19 months, with the option to extend for up to 2 additional 12-month periods until 29 June 2030.
Estimated date of publication of contract notice: 2026-08-17T23:59:59+01:00
Contract location: UKJ3
Engagement process description
The current intention is to publish the tender for these services in August 2026.
The future tender will be published on the Authority's e-tendering portal In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/hampshire/. If your organisation is not registered on the Hampshire In-Tend portal, please go to the website stated above and click on the 'Register' tab - registration is free.
This notice is provided for information only to inform the market of this opportunity. A summary of requirements has been provided below.
No response is required at this stage, and this notice does not constitute a call for competition.
SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS
HSS holds a contract with Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority (SCPHA) to test imported food prior to its release for sale. The aim is to establish a robust, reliable, and responsive daily collection service for the transportation of food and feed samples from the Ports to designated laboratories located in Kent and Hampshire. Collections are required most weekdays from the port of Felixstowe, with less frequent collections from the ports of Harwich and Ipswich.
These samples are collected for enforcement testing purposes and are highly time-sensitive, with some requiring collection, delivery, and laboratory analysis within a strict 24-hour window. Maintaining chain of custody and sample integrity is critical. To maintain this integrity and traceability, the courier service must provide timely, secure, and direct transportation from collection to delivery. The use of overnight transport hubs or any process that introduces delays, additional handling or increases the risk of sample damage or loss is not acceptable.
The Supplier will be expected to provide electronic proof of delivery for all consignments, and maintain a secure and auditable chain of custody. Clear communication and operational arrangements will be required to manage changes, late instructions, and escalation routes for service issues, to minimise disruption.
We are therefore looking for a courier partner who can demonstrate:
• Robustness, reliability and efficiency in in delivering time-critical services.
• Flexibility to respond to changing requirements including occasional cancellations and additional collection points.
• Clear and proactive communication, ensuring seamless coordination and rapid issue resolution.
• Robust handling procedures that protect sample integrity and maintain a secure, fully traceable chain of custody at all times.
Typical collection times from Felixstowe are:
• 12:00 for same day delivery (by 14:30) to Kent ME19 4YT (Monday to Saturday)
• 15:30-17:30 for next day delivery (by 10:30) to Hampshire PO5 4LL (Monday., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
Saturday collections and deliveries may also be needed. Sunday and Bank Holiday collections will not be required.
Volumes vary but currently average approximately 6 consignments per day to Kent and 4 to Hampshire.
Lot: 1
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En