Procurement at Cefas
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-10)

Details of Cefas purchasing arrangements and information for those looking to become a supplier or contractor.

Contents
- Changes to procurement at Cefas
- Contract opportunities (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/centre-for-environment-fisheries-and-aquaculture-science/about/procurement#contract-opportunities)
- How to become a supplier
- Sustainable procurement (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) at Cefas
- Contact us (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/centre-for-environment-fisheries-and-aquaculture-science/about/procurement#contact-us)
Cefas uses external suppliers for goods, services and works including:
- technical goods and services
- corporate services
- research and development
- ICT
- properties
Changes to procurement at Cefas

The Procurement Act 2023 is new legislation that will change the way the public sector buys goods and services. It aims to:
- create a simpler and more flexible commercial system
- open up public procurement to new entrants
- take tougher action on underperforming suppliers
- embed transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle
The changes come into effect from 24 February 2025.

The previous legislation (PCR2015) will only apply to procurements and contracts that started before this date.

The new features for suppliers include:
- a central digital platform
- a simplified bidding process
- more flexible commercial frameworks
- a new duty on contracting authorities to consider barriers facing SMEs and VCSEs
- a stronger exclusions framework
What suppliers need to do

If you are a supplier, you should:
- read the The Procurement Act 2023: A short guide for suppliers (HTML) - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/the-procurement-act-2023-a-short-guide-for-suppliers-html)
- watch the Government Commercial Function knowledge drops (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-official-transforming-public-procurement-knowledge-drops)
- access the dedicated Transforming Public Procurement page for suppliers (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/information-and-guidance-for-suppliers) with detailed guides and training videos on how to use and register for the Central Digital Platform (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk)
- read the Government Commercial Function Central Digital Platform factsheet (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/central-digital-platform-factsheet-html#:~:text=1.-,What%20is%20Find%20a%20Tender%2C%20the%20central%20digital%20platform%3F,input%20their%20commonly%20used%20information.) and sign up to the platform (from the 24th February)
- sign up for regular transforming public procurement updates (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMgwpZ1kwubGUpKMLwu0ZpHS8zdWmXKgaHUJKRl-SwqQT95w/viewform)
If you are an existing or potential supplier to Cefas and are invited to participate in a framework call-off where the framework was let prior to 24th February 2025, you will continue to be subject to the Public Contracting Regulations (PCR2015) until the contract ends.

If you have a question about the new procurement act, contact the Transforming Public Procurement helpdesk at: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

If you have any other questions, contact us (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Contract opportunities

We are keen to offer under-represented businesses such as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) the same opportunities to compete for our contracts as other qualified suppliers. We widely publicise our procurements on the following websites:
- Find a Tender Service (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk) (Central Digital Platform) – Under the Procurement Act 2023 this is where all UK contracting authorities are required to publish information about contracting opportunities.
- Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder) - was the main source of government contracting opportunities available to the open market, worth more than £10,000 (exc. VAT) under the previous regulations (PCR2015) and as such will remain in place (until we are advised otherwise) for any contracts let under PCR2015.
We recommend you read our Short form Terms and Conditions (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/short-form-terms-and-conditions).

Further information relating to Cefas’ purchasing arrangements can be found on Procurement at Defra (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs/about/procurement).

How to become a supplier

As detailed above, Cefas will publish details of opportunities that are open to all suppliers. Detailed instructions on how to apply will be outlined in the relevant notice. You will need to register on the Government’s Central Digital Platform (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk) and on Cefas’s eProcurement portal (https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome) (these are two different platforms and you will need to register for both).

Sustainable procurement at Cefas

Cefas is committed to procuring sustainably in accordance with the following policy statements and commitments:
- Cefas Sustainability Policy (https://www.cefas.co.uk/media/wiihn4vt/cpp0031-environmental-policy_v3.pdf)
- Cefas Environmental Policy (https://www.cefas.co.uk/media/wiihn4vt/cpp0031-environmental-policy_v3.pdf)
- Greening government commitments (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greening-government-commitments-2021-to-2025/greening-government-commitments-2021-to-2025)
- Government Buying Standards (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sustainable-procurement-the-government-buying-standards-gbs)
To support its’ aims, Cefas seeks to minimise its own environmental impact. We aim to incorporate sustainable development into our thinking and our actions. Suppliers will be expected to give consideration to social value, environment and sustainability when tendering for contracts at Cefas.

The government’s commitments for 2021 to 2025 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce waste, reduce water usage and procure more sustainably are set out in Greening Government Commitments: Procuring sustainable products and services (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greening-government-commitments-2021-to-2025/greening-government-commitments-2021-to-2025#d-procuring-sustainable-products-and-services)

Prompt Payment to Cefas Suppliers

From April 2026, and in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 legislation, Cefas will publish UK17 Payment Compliance Notices on Find a Tender Service (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk). The data will cover payment performance information from 1st September 2025.

Prompt payment reporting data up to 31 August 2025 is as follows:

Cefas suppliers must send invoices by post to:

Finance Transactions Team Cefas Laboratory Pakefield Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 0HT

Or by email to:

xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Contact us

You can contact us by emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Cefas ProcurementCefas LaboratoryPakefield RoadLowestoftSuffolkNR33 0HT

We value feedback from existing and prospective suppliers and always look to improve procurement processes and customer–supplier relationships. If you are a current, or prospective, supplier and would like to provide feedback on our procurement processes, please contact our Procurement Team. Any feedback you provide will have no influence whatsoever on your involvement in any future tendering opportunities with Cefas or any other contracting authority, however, we will always try to address any issues that are raised where we feel we can improve what we do.