Research requirements

The Food Standards Agency commissions research and survey work on a contract basis to develop and support its policies. The Agency does not provide research grants or support for basic academic research.

The Agency publishes its requirements for new research, surveys and programme advisers as either one-off individual requirements ( 'ad hoc' calls for proposals) or collated as Research Requirements Documents (RRD).

This website will be updated as new tender requirements are issued. In addition, to receive direct email notification when new requirements are published (aswell as occasional information relating to other science and evidence work of potential interest), researchers should send their email address to: cst@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk, quoting 'Research e-newsletter' and supply the following information:

• Title
• First name
• Surname
• Job title
• Name of the organisation
• Postal address
• Email

This information is required in for us to add you to our Stakeholder Database.

Not all research areas will be covered in every RRD, but, this does not mean that we will not commission further work in that area.

Where the Agency has current requirements, these will be classified under the respective programme heading and shown below under 'Find out more'. For summaries of past and current Agency-funded projects and reports where available, view research programmes.

The 'research requirements background and instructions document contains important information for all applicants interested in responding to any of the Agency’s requirements. The Agency will evaluate all proposals using the standard criteria which are described in this document. Other associated documents, including the Agency's contractual terms and conditions, that are necessary to make an application are available in the standard application form and guidance pack. These documents can be found at the links below.