Efficacy of Visual Inspections at Detecting Non-Biosecurity Compliant Goods

Details

Tender Closed
RFx ID :	21223497
Tender Name :	Efficacy of Visual Inspections at Detecting Non-Biosecurity Compliant Goods
Reference # :	O - 405752
Open Date :	Wednesday, 3 July 2019 9:30 AM (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)
Close Date  :	Wednesday, 7 August 2019 2:00 PM (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)
Tender Type :	Request for Proposals (RFP)
Tender Coverage :	Sole Agency  [?]
Categories :	77000000 - Environmental Services 81000000 - Engineering and Research and Technology Based Services
Regions:	New Zealand
Exemption Reason :	None
Required Pre-qualifications :	None
Contact :	Amy McNabb 04 894 2691
Alternate Physical Delivery Address  :
Alternate Physical Fax Number  :
Agency Address :

This procurement relates to the purchase of research to design and conduct experiments to assess the performance (efficacy) of biosecurity visual inspection for pests on imported fruit and vegetables and assess how key variables may influence on the performance of visual inspection using the existing protocols. This research will support an extensive existing programme of visual inspections within the biosecurity systems at the pre-border, border and post-border space.

Visual inspection is an important tool in the management of biosecurity risks. Work completed by the USDA on inspection efficacy for fruit fly infestations suggests that actual inspection efficacies may be far less than expected. Research by the Centre of Excellency for Biosecurity Risk Assessment (CEBRA) in Australia was conducted to gain a better understanding using live pests. The findings could not be validated as the presence of the pests could not be confirmed at the time of inspection. Further anecdotal evidence from surveys completed by the MPI monitoring group suggests that existing expectations about the efficacy of visual inspection on many pathways may be too high.

There is a clear data gap regarding the performance of visual inspection and contributing variables. Further research on these aspects will provide confidence in our biosecurity visual inspection systems and provide solutions for their improvement, as applicable.

MPI is looking for credible providers who have the capability, experience, facilities and networks to deliver our requirements of visual analyses, efficacy testing and statistical analysis. Suppliers need to have a good track record in the management of similar research and sufficient resources to deliver the project on time.

This tender has been awarded.

• Plant and Food Research Ltd, - 120, Mt Albert Road, Sandringham, Auckland, 1025, NEW ZEALAND
  Value $ 199,243

Award Date: Thursday, 24 October 2019 (Pacific/Auckland UTC+13:00)
Date RFx was completed/updated: Wednesday, 7 August 2019 2:27 PM (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)