CEFAS23-22 Contract for advice on ISO17025 accreditation for Belize laboratories

The Supplier will provide technical advisory services to assess the readiness and support progression of laboratories in Belize to achieve ISO 17025:2017 accreditation, as part of the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP).

The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) was announced this year as a key bilateral aid programme under the £500m Blue Planet Fund. OCPP objectives are to support countries to tackle marine pollution, support sustainable seafood practices and establish designated, well-managed and enforced Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Current analysis of marine pollution and water quality in Belize is stunted by both limited resources, a lack of cost recovery mechanisms of existing laboratories, and the outsourcing of certain analysis to laboratories outside of Belize.

The Supplier will provide services to assess the readiness, and support progress towards accreditation to ISO 17025:2017 for marine pollution testing laboratories in Belize, through:

1. Producing a self assessment document for initial assessment of lab readiness for accreditation.

2. Deliver an in-country workshop for key stakeholders on ISO 17025:2017 accreditation for testing laboratories.

3. Complete gap analysis via in-country visits to labs who wish to further evaluate the option of accreditation.