The Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark decided in 2016 to invite competition for the ministry’s sub-agreement with DTU in the veterinary field.
The task has been undertaken professionally and to the ministry’s satisfaction by DTU Vet to date. However, DTU has incurred significant annual losses performing these duties since 2007, and competition was invited under the same financial terms and conditions.
On 26 June 2017, after reviewing the competing offers, the Ministry of Environment and Food notified DTU that these duties will be transferred to the University of Copenhagen from the start of 2020, which plans to engage the services of Statens Seruminstitut to assist them.
"DTU would have liked to continue our close cooperation with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration on the veterinary contingency plan in Denmark, which is why we bid for the tender in the first place."
Provost Rasmus Larsen
"DTU would have liked to continue our close cooperation with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration on the veterinary contingency plan in Denmark, which is why we bid for the tender in the first place. DTU's solution required the establishment of a unique, national biosafety laboratory and stable facility. However, this was not possible to realize within the financial framework made available by the ministry," says Rasmus Larsen, Provost and Executive Vice President at DTU.
In May 2017, DTU informed the Ministry of Environment and Food that after 2019, DTU will not be able to perform the duties in a professional and satisfactory manner within the financial framework being offered by the ministry. This was in light of an increase in the costs and consequent suspension of the construction of the unique laboratory and pen facilities in Building 205A that DTU’s bid was based on. This outcome of the bidding and selection process was therefore expected.
DTU will undertake the duties until the end of 2019, when DTU’s current contract with the Ministry of Environment and Food expires.