MEZE Replacement ULT Freezer

Contract to replace the existing ULT freezer has failed at the start of the field season, and existing storage capacity will be exhausted rapidly as new samples are collected. This poses a significant risk to vector-borne disease surveillance activities. Procurement of two replacement freezers via existing commercial routes has been delayed since August 2025. Approval of this application would enable expedited acquisition through a contract variation, mitigating disruption to critical surveillance work. This procurement would increase the total freezer requirement within the CCHS from the two freezers currently being procured to three in total, once this new requirement is added.