Forensic Procurement Project
The Police Service spends approximately £169m annually on external Forensic Analysis Services, making it the highest area of expenditure after salaries. With the emergence of the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) in April 2007, the lead role of the project transferred to NPIA from Kent Police. NPIA will oversee the tender process and implement the National Forensic Framework Agreement which will run for 4 years. The primary output from this procurement project will be a Framework Agreement for use by all Forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other qualifying organisations e.g. British Transport Police, Serious Organised Crime Agency. The Framework Agreement will offer the opportunity to save time and expense, and retain control of the selection and management of their suppliers, by running local mini-competitions. Following completion of the mini competition, the final contract will be between the force and the supplier. To create the national specifications for the Invitation to Tender, the project team has, as applicable, used the set of specifications created by the 'South West, North West and Wales' Forensic Tender. This has resulted in the following packages of forensic analysis services:
Background
The Forensic Science Procurement Steering Group (FSPSG) was formed to address procurement of this requirement. With representatives from the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Association of Police Authorities (APA) they have set the strategy. Framework Agreement
Agreements will be put in place to allow Forces to procure services via the Framework. This will avoid the need for each force or region to conduct individual OJEU procurement exercises.Specification of Requirements
1. DNA - PACE
2. DNA - Crime Scene Stains
3. Drugs
4. Fire Investigation
5. Footwear Marks
6. Casework - Gun Crime (A)
7. Casework - Homicide and Violent Crime (A)
8. Casework - Sexual Offences
9. Casework - Volume Crime
10. Questioned Documents
11. Road Traffic Incident/Collision Investigation
12. Toxicology
13. Casework - Gun Crime (B)
14. Casework - Homicide and Violent Crime (B)
Potential suppliers may bid for one, more than one, or all of the packages included on the Framework. Timescales
The table below outlines the procurement timetable.
Milestone
Date
Publication of the OJEU Contract Notice and Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
10 December 2007
(completed)
Bidder briefing event
20 December 2007 (completed)
Closing date for bidders to submit PQQs
1 February 2008 (completed)
PQQ evaluations
1 - 29 February 2008 (completed)
Issue Invitation To Tender (ITT) to long listed bidders
3 March 2008 (completed)
Closing date for ITT responses
16 April 2008 (completed)
ITT evaluations
17 April-20 June 2008 (completed)
Contract Award
July 2008 (completed)
Framework available to Police Service for mini competitions
August 2008 (completed)
Framework Service Providers
The table below details the Forensic Service Providers available for use through the Framework Agreement.
| Work Package | Forensic Service Provider |
|---|---|
| 1. DNA PACE | Central Science Laboratory Eurofins Genetic Services Ltd Forensic Science Service Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
| 2. DNA Crime Scene Stains | Eurofins Genetic Services Ltd Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
| 3. Drugs | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Mass Spec Analytical Ltd Scientifics Ltd |
| 4. Fire Investigation | First Forensic Ltd Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 5. Footwear Marks | First Forensic Ltd Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Napier Associates |
| 6. Casework - Gun Crime A | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 7. Casework - Homicide & Violent Crime A | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 8. Casework - Sexual Offences | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
| 9. Casework - Volume Crime | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
| 10. Questioned Documents | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 11. Road Traffic Incident/Collision Investigation | Forensic Science Service Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 12. Toxicology | Eurofins Genetic Services Ltd Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Mass Spec Analytical Ltd Randox Laboratories Ltd |
| 13. Casework - Gun Crime B | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
| 14. Casework - Homicide & Violent Crime B | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
Contacts
For more information, please contact the NPIA National Procurement Project Team:Mike Grogan - Project Manager
Ken Hemsley - Procurement Lead
Daniel Green - Supplier Relationship Manager