Outsourcing of Fingerprint Enhancement Casework

Single Source Agreement Award notification - no action to be taken

The Forensic Dept have identified the need to establish external service provision to support the effective and efficient reduction in the backlog of cases held in the Fingerprint Development unit and meet the accreditation to ISO17025 scrutinised by UKAS.

Awarded to Forensic Access Limited, who are the only accredited provider of this service and with whom we already have contractual relationship, relating to Histology/Pathology services to establish an MOU of requirements. This is historically a Niche service now provided by Forensic Access.

The technical nuances required around effecting the batch processing of fingerprint cases currently sat in an extended backlog requires this approach to ensure continuous, effective and efficient operation. This action will provide agreed service level turnaround times meeting technical requirements

Outsourcing in this manner will realise capacity to meet priority crime cases, in addition to complying with actions imposed by UKAS in maintaining accreditation to ISO 17025 as required by Forensic Science Regulation.

Forensic Science Regulation and Legislation require the use of accredited laboratories to process and capture fingerprint evidence. Compliance with the Forensic Science Regulator's Codes and ISO 17025 accreditation ensures quality of service.