2020 Fire Appendix for the Forensic Science Regulator

The Forensic Science Regulator (the Regulator) publishes a Codes of Practice and Conduct for forensic practitioners and now requires an appendix for this document on forensic fire scene investigation. The appendix to be produced is to assist forensic units to understand the requirements and aims ISO/IEC 17020, ILAC G19, RG 201 and the Forensic Regulator's Codes of Practice and Conduct for the discipline of forensic fire scene inspection / investigation. The invitation to tender is not to assess the applicability of the standards selected, and although the literature review may identify gaps in industry wide knowledge, this is not a commission for a report with recommendations. The appendix is intended to put each specific section of Forensic Regulator's Codes of Practice and Conduct, standards and related guidance into context. To write this document, subject matter expertise is required, as is familiarity with the Regulator's Codes of Practice and Conduct, as well as familiarity with relevant international standards and related guidance. The total time for the selected organisation to complete the task is expected to be three to six months. During this time the requirement is to perform a short practice/literature review (approximately 1,000 words), present the findings to specialist group set up by the Regulator, and then write the appendix (typically 5,000-10,000 words).

To participate in this opportunity, you must first register your organisation to the new Home Office eTender portal through which this tender will be run The link is: https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html. Please note from this home page the details of the eSourcing Helpdesk should you have issues with registration or submitting a response once the tender is live. Please ensure that you complete registration to the portal AND confirm your successful registration by emailing HOSprocurement@homeoffice.gov.uk no later than 12:00, Friday 18th September 2020. Please in the subject line of your email reference "C18566". When the tender is ready to be published, you'll receive an automated alert and be able to enter the tender tool to respond to this opportunity.

About the buyer:

Sandra Wyllie

Address

Peel Building, Marsham Street LONDON

SW1P4DF

England

Email

HOSprocurement@homeoffice.gov.uk

Additional information: The Forensic Science Regulator's "Codes of Practice and Conduct" (the Codes) set out the core requirements for forensic science provision to the Criminal Justice System of England and Wales and provides the regulatory framework. The regulatory framework often requires formal accreditation to an international standard, international standards such as ISO/IEC 17020 are generic to a range of industries and therefore need to be supplemented by specific forensic science and jurisdictional requirements. The Regulator has determined that the international standard ISO/IEC 17020, the international guidance document ILAC G19 and the Codes are applicable for the assessment of fire investigation activities. Although the Codes form the core requirements, discipline specific appendices are sometimes also required to put these core requirements into context and set out assessment expectations and to assist the accreditation body in assessing organisations competence to deliver reliable results. The Regulator has identified the requirement for a specific appendix for forensic fire scene investigation. Such appendices are written to follow the Codes, the relevant international standard, ILAC G19 and for scene activity the United Kingdom Accreditation Service's document RG-201. These set out what is required to be demonstrated in a specific discipline, but they do not replace the need for the implementing practitioner to refer to the Codes, the international standard, RG-201 and ILAC G19.