Forensic analysis of seized items in HMPPS settings

This requirement is for forensic analysis for the presence of drugs, on items seized from HMPPS settings (including prisons and approved premises). At the time of publishing this Notice, it is anticipated the service requirement would be for approximately 108 Public Prisons and 105 Approved Premises across England & Wales, with a estimation of approximately 6000 total item submissions per annum. This is a guide only and is subject to change - no volumes will be guaranteed under the Contract.

Subject to final specification design, it is envisaged that the contract would provide laboratory-based analysis of seized substances (liquid or solid) to identify the presence of:

• Controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
• Substances under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016
• Prescription and pharmacy medicines

The intention is that the provider will hold a library of drugs that they can detect, including the drugs outlined in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 as well as other substances. Where the provider has a certified standard in their drugs library, the identity of the substance can be confirmed and where possible advise on the nature of any other substance that could be identified through analysis.

The identification of substances will assist in tackling the conveyance and abuse of drugs inside prisons and approved premises and provide an evidential basis for adjudication proceedings.