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Provision of Laboratory Services for Testing of Alcohol Dependency

Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency

This public procurement record has 8 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

10 Aug 2026 at 15:33

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

20 Jul 2026 at 16:33

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

26 Mar 2026 at 15:35

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

24 Mar 2026 at 09:07

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

19 Mar 2026 at 13:53

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

18 Mar 2026 at 15:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

16 Mar 2026 at 10:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

09 Mar 2026 at 09:37

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency intends to buy laboratory services for testing alcohol dependency. The work covers analysis of blood specimens for phosphatidylethanol (PEth), using Dry Blood Spot (DBS) collection through a microsampling device. Suppliers must also support a contingency collection method for cases where a suitable DBS sample cannot be obtained. The contingency method is intended to obtain a blood specimen suitable for PEth analysis during the same appointment, through the examining Franchise Doctor, where possible. Services will be delivered across the United Kingdom. This is a laboratory testing service rather than a general clinical testing requirement, and is relevant to providers with PEth analysis, blood sample collection and accredited laboratory capabilities.

This procurement is at the planning stage and the buyer has not yet issued an invitation to tender. It is planned as one lot and is above the applicable threshold. The estimated value is £7,920,000 excluding VAT, or £9,504,000 including VAT. The anticipated contract period is 1 September 2028 to 31 August 2031, with a possible renewal extending the maximum period to 31 August 2034. The buyer expects the next notice to be published on 10 May 2027. Preliminary market engagement included a supplier event on 13 and 14 May 2026, following expressions of interest requested by 26 March 2026. The lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

The requirement will suit accredited laboratories and specialist diagnostic providers able to perform PEth testing from Dry Blood Spot samples at the required scale. Full accreditation must be held when bids are submitted, through either ISO 15189 or ISO/IEC 17025, specifically covering PEth Dry Blood Spot testing. UK suppliers should engage early with UKAS if they need to obtain new accreditation or extend their scope. Bidders will also need a fully validated and appropriately accredited contingency collection method, capable of producing a specimen of sufficient quality and quantity for PEth analysis. That method must be deployable by the examining Franchise Doctor during the same appointment. The buyer has indicated that smaller and social-enterprise suppliers may be suitable.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Laboratory Services for Testing of Alcohol Dependency

Notice Description

Provision of Laboratory Services for Testing of Alcohol Dependency for DVLA

Planning Information

Update to the Market Following the publication of a UK2 Notice on the 16th March 2026, expressions of interests were sought by the 26th March 2026 to allow participation in a Supplier Event. The Supplier Event took place on the 13th and 14th May 2026, with a presentation by the Authority and individual sessions with suppliers. The Supplier event provided a number of questions, should you wish to receive a copy of the Questions and Answers please contact Mandy Hodgson mandy.hodgson@dvla.gov.uk and Rhodri Llewellyn Rhodri.llewellyn@dvla.gov.uk . It is DVLA intension to procure a service for the Provision of Laboratory Services for Testing of Alcohol Dependency. To support market readiness, DVLA has deferred the publication of the ITT to the market to allow suppliers sufficient time to obtain any necessary extensions to scope or process accreditations prior to bidding. For Suppliers who would be testing within the UK, UKAS are aware of this procurement, and to best support any applications for new accreditation or additions to scope, early engagement from the supplier is advised as crucial. It will be a mandatory requirement that suppliers must hold full accreditation at the time of bid submission, to either ISO 15189 or ISO/IEC 17025, via PEth Dry Blood Spot testing. The Authority's selected sample collection method is Dry Blood Spot (DBS) via a microsampling device. Suppliers should note that certain customers may present as low or slow bleeders or otherwise be unable to provide an acceptable DBS sample despite all reasonable collection attempts being undertaken. Accordingly, Suppliers will be expected to provide, as part of their proposed solution, an accredited contingency collection method capable of obtaining a blood specimen suitable for PEth analysis where DBS collection is unsuccessful. The Authority's requirement is that the contingency method can be deployed by the examining Franchise Doctor during the same appointment, thereby minimising customer inconvenience and avoiding the need for repeat attendance wherever possible. Suppliers should ensure that any proposed contingency method is fully validated, appropriately accredited, and capable of providing a specimen of sufficient quality and quantity to support PEth analysis by the appointed laboratory.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0664ea
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075838-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71900000 - Laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£7,920,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
10 May 20278 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2028 - 31 Aug 2031 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWANSEA
Postcode
SA6 7JL
Postcode Area
Swansea
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL4 Mid and South West Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL43 Swansea
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swansea
Electoral Ward
Mynydd-bach
Westminster Constituency
Swansea West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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