Planning

Biometric Testing and Assurance (BT&A) Services

HOME OFFICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 May 2026 at 12:34

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Home Office is currently in the planning stage of a public procurement process titled "Biometric Testing and Assurance (BT&A) Services" aimed at supporting the independent assessment of biometric and identity technologies. This procurement is set to take place in the United Kingdom and will involve specialist assurance services for biometric performance evaluations, with expected delivery spanning from 13 October 2026 to 13 October 2028. Interested firms are encouraged to participate in preliminary market engagement activities, including the completion of a Non-Disclosure Agreement by 5 June 2026. The services fall under the industry category of system quality assurance and biometric sensors, with a projected value of GBP 2.4 million.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in biometric systems and system quality assessment services to expand their operations. Companies that are adept in offering independent specialist assurance, particularly those evaluating security, fraud, and operational risks, would find this contract advantageous. The procurement process, accommodating small and medium-sized enterprises, offers potential for companies to secure a scalable assurance capability across various Home Office programmes. This flexibility ensures that successful companies can manage diversified tasks through specific statements of work, enhancing their growth in a competitive marketplace.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Biometric Testing and Assurance (BT&A) Services

Notice Description

Please Note: NDA must be signed for further detail, as described in Engagement Process below. The Home Office uses biometric and identity technologies to support remote identity verification in live and pre production environments. These technologies are inherently exposed to security, fraud and operational risks, creating a need for independent specialist assurance to provide confidence that biometric solutions perform as intended under realistic and adversarial conditions. The Authority intends to procure specialist assurance services to support the independent assessment of biometric and identity technologies used across the Home Office. The services are expected to provide evidence based evaluation of biometric performance, resilience and risk across relevant systems and use cases. The procurement is intended to enable a flexible and scalable assurance capability that can be applied across a range of programmes and use cases. Services would be delivered on an as required basis, with specific activities commissioned through individual statements of work. The anticipated core service areas are: 1. Biometric Algorithm Assessment 2. Adversarial Operation Assessment 3. Other Related Specialist Assurance Activity The scope of the services will be limited to independent assurance and assessment activities and will not include the design, development, implementation, optimisation, training, or operation of biometric systems. Further details on the requirements will be provided after a Non Disclosure Agreement has been signed and returned, in line with the process outlined in the engagement section below. Services are expected to be delivered within the UK, with on site attendance where required. The content of this notice, including scope, structure, value and timelines, is indicative and subject to change.

Planning Information

Note: Any previous expressions of interest, non disclosure agreements or prior participation in market engagement related to similar requirements will not automatically carry forward and may need to be renewed. Previous participation will not result in automatic inclusion in this preliminary market engagement or any subsequent tender process. It is the Authority’s intention to invite suppliers who express an interest in this engagement to complete an initial Supplier Questionnaire, subject to parties signing a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA). How to Express Interest 1. Register on the Home Office eSourcing Portal Suppliers must be registered on the Home Office eSourcing Suite to participate. If your organisation is not yet registered, please do so at: https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html Select the “To register click here” link and follow the instructions. Note: You must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun & Bradstreet) for the organisation that would enter into any subsequent contract. 2. Access and Complete the NDA Suppliers interested in participating in this preliminary market engagement should access the Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) using the link below. https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/go/34640065019DFD92BCF7 Completion and return of the NDA via the Home Office eSourcing Portal is a mandatory requirement of participation. Further information will not be provided unless the NDA has been completed and signed in the required format. 3. Access to Further Information Suppliers who have returned a signed NDA via the Home Office eSourcing Portal will be provided with access to further information, which will include a Background Note outlining the indicative scope of services and a Supplier Questionnaire to complete. Suppliers will be unable to participate in preliminary market engagement activities without returning a signed NDA via the Home Office eSourcing Portal. Note: This preliminary market engagement is indicative only and does not constitute a commitment to proceed with a procurement. Suppliers will not be reimbursed for participation. The Authority reserves the right to undertake further market engagement activities.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a13a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047888-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

35125110 - Biometric sensors

72225000 - System quality assurance assessment and review services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Jun 20261 day to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Oct 2026 - 13 Oct 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HOME OFFICE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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