Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

BLC0339 - Drug Test on Arrest Scheme

Police And Crime Commissioner For Durham

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Tender

24 Aug 2026 at 11:15

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

20 Jul 2026 at 16:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

20 Jul 2026 at 15:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

15 Jul 2026 at 11:58

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham is seeking a force-area-wide, centralised drug testing on arrest service for custody settings. Blue Light Commercial is running the procurement on behalf of the Commissioner and Durham Constabulary. The requirement covers drug testing carried out when people are arrested and held in custody, including medical analysis and associated health, community health and rehabilitation services. Delivery is across the Durham police force area, including County Durham and the Tees Valley. This is a services contract rather than a supply or construction opportunity. The procurement is classified under health and social work services, health services, medical analysis services, rehabilitation services and community health services. It may suit organisations already delivering clinical or analytical testing services for police, custody or related public-sector environments.

The process has reached tender: the buyer has invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. It is a single-lot procurement under the light-touch regime. Questions must be submitted by 7 September 2026 at 4:00pm, and tenders must be submitted by 14 September 2026 at 12:00 noon. Responses must be made electronically through the Sell2BlueLight e-tendering portal using its “submit return” function. The contract is scheduled to run from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2028, with a possible extension to 30 April 2029, subject to future funding, governance arrangements and commissioning approval. The estimated overall value is £220,000 excluding VAT and £264,000 including VAT, in GBP. Evaluation is 60% quality, 10% social value and 30% price.

This opportunity is suited to suppliers with an established capability in drug testing linked to arrest and custody, including medical analysis, clinical health services, community health provision or rehabilitation support. The successful organisation will need to deliver a centralised service across a police force area, so relevant operational capacity, dependable staffing, secure handling of sensitive information and the ability to provide consistent coverage across multiple locations will be important. Experience of working with police forces, custody suites, justice services or other public-sector commissioners would place a supplier well. The single lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, widening the potential market beyond large national providers. Suppliers should also be able to evidence service quality and social value alongside competitive pricing.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

BLC0339 - Drug Test on Arrest Scheme

Notice Description

This Invitation to Tender ("ITT") has been issued by BlueLight Commercial who are seeking to award a Contract for the provision of force area wide, centralised custody Drug Testing on Arrest service. This contract is being tendered on behalf of Durham Police and Crime Commissioner and Durham Constabulary.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Subject to future funding, governance arrangements, and agreement by the relevant commissioning body at that time.

Planning Information

Please visit https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/home to register on the Durham Police e-tendering platform. Once registered, please navigate to Portals in the top right of the screen and log in to Durham Police Portal.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cbcb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080244-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

85100000 - Health services

85148000 - Medical analysis services

85312500 - Rehabilitation services

85323000 - Community health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£220,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£220,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
14 Sep 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
23 Jul 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2026 - 30 Apr 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Police And Crime Commissioner For Durham
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5TT
Postcode Area
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC1 Tees Valley and Durham, TLC14 Durham
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate & Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

Loading OCDS record...