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R&D Vape Analysis

Home Office

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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29 Sep 2026 at 09:40

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Home Office commissioned research and development to assess whether existing Border Force technology can identify vape liquid and nicotine. The work tests and evaluates the application of Agilent Resolve SORS Raman spectroscopy technology to identifying vape liquids and determining nicotine content. It is a research laboratory services requirement, intended to establish the suitability of current equipment for this border-control use. The work is delivered in the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to the University of Kent, which signed the contract on 9 September 2026. The contract runs from 19 September to 28 November 2026. Its value is £1,259.84 excluding VAT and £1,511.81 including VAT. The requirement was handled as a below-threshold direct award without competition. There was one lot, covering the research and evaluation work as a whole. The published outcome identifies the selected supplier and confirms the contract is active.

For suppliers considering similar future Home Office research, this award shows demand for practical laboratory evaluation of technology used by Border Force. A credible competitor would need expertise in Raman spectroscopy, particularly Agilent Resolve SORS technology, and the ability to test whether it can identify vape liquids and assess nicotine content. Relevant strengths include designing and carrying out applied research, handling vape-liquid samples, evaluating detection capability, and producing evidence that supports operational decisions about existing border equipment. The selected provider is a large university, indicating that established research capacity was suited to this small, focused assignment. The buying route was a direct award without competition, so this outcome also demonstrates that this particular requirement was not openly competed.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

R&D Vape Analysis

Notice Description

Research and development activity to understand if current Border Force technology can identify vape liquid and nicotine. The project will test and evaluate whether existing Agilent Resolve SORS Raman spectroscopy technology can be applied to the identification of vape liquids and nicotine content.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077c07
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091664-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73111000 - Research laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,259 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
19 Sep 2026 - 28 Nov 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

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
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

University of Kent

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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.

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