---
title: "Supply of Portable Visual Inspection Devices inclusive of maintenance where applicable."
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-031eed"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-031eed"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031eed.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031eed.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT"
published: "2022-03-30"
---

# Supply of Portable Visual Inspection Devices inclusive of maintenance where applicable.

Buyer: SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-031eed

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## Summary

The Secretary of State for the Home Department is seeking to procure Portable Visual Inspection Devices, including maintenance, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Border Force (BF) in securing the UK borders. This tender falls under the goods category, specifically within the laboratory, optical and precision equipment industry. The procurement is currently in the planning stage, with an expression of interest deadline set for 17:00 GMT on 8th April 2022. Businesses are encouraged to express their interest to Vinny Gibbs at the designated contact email. The anticipated overall value of the procurement is £850,000, and delivery will take place within the UK.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialised in handheld technology and precision equipment, particularly those capable of offering commercial off-the-shelf solutions that meet stringent safety and functionality criteria. Companies with expertise in developing devices suitable for use in hazardous zones and extreme environments will find this tender especially relevant. The ability to provide robust, portable products capable of withstanding harsh conditions and offering technological innovation is essential for those looking to compete for this contract. Participating in this tender could serve as a gateway for further engagement with government contracts in the public safety sector.

## Notice

Border Force (BF) secures the border and promotes national prosperity by facilitating the legitimate movement of individuals and goods, whilst preventing those that would cause harm from entering the UK. BF Officers do this by inspecting goods in a range of environments that include but not limited to; freight consignments (ship and aircraft searches), roll-on, roll-off trailers, over high vehicles, and cars. Border Force is looking to procure a commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) contract for an existing handheld technology that is able to facilitate in the detection of illegal goods entering the UK in freight, vehicles, aircraft and other modes of transport, for general use and more specifically in volatile environments such as fuel tanks (Hazardous Zone Capability).

### Lot Information

Portable Visual Inspection Devices - General Use Capability

In order to aid Border Force in finding concealed goods the technology required must: * Be able to transmit an image to a lightweight handheld device from small, dark and potentially inaccessible areas within freight/roll-on roll-off traffic and aircraft and/or any other vehicle. * The insertion/distal tip needs to be small enough to fit into a gap of a maximum of 10mm in diameter. * The flexible tube that houses the camera needs to be a minimum of 0.9m, up to a maximum of 3m. * The camera at the end of the flexible tube should be able to offer a clear live image of a range up to 1m in low to no light areas, with a static field of vision of at least 90 degrees. * Be durable enough to work in temperatures ranging from -10 to 40 degrees. * Be robust enough to withstand 2m drops and still be fully operational. - Please provide evidence / details of any certification * Needs to be dust tight and waterproof - Please provide evidence / details of any certification * The method of image generation must be passive (the device does not emit energy to capture an image, other than a light source to illuminate dark spaces). Active methods, such as radioactive sources are not in scope. * Be robust, portable, and light enough to be used and operated by a single person. * Sufficient battery life to enable the camera to be used continuously for 5hrs or have a swappable battery pack. Border Force would also be interested in the below Capability: * Interchangeable scopes ranging in length between 1- 3m Please provide an estimate of the Capability's useful life expectancy, including any and all maintenance services required for the Capability to ensure devices are safely maintained.

Portable Visual Inspection Devices - Specialist Container Search

In order to aid Border Force in finding concealed goods the technology required must: * Be able to transmit an image from within containerised freight to a lightweight handheld device. -The insertion/distal tip needs to be small enough to fit into a gap measuring a maximum of 9.5mm in diameter. * The Capability should come with an application sleeve to be inserted into the 9.5mm gap before the Capability to protect the inspection camera from damage on entry and exit. * Be able to offer a clear colour live image from 2 - 13m in low to no light areas; this must include a light source. - It must also include the ability to take photos that can then be transferred via SD card * The protective insertion sleeve that houses the camera needs to be a minimum of 30cm. * Ability to give a 360-degree view of the inside of a container, this could be through: - Ability to manoeuvre the camera head 90 degrees up, down, left and right. - Alternatively, contain a dual camera on the end of the scope with the Capability to switch between the two to offer a 360-degree view. * Be durable enough to work in temperatures ranging from -10 to 40 degrees. * Be robust enough to withstand 2m drops and still be fully operational. - Please provide evidence / details of any certification * Needs to be dust tight and waterproof/submerged in water. - Please provide evidence / details of any certification * The method of image generation must be passive (the device does not emit energy to capture an image, other than a light source to illuminate dark spaces). Active methods, such as radioactive sources are not in scope. * Be robust, portable, and light enough to be used and operated by a single person. * Sufficient battery life to enable the camera to be used continuously for 5hrs or have a swappable battery pack. Providing all the points above are satisfied, with the exception of it being operational by a single person, Border Force are also interested in the possibility to: * Have the functionality to have a wireless system whereby the camera sends the live video to a handheld device for viewing. - The wireless functionality will need to be operational from a minimum of 5m away. Please provide an estimate of the Capability's useful life expectancy, including any and all maintenance services required or the Capability to ensure devices are safely maintained.

Portable Visual Inspection Devices - Hazardous Zone Capability

In order to aid Border Force in finding concealed goods the technology required must: * Be able to transmit an image to a lightweight handheld device from small, dark and potentially inaccessible and hazardous areas within freight/roll-on roll-off traffic and aircraft and/or any other vehicle. * Be able to be fully operational from inside potentially explosive environments including inside full fuel tanks without the risk of generating a spark which might trigger an explosion. - Please note what environments and fuel is not included or not possible. * The supplier should ensure that the device is suitably rated for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere. At a minimum this should include any parts of the equipment which will enter the space. * The Capability should not have an electrical current running through any component that will enter the hazardous environment. - The insertion/distal tip needs to be able to operate at a distance of at least 3 m from the opening being inspected. * Needs to be small enough to fit into a gap of up to 10mm in diameter. - The Capability should come with an application sleeve (no wider than 12mm diameter) to be inserted into the gap before the Capability to protect the inspection camera from damage on entry and exit. * Ability to manoeuvre the camera head without the use of an electrical current. * The flexible tube that houses the camera needs to penetrate the hazardous zone up to 1.5m. * Be able to offer a clear live image through hazardous liquids, such as petrol, from up to 1m away in low to no light areas, with a minimum field of vision of 90 degrees. * Be durable enough to work in temperatures ranging from -10 to 40 degrees. * Be robust enough to withstand 2m drops and still be fully operational. - Please provide evidence / details of any certification * Needs to be dust tight and waterproof/submerged. - Please provide evidence / details of any certification * The method of image generation must be passive (the device does not emit energy to capture an image, other than a light source to illuminate dark spaces). Active methods, such as radioactive sources are not in scope. * Be robust, portable and light enough to be used and operated by a single person. * Sufficient battery life to enable the camera to be used continuously for 5hrs or have a swappable battery pack. Border Force would also be interested in ATEX (or equivalent) rated electrical equipment that can achieve all of the above excluding non-electrical elements. -This can be achieved by the use of non-electrical equipment or suitably ATEX rated equipment. For ATEX rated equipment entering the fuel tank, it should be Cat 1 (Suitable for use on a Zone 0), Gas Group IIC. For non-electrical equipment parts, the manufacturer should confirm that the device could not give rise to a potential ignition source. o Please provide evidence / details of any certification - For ATEX rated equipment operating around the fuel tank, it should be Cat 3 (Suitable for use on a Zone 2), Gas Group IIC. o Please provide evidence / details of any certification Please provide an estimate of the Capability's useful life expectancy, including any and all maintenance services required for the Capability to ensure devices are safely maintained.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008570-2022 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Mar 2022 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 28 Aug 2022 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £850,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | Not specified |
| Postcode | N/A |
| Country | Not specified |
| ITL 1 | Not specified |
| ITL 2 | Not specified |
| ITL 3 | Not specified |
| Local authority | Not specified |
| Electoral ward | Not specified |
| Westminster constituency | Not specified |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

## Release History

- 30 Mar 2022 at 13:43 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008570-2022
- 7 Mar 2022 at 22:45 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006228-2022

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-031eed. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-031eed.json.