---
title: "Forensic analysis of seized items in HMPPS settings"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04fe70"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04fe70"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fe70.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fe70.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF JUSTICE"
published: "2025-09-11"
---

# Forensic analysis of seized items in HMPPS settings

Buyer: MINISTRY OF JUSTICE  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04fe70

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04fe70)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fe70.json)

## Summary

The Ministry of Justice is in the planning stages for a procurement titled "Forensic analysis of seized items in HMPPS settings," which falls under the services category of the laboratory and analysis services industry. This project is essential for providing forensic analysis services in approximately 108 Public Prisons and 105 Approved Premises across England and Wales. The procurement process is currently in the planning stage, with a market engagement scheduled to run between 1st October and 6th October 2025, allowing interested suppliers to participate through one-on-one Teams calls. The potential contract is anticipated to start on 1st April 2027 and extend until 31st March 2030, with possible renewals. The Ministry's address is 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ, United Kingdom, with contact available via CommercialStandards@justice.gov.uk.

This tender provides substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in laboratory and analytical services, particularly those equipped with drug detection and analysis capabilities. Small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly encouraged to apply, as the procurement is suitable for SME participation. With a substantial budget, expected gross value of approximately £14.1 million, and covering a wide range of locations across England and Wales, it provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to expand their services into the public sector. Companies with a strong library of detectable substances and the ability to provide detailed forensic analysis will be well-suited to meet the needs of the Ministry of Justice in combating drug-related issues within correctional settings.

## Notice

This requirement is for forensic analysis for the presence of drugs, on items seized from HMPPS settings (including prisons and approved premises). At the time of publishing this Notice, it is anticipated the service requirement would be for approximately 108 Public Prisons and 105 Approved Premises across England & Wales, with a estimation of approximately 6000 total item submissions per annum. This is a guide only and is subject to change - no volumes will be guaranteed under the Contract. Subject to final specification design, it is envisaged that the contract would provide laboratory-based analysis of seized substances (liquid or solid) to identify the presence of: - Controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 - Substances under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 - Prescription and pharmacy medicines The intention is that the provider will hold a library of drugs that they can detect, including the drugs outlined in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 as well as other substances. Where the provider has a certified standard in their drugs library, the identity of the substance can be confirmed and where possible advise on the nature of any other substance that could be identified through analysis. The identification of substances will assist in tackling the conveyance and abuse of drugs inside prisons and approved premises and provide an evidential basis for adjudication proceedings.

### Planning Information

The Authority is keen to further engage with interested suppliers following the completion of a Market Engagement Questionnaire as part of a previous market engagement exercise undertaken in April 2025. 
This engagement will take the form of a 1-1 Teams call where the Authority will ask further questions to support with the development of the procurement for this Service, building on responses received from those who completed the initial questionnaire. Questions will be provided to interested parties within a suitable timeframe prior to the call to aid in preparation for it.
Interested suppliers are requested to email MoJProcurement.Off@justice.gov.uk in the first instance to receive a list of available times/dates which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Timeslots are currently available between 1st October and 6th October (inclusive) however, the Authority reserves the right to extend the deadline for engagement dependent on interest received and whether it deems that further market engagement is required.
This Market Engagement exercise does not commit the Authority to a formal procurement.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055910-2025 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Jan 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £11,750,000 |
| 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 | MINISTRY OF JUSTICE |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1H 9AJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71620000 - Analysis services
- 71900000 - Laboratory services

## Release History

- 11 Sep 2025 at 14:55 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055910-2025
- 20 May 2025 at 15:20 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023439-2025
- 8 Apr 2025 at 07:24 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013520-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055910-2025
  11th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023439-2025
  20th May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013520-2025
  8th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/procurement
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-04fe70. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fe70.json.