Home Office Market Request for information on Drug Detection for Novel Synthetic Opioids
Background
Home Office Science is responsible for delivering services to support the assurance of equipment used in frontline policing and other operational environments.
The Home Office is interested in hearing from tech companies and academia who have developed (or are researching) screening or identification tests for Novel Synthetic Opioids (such as nitazenes, fentanyl etc).
The solution should be aimed at identification of physical samples rather than for toxicology purposes or identification within human fluid. The device can be for a single drug or a wide range of compounds. Devices of most interest are those which are man-portable or transportable.
Of primary interest are tests currently on the market or close to launch, however the HO would also be interested in lower Technology Readiness Level solutions currently in development.
We are seeking information on those that could be used in all conditions, for example at low or high temperature conditions, or low light scenarios for example.
At this stage we are not interested in laboratory installed systems that require specialist operators such as GC-MS, NMR etc. Devices may be single use or multi use.
*This is a request for information and there is no planned procurement at this stage.
We have prepared a survey with some questions for those companies who have experience in the sector and have developed some screening or identification tests for Novel Synthetic Opioids. Find the survey at this link
Deadline to submit your information/answers – September 6th
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The RFI will ensure that information can be elicited from stakeholders in an open and transparent manner and that market capabilities can be understood and considered by the Home Office.
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) we might be asked to release the data that you have provided to us under a Freedom of Information request. Any individual has the right to request recorded information which is held by a public authority under the FOIA. The FOIA contains various exemptions and exclusions from the right of access to information that ensure a proper balance is achieved between the right to know, the right to personal privacy, the delivery of effective government, and other important private interests such as protection of commercial interests, and information provided in confidence.
Whilst the Department handles FOIA requests on a case-by-case basis, we shall consider engaging the relevant exemption(s) in the Act to withhold any information that may be commercially sensitive and/or where to release such information would be a breach of confidence but will respond to any FOI in accordance with the legislation.
If you want your response to be considered as commercially sensitive or as having been provided in confidence, please mark it as such but we cannot guarantee that the exemption(s) in the FOIA can be utilised in all circumstances.
Data that you tell us is commercially sensitive and provided in confidence will be stored securely and deleted once no longer required. All reports containing such data will be reported only in aggregate, anonymous form.
Cinzia Miatto
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
Ellie Huckle
Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.
Ella Gago-Brookes
Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.
Digital Justice updates
Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities on our work around Digital Justice from our Justice and Emergency Services programme.
