National Forensic Framework Agreement
The Framework Agreement, managed and supported by the NPIA, is primarily for use by all Forces in England. However, any other qualifying organisation or agency such as British Transport Police or the Serious Organised Crime Agency can use it. As part of the project for the National Forensic Framework the NPIA (working with ACPO, the Forensic Regulator, and Force representatives) developed standard product specifications for all products to be delivered under the framework. These product specifications are constructed as follows:
Lot 1 DNA pace
Lot 2 DNA crime Scene Stains
Lot 3 Drugs
Lot 4 Fire Investigations
Lot 5 Footwear Marks
Lot 6 Casework - Gun Crime (A)
Lot 7 Casework - Homicide and Violent Crime (A)
Lot 8 Casework - Sexual offences
Lot 9 Casework - Volume Crime
Lot 10 Questioned Documents
Lot 11 Road Traffic Investigation
Lot 12 Toxicology
Lot 13 Casework - Gun Crime (B)
Lot 14 Homicide and violent Crime B)
Forensic Service Providers on the Framework can deliver one or more Lot, but need to deliver all services contained within it.
Forces run mini-competitions within the framework on a regional basis. The NPIA provides a supporting role by providing of advice and guidance, interpretations of the product specification, and feedback from other mini-competitions.
Regions are made up as follows:
North East region - Durham, Cleveland, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Humberside
East Midlands Region - Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire Northamptonshire
West Midlands Region - West Mercia, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Warwickshire
Eastern Region - Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk
Met and CoL - Metropolitan and City of London
South East Region - Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Thames Valley Hampshire
The North West and South West regions are not currently covered by the National Forensic Framework Agreements. The North West/South West consortium purchase forensic services collaboratively under the North West South West consortium
The Framework is currently being re-opened to invite new providers to compete for a place on the Framework
Framework Service Providers
| Work Package | Forensic Service Provider |
| 1. DNA PACE | Eurofins Genetic Services Ltd Forensic Science Service Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
| 2. DNA Crime Scene Stains | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
| 3. Drugs | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Mass Spec Analytical Ltd Scientifics Ltd |
| 4. Fire Investigation | First Forensic Ltd Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 5. Footwear Marks | First Forensic Ltd Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Napier Associates |
| 6. Casework - Gun Crime A | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 7. Casework - Homicide & Violent Crime A | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 8. Casework - Sexual Offences | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
| 9. Casework - Volume Crime |
Forensic Science Service Ltd |
| 10. Questioned Documents | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 11. Road Traffic Incident/Collision Investigation | Forensic Science Service Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd |
| 12. Toxicology | Eurofins Genetic Services Ltd Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Mass Spec Analytical Ltd Randox Laboratories Ltd |
| 13. Casework - Gun Crime B | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
| 14. Casework - Homicide & Violent Crime B | Forensic Science Service Ltd Key Forensic Services Ltd LGC Forensics Ltd Orchid Cellmark Ltd |
Background
The Police Service in England and Wales spends approximately £169 million annually on external forensic analysis services, such as DNA, Drugs, Toxicology, Fibers, Glass etc, making it one of the highest areas of expenditure after salaries.
They recognised there was a need to reform the way in which it procured forensic analysis services, making the process more transparent and competitive. There was also a need to stabilise and develop the forensic market place.
The National Forensic Procurement Project was established during 2007 to formulate a strategy for future procurement of forensic analysis, to develop a standardised User Requirement, Specifications and Terms and Conditions and to subsequently undertake an EU procurement to select suppliers under a national framework agreement (NFFA).
The project was led by ACPO on behalf of the police service, supported and delivered by the NPIA. The project was completed on time and within budget. The EU procurement commenced on 10 December 2007 and was completed on 31 July 2008 with the award of 11 preferred suppliers onto the framework.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact the NPIA National Forensic Framework Agreement team:
Donna Harrison - National Forensic Framework Agreement Commercial Manager
John Armstrong - National Forensic Framework Agreement Science Manager
Email: NFFA@npia.pnn.police.uk
