Public security, law and order services

Tender description

This is a prior information notice to make the market aware of potential future requirements for the Home Office. If pursued, services are anticipated to commence from August 2020 onwards (subject to the Government’s social distancing requirements). The Home Office is keen to engage with potential suppliers who can provide a 24-hour dedicated canine body detection and search capability for a proof of concept pilot. Subject to the discretion of Home Office Border Force, the capability may not be required for more than 4 months, across two UK based pilot sites and any potential suppliers would need to be able to demonstrate proven training and experience and engage with a detailed evaluation process. Please email Antonia.Whiting1@homeoffice.gov.uk to express your interest in this future market engagement. Home Office Border Force is mandated to: deliver effective intervention in the case of known threats; maximise the detection of unknown threats; and facilitate border processes for legitimate travellers, goods and freight to and from the UK. In line with the need to continue to meet mandated requirements and optimal delivery against business needs, Home Office Border Force is looking to engage with potential suppliers who can provide a 24-hour dedicated canine body detection and search capability. Services may be required for a period of no more than four months, anticipated to commence from August 2020 onwards (subject to any further extension of the Government’s social distancing measures). Services would be required across two UK based pilot sites and would support and uplift existing Border Force National Detection Dog resourcing and deployment. Potential suppliers would need to: (i) provide a 24-hour dedicated canine body detection and search capability, to detect criminality at the border, across accompanied and unaccompanied RoRo freight; (ii) provide trained and experienced dogs and handlers to undertake body detection and search capability; and (iii) provide staff and processes that can deliver activities against a detailed evaluation process, to help determine the optimal port process for body detection and search capability and the effectiveness of such capabilities in detecting clandestines. It is likely that this will involve the checking of large volumes of vehicles and shipping containers, across a 24-hour period, so proven capability to deliver suitably trained body detection dogs is essential. This will support the testing of the optimal process for freight passing through detection and search capabilities to counter clandestine entry.