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See other news storiesRequest for Proposal - A study and report on Drug Detection Technologies for Road Policing Applications
23 January 2008
HOSDB are carrying out a project to investigate the feasibility and possible development of a device that the police can use to screen drivers for drugs at the roadside; this requirement covers all drugs, classified, prescription, OTC and herbal types.
We require a study to be carried out to assess if there is any current technology (or technology available within the next five years) that would be capable of screening drivers at the roadside for drug ingestion. HOSDB are currently developing Raman Spectroscopy SERS technology for analysing human oral fluid and will be carrying out an international review of this approach during 2008, therefore this technology should be excluded from the study.
Background
The law does not permit drivers to drive while impaired. Although there are prescribed limits for alcohol, that can be objectively measured, there are no such limits for other known causes of impairment, such as drugs.
Research suggests that driving under the influence of drugs, particularly cannabis, is a growing problem. It is not proving easy to determine objective limits for drugs, primarily because of poly-drug use, but a practical method of screening for drugs or measuring impairment at the roadside would enable officers to identify those who are unfit to drive.
Legislation has recently been passed to permit roadside screening for drugs, so there is increased interest in this work, and potential questions on how to speed up its delivery.
In the absence of a suitable commercially available product, HOSDB’s goal is to develop a unit similar to the alcohol breathalyser, which the police can use to screen drivers for drug(s) impairment at the roadside. Work has already identified that the Surface Enhanced Raman technique (SERS) may be suitable for an oral-fluid based device and current studies have focused on amphetamines, cocaine and morphine sulphate in solution. The work is to be extended to look at other parent drugs and their major metabolites.
The Proposal
We are seeking your proposal to prepare a report giving the following information:
1. Identification of technologies that are, or would be, capable of screening for drugs and their major metabolites at the roadside (to exclude the Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)). The device or technique needs to be capable of screening for all drugs of impairment both legal and illegal.
2. A basic technical description of the technologies/devices.
3. A description, for each technology or device of how they do, and/or could, conform to the following:
3.1. Ease of use by a trained person and training requirements
3.2. Capability of conforming with the Type Approval Specification (to be supplied to the successful contractor) – implemented devices must conform with these requirements.
3.3. Availability of use now and timescale for future implementation, if appropriate
3.4. Its capability and ability to detect classified, non-classified and over-the-counter drugs (ideally as many as possible)
3.5. Cost issues (low £000s desired per device)
3.6. Its intrusiveness (must be non-intrusive)
3.7. Any legal/contractual/patent/cost issues that are/would be relevant to implementation.
The report should be written in such a way as to allow a technical reader, who is not an expert in the area, to follow clearly. Details of references, websites etc. should be included in full.
Procurement Issues
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please respond with the following information:
- CV of proposed contractor(s)
- Details of you or your organisation/institute’s experience in the relevant fields and with any similar projects
- Scope of work proposed
- Estimate of time required to complete work and full costs including any expenses with options.
- Any relevant supporting information
To ensure that the work progresses in the desired manner, the successful contractor will be required to attend meetings at the start and midway points of the contract.
The deadline for responses to this Request for Proposal to be received at HOSDB is the 11 February beyond which we expect to make a decision about which proposals we feel are the most suitable within a week. It is likely that the contract will be placed by February 20. Completion and receipt of the reports for any contracts placed as a result of the Request for Proposal is strongly desired by the end of March 2008 however consideration will be given to longer timescales.
Contractual Issues
To learn more about HOSDB’s remit and work please log on to our website at http://www.hosdb.homeoffice.gov.uk
This enquiry is strictly subject to contract, and any contract(s) placed as a result will be subject to Government conditions for Services as identified at: http://commercial.homeoffice.gov.uk/doing-business/terms-and-conditions/ (new window)
Please submit your proposal by the end of business on the closing date of the 11 February 2008 to:
Juliet Baker
HOSDB, Sandridge
St Albans
Herts, AL4 9HQ
Email: Juliet.baker@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 01727 815476
