Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: 047888/S 000-2026
Nature of contract: Service contract
Procedure: Not specified
Regulation of procurement: Not applicable
Type of bid required: Not applicable

UKPGA UK2: Preliminary Market Engagement Notice

I) Contracting Authority/Entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: Home Office
National registration number: PWGC-6513-PQLZ

Postal address: 2 Marsham Street
Town: London
Region: Westminster
Postal code: SW1P 4DF
Country: United Kingdom

Email: name@homeoffice.gov.uk

I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Public authority – central government

II) Object
II.1.1) Title
Biometric Testing and Assurance (BT&A) Services
Reference number: ocds-h6vhtk-06a13a

II.1.3) Type of contract
Services

II.1.4) Short description
Please Note: NDA must be signed for further detail, as described in Engagement Process below.
The Home Office uses biometric and identity technologies to support remote identity verification in live and pre production environments. These technologies are inherently exposed to security, fraud and operational risks, creating a need for independent specialist assurance to provide confidence that biometric solutions perform as intended under realistic and adversarial conditions.
The Authority intends to procure specialist assurance services to support the independent assessment of biometric and identity technologies used across the Home Office. The services are expected to provide evidence based evaluation of biometric performance, resilience and risk across relevant systems and use cases.
The procurement is intended to enable a flexible and scalable assurance capability that can be applied across a range of programmes and use cases. Services would be delivered on an as required basis, with specific activities commissioned through individual statements of work.
The anticipated core service areas are:
1. Biometric Algorithm Assessment
2. Adversarial Operation Assessment
3. Other Related Specialist Assurance Activity
The scope of the services will be limited to independent assurance and assessment activities and will not include the design, development, implementation, optimisation, training, or operation of biometric systems. Further details on the requirements will be provided after a Non Disclosure Agreement has been signed and returned, in line with the process outlined in the engagement section below.
Services are expected to be delivered within the UK, with on site attendance where required. The content of this notice, including scope, structure, value and timelines, is indicative and subject to change.

II.1.5) Estimated Total Value
Value (including VAT)
2,400,000
Value (excluding VAT)
2,000,000
Currency
GBP

II.2) Description
II.2.1) Title
Contract/Lot No
1

II.2.2) CPV codes
Main CPV codes
35125110
72225000

II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code
UK – United Kingdom

II.2.7) Contract dates (estimated)
Start
2026-10-13 00:00
End
2028-10-13 23:59
Duration
2 years 1 day
Possible extension
2029-10-13 23:59
Extended duration
3 years 1 day
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes

III) Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

VI) Complementary information
Link to source/bidding documents

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
2026-05-22 13:34

VI.6) Engagement information
Engagement deadline
2026-06-05 23:59
Engagement process description
Note: Any previous expressions of interest, non disclosure agreements or prior participation in market engagement related to similar requirements will not automatically carry forward and may need to be renewed. Previous participation will not result in automatic inclusion in this preliminary market engagement or any subsequent tender process.
It is the Authority’s intention to invite suppliers who express an interest in this engagement to complete an initial Supplier Questionnaire, subject to parties signing a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
How to Express Interest
1. Register on the Home Office eSourcing Portal
Suppliers must be registered on the Home Office eSourcing Suite to participate. If your organisation is not yet registered, please do so at:

Select the “To register click here” link and follow the instructions.
Note: You must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun & Bradstreet) for the organisation that would enter into any subsequent contract.
2. Access and Complete the NDA
Suppliers interested in participating in this preliminary market engagement should access the Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) using the link below.

Completion and return of the NDA via the Home Office eSourcing Portal is a mandatory requirement of participation. Further information will not be provided unless the NDA has been completed and signed in the required format.
3. Access to Further Information
Suppliers who have returned a signed NDA via the Home Office eSourcing Portal will be provided with access to further information, which will include a Background Note outlining the indicative scope of services and a Supplier Questionnaire to complete.
Suppliers will be unable to participate in preliminary market engagement activities without returning a signed NDA via the Home Office eSourcing Portal.
Note: This preliminary market engagement is indicative only and does not constitute a commitment to proceed with a procurement. Suppliers will not be reimbursed for participation. The Authority reserves the right to undertake further market engagement activities.