Liverpool City Council on behalf of the Collaborative Authority has run a procurement process to set up a framework agreement for DNA, drugs and alcohol testing services.

The framework will be available for the use of Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool City Region Local Authorities including Sefton Borough Council, Wirral Borough Council, St Helens Borough Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Halton Borough Council.

The Collaborative Authority must meet a range of statutory obligations to ensure that decisions about children are made using robust information. Often this information is obtained through a range of forensic tests and expert assessments to support care planning decisions.

Forensic testing (a term used to cover DNA, drug and alcohol testing) is used to help inform decision making, particularly in regard to the safeguarding of children. These tests are typically carried out before going to court, during care proceedings or are ordered by the court.

The framework will be broken down as follows:

Lot 1: DNA Testing (Adults, Children’s and Legal Services);

Lot 2: Drug and Alcohol Testing (Adults, Children’s and Legal Services);

Lot 3: Drug Testing (LCC Taxi Licensing Unit).

The Collaborative Authority has appointed 3 suppliers per lot, to carry out all forensic testing services (DNA, Drug and Alcohol) across the Liverpool City Region.

DNA sampling and testing.

Drug and alcohol sampling and testing.

Drug sampling and testing (LCC Taxi Licensing Unit).