Published date: 7 February 2024

Closed early engagement


Closing date: 29 February 2024

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73000000

Location of contract

South East

Procurement reference

NovecTM HFE7100 Replacement Solvent

Published date

7 February 2024

Closing date

29 February 2024

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

SUMMARY

1. We are looking for a replacement for NovecTM HFE7100 that is compatible with fingermark development techniques that target amino acids. We are looking for information on potential solvents that exist on the current market with the desired properties.
2. Additionally we are interested in parties that would be willing to collaborate with us to further develop their existing replacement product to fit our requirements.
3. We are interested in parties that would be willing to develop a new replacement product to fit our requirements.


BACKGROUND

HFE 7100 has been the carrier solvent recommended by the Fingermark Visualisation Manual (FVM) for both amino acid reagent techniques, Indandione and Ninhydrin. These techniques are the two most prominent techniques used by UK Police to treat porous items and has been reported to be used on up to 50% of items submitted to Fingermark Enhancement Laboratories.
In addition to the discontinuation of HFE 7100, a proposed restriction of PFAS chemical manufacture is being considered by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). These potential restrictions have a significant impact on reformulations of the two porous techniques.
Some of our international counterparts currently use flammable solvents such as Petroleum Ether in their formulations. The UK want to avoid using the flammable solvent approach due to the safety and cost implications that would entail. The amount of work and investment in to make current Fingermark Enhancement Laboratories suitably to work with a flammable formulation would not be a viable option for many police forces and would result in the loss of the capability in numerous areas, requiring outsourcing and potential backlogs.

Our current formulations are as follows:
Indandione formulation
0.25g 1,2 - Indandione
45ml Ethyl acetate
45ml Methanol
10 mL Acetic acid
1 L HFE 7100
1 mL Zinc Chloride Stock Solution

Zinc Chloride Stock Solution
0.1 g Zinc chloride
4 mL Ethyl acetate
1 mL Acetic acid

Ninhydrin formulation
52 mL Ninhydrin Concentrated Solution
1 L HFE7100

Ninhydrin Concentrated Solution
5 g Ninhydrin
5 mL Acetic acid
45 mL Ethanol
2 mL Ethyl acetate

SUBMIT INTEREST AND FEEDBACK

Please send interest and feedback to jamcdonald@dstl.gov.uk.
Please ensure to review the sensitivity and exposure liability of the feedback you provide to the Authority. Anything discussed via this post is non-committment and subject to contract.

About the buyer

Contact name

Dstl Commercial Services CT&S Division

Address

Porton Down
SALISBURY
SP40JQ
England

Telephone

01980 950000

Email

CTS-Transparency@dstl.gov.uk