Ausschreibungen

All prisons in England and Wales operate a programme of mandatory drug testing (MDT), for which urine samples are obtained from prisoners under controlled conditions and analysed by a contracted laboratory for the presence of illicit drugs. In support of the MDT programme an independent provider of external quality assurance is employed to ensure consistency of procedure and quality of urinalysis. MDT was first rolled out nationally in 1996/7 as a key part of the Prison Service's strategy of addressing drug supply reduction. The three main aims of MDT are to: - supply detailed information on patterns of drugs-misuse; - deter prisoners from misusing drugs – through fear of being caught and punished; - identify individuals in need of treatment. There are two types of MDT – targeted and random. Targeted testing includes “on reception”, “on suspicion”, “frequent” and “risk assessment” testing. Around 40,000 targeted tests are carried out annually. MDT delivery is the subject of a detailed practice manual, Prison Service Order 3601. Random testing takes place in all prisons. The random MDT positive rate is a NOMS Key Performance Indicator. Around 60,000 random tests are carried out annually. Compact Based Drug Testing (CBDT) also referred to as Voluntary Drug Testing (VDT) has an important role to play alongside the provision of drug treatment in prisons, particularly as a means of incentivising those in recovery. The primary purpose of CBDT programmes is therapeutically based and is intended to provide a supportive environment for those prisoners requiring the motivation to remain drug free. There is a clear distinction to be drawn between mandatory and compact based drug testing. Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT) is conducted to a level that provides proof beyond reasonable doubt and more serious sanctions can be imposed for that failure. The level of proof provided by compact based drug testing is that of the balance of probabilities. This is proportionate to the therapeutic aim of CBDT. There must be a clear separation between mandatory and CBDT. CBDT has a number of objectives including: - providing some reassurance that prisoners remain drug free; - to act as a measure of programme performance; - to act as a motivational tool; - to act as a deterrent; and - on failing a test, to act as a trigger point for a progress review. The number of prisons in England using the QA services is likely to continue to change as the new health and criminal justice reforms become embedded. Compact Based Drug Testing uses indicative drug testing kits which are proportionate to the therapeutic and incentive based aims of CBDT. The Authority is looking to change how CBDT is procured in this generation of contract due to the consistently changing requirement. It is intended that the provision for CBDT is to be quality assured. Similar urine samples are sent to prisons to be tested by the prison's CBDT staff. The samples sent to a particular prison are positive for the drugs that we know from its MDT results are misused there. The programme tests whether the kits purchased by the establishment are working effectively and also that staff are using the kits correctly. To date information received consistently shows CBDT kits to be accurate and reliable, and has uncovered some instances of staff using the kits incorrectly. The QA provider is to also assist NOMS in the retender of the main CBDT and MDT contracts by undertaking the scientific assessment of bids. In particular, they submit laboratories and equipment to blind challenges to ensure they have the analytical capability they claim to. During the last two tenders for CBDT and MDT contracts the QA provider has uncovered analytical deficiencies with bidders that have led to them being ruled out of the competition It is the intension of the Authority that the new contract will be in place by March 2013 with the duration being 48 months (4 years) in total awarded to a single operator of the service.

The Provision of Quality Assurance Services in Support of Mandatory and Voluntary Drug Testing which includes Compact Based Drug Testing Programmes.

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