Provision of Laboratory Services for Testing of Alcohol Dependency

Update to the Market

Following the publication of a UK2 Notice on the 16th March 2026, expressions of interests were sought by the 26th March 2026 to allow participation in a Supplier Event. The Supplier Event took place on the 13th and 14th May 2026, with a presentation by the Authority and individual sessions with suppliers. The Supplier event provided a number of questions, should you wish to receive a copy of the Questions and Answers please contact Mandy Hodgson [email protected] and Rhodri Llewellyn [email protected] .

It is DVLA intension to procure a service for the Provision of Laboratory Services for Testing of Alcohol Dependency. To support market readiness, DVLA has deferred the publication of the ITT to the market to allow suppliers sufficient time to obtain any necessary extensions to scope or process accreditations prior to bidding. For Suppliers who would be testing within the UK, UKAS are aware of this procurement, and to best support any applications for new accreditation or additions to scope, early engagement from the supplier is advised as crucial.

It will be a mandatory requirement that suppliers must hold full accreditation at the time of bid submission, to either ISO 15189 or ISO/IEC 17025, via PEth Dry Blood Spot testing.

The Authority's selected sample collection method is Dry Blood Spot (DBS) via a microsampling device. Suppliers should note that certain customers may present as low or slow bleeders or otherwise be unable to provide an acceptable DBS sample despite all reasonable collection attempts being undertaken.

Accordingly, Suppliers will be expected to provide, as part of their proposed solution, an accredited contingency collection method capable of obtaining a blood specimen suitable for PEth analysis where DBS collection is unsuccessful.

The Authority's requirement is that the contingency method can be deployed by the examining Franchise Doctor during the same appointment, thereby minimising customer inconvenience and avoiding the need for repeat attendance wherever possible.

Suppliers should ensure that any proposed contingency method is fully validated, appropriately accredited, and capable of providing a specimen of sufficient quality and quantity to support PEth analysis by the appointed laboratory.