A national procurement body for the emergency services has indicated that it is planning to set up a framework contract for crypto capabilities.
BlueLight Commercial – a membership organisation established by the Home Office and policing sector – has published a prior information notice (PIN) indicating the arrangement could be worth up to £60 million over its unspecified duration.
The move reflects concerns over the use of cryptocurrencies in money laundering and scams. Last month West Yorkshire Police reported that three people had been charged in relation to an investigation involving an estimated £120 million worth of cryptocurrency.
The PIN says it is currently seeking information from the digital asset software and services market to inform the procurement, but indicated that the framework will consist of two lots: storage and realisation for a software-as-a-service custody solution to store and realise digital assets; and track and trace for blockchain forensic analysis.
Need for flexibility
BlueLight Commercial also wants a flexible approach to licensing models, and solutions that can be used by different law enforcement bodies where different permissions may be granted and cases reviewed by senior management.
The organisation is aiming to begin the procurement in the first quarter of the next financial year.
Member organisations of BlueLight Commercial include the 40 police and crime commissioners of England and Wales, the College of Policing, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and British Transport Police.
