HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Reducing DNA Contamination Risk in Forensics Work
10 July 2025
Summary of Challenge
Techniques to cut the risk of DNA contamination are being sought in the latest challenge launched by HMGCC Co-Creation.
The team is looking for effective solutions for cleaning DNA from items for use in mobile forensics facilities, to reduce the risk of contamination.
In this challenge, we want to hear from forensics specialists who understand biomaterial decontamination. This challenge could involve exploring the adaption of existing technology that may be used in other sectors, or new ideas on how to effectively and safely clean or decontaminate DNA.
Organisations are being asked to apply if, over a 12-week period, they can develop and demonstrate technology to meet this challenge. HMGCC Co-Creation will provide funding for time, materials, overheads and other indirect expenses.
Context of Challenge
There are many reasons why the technical solutions that HMGCC manufactures for national security need high levels of cleanliness.
These reasons can range from the types of use, which could include building clean components for space and satellite applications, providing clean room guidance, or simply the need to avoid DNA cross contamination when working closely with law enforcement.
Traditionally DNA profiling is carried out in a dedicated laboratory run by an accredited forensic science provider, but advances in mobile ‘rapid’ DNA capabilities now allow for mobile solutions to be deployed in non-laboratory settings.
The gap
The effective cleaning of laboratory environments is a key recommendation by the UK Forensic Science Regulator [1]. So, the act of carrying out DNA profiling with mobile, ‘rapid’ systems means special consideration has to be made to contamination risk.
Cleaning is needed for everything from consumables to tools, electronic equipment, and potentially whole rooms, including porous and non-porous materials. These items need to be cleaned of residual DNA without effecting their functionality.
Traditional cleaning methods, such as hypochlorite bleach or isopropanol alcohol (IPA) can fall short of cleanliness requirements and risk damaging equipment.
Whilst the market is awash with chemicals and guidance, there is still the need for a simple, quick, cost-effective mechanism for the decontamination of tools and products, capable of being used by non-forensic specialists.
[1] Forensic Science Regulator: DNA contamination controls: laboratory
Dates
- Competition opens: Monday 9 June 2025
- Online briefing call: Tuesday 24 June 2025 at 11am
- Clarifying questions submission deadline: Tuesday 24 June 2025
- Clarifying questions published: Tuesday 1 July 2025
- Competition closes: Tuesday 10 July 2025 at 5pm
- Applicant notified: Thursday 24 July 2025
- Pitch day in Milton Keynes: Thursday 31 July 2025
- Commercial onboarding begins: Friday 8 August 2025
- Target project kick-off: Monday 1 September 2025
Eligibility
This challenge is open to sole innovators, industry, academic and research organisations of all types and sizes. There is no requirement for security clearances.
Solution providers or direct collaboration from countries listed by the UK government under trade sanctions and/or arms embargoes, are not eligible for HMGCC Co-Creation challenges.
Routes to apply
HMGCC Co-Creation is working with a multiple and diverse set of community collaborators to broadcast and host challenges. Please follow this link for the full list of community collaborators.
If possible, please submit applications via a community collaborator.
If the community collaborator does not host an application route, please send applications directly to cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk including the challenge title with a note of the community collaborator where this challenge was first viewed.
All information you provide to us as part of your proposal, whether submitted directly or via a collaborator platform, will be handled in confidence.
How to apply
Applications must be no more than six pages or six slides in length. HMGCC Co-Creation reserve the right to stop reading after 6 pages if this limit is breached. The page/slide limit excludes title pages, references, personnel CVs and organisational profiles.
There is no prescribed application format, however, please ensure your application includes the following:
This information may be exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
and may be exempt under other UK information legislation. Refer any FOIA queries
to the originating department.
- Applicant details: contact name, organisation details, and registration number
- Scope: describe how the project aligns to he challenge scope
- Innovation: describe the innovation and technology intended to be delivered in the project, along with new IP that will be generated or existing IP that can be used
- Deliverables: describe the project outcomes and their impacts
- Timescale: detail how a minimum viable product will be achieved within the project duration
- Budget: provide project finances against deliverables within the project duration
- Team: key personnel CVs and expertise, organisational profile if applicable
Challenge documents
