Orchid Cellmark Inc. (Nasdaq:ORCH), a leading international provider of identity DNA testing services, today announced that it has now started work for five U.K. police forces in the East Midlands region, under contracts awarded following the latest National Forensic Procurement regional tender. The total estimated annual value of the combined contracts is approximately (U.S.) $1.2 million (at the current exchange rate).
Each three-year contract, extendable for an additional seven years, is to conduct DNA analysis of crime scene samples for submission to the National DNA Database. Cellmark was awarded 100% of the work tendered as the 'DNA Crime Scenes package' for all five forces that participated in this regional tender. Derbyshire Constabulary, Leicestershire Constabulary, Lincolnshire Police, Northamptonshire Police and Nottinghamshire Police are all new customers for the company and their DNA samples will now be processed at Cellmark's Abingdon laboratory facility.
Thomas Bologna, Orchid Cellmark's president and chief executive officer said, "This award marks an expansion of the company's footprint across the U.K., connecting us with police forces we have not previously worked with. We are delighted with our success in this latest tender which is part of the ongoing UK police national procurement exercise."
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