Home Office acquires OSINT tools to curb boat crossings

The Home Office is preparing to procure a wide range of specialist open-source intelligence (OSINT) capabilities in a deal worth up to £33 million over three years, according to a preliminary market engagement notice published on the UK government’s procurement portal.

The planned contract will cover “open-source intelligence (OSINT), social media analysis, geospatial analysis of data and other capabilities”, with requirements described as “of a particularly sensitive nature”. The department says the future system must be “flexible, scalable and aligned with an evolving digital landscape and emerging threats to Border Security”.

Full details of the requirement will only be disclosed during a market engagement event to suppliers already registered on the Constellia Ltd Neutral Vendor Framework for Innovation (NVFi), which is used by the Ministry of Defence and other government bodies to accelerate procurement of new technology. The notice stresses that “all suppliers [must] be capable of handling Official Sensitive information” and that some may also be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement before taking part.

The NVFi, managed by Constellia, is described as “a Marketplace of pre-accredited Technology Providers which the MOD and pan-government participators can access… to drive innovation at pace and scale”. Suppliers must complete a full onboarding process, including security, quality management, cyber, insurance, and modern slavery compliance checks, as well as signing the Constellia Supplier Agreement and MOD addendum.

The Home Office says the OSINT contract would initially run from April 2026 to March 2028, with the option to extend by a further year. The estimated total value is given as “up to c£33 million if the contract is utilised for 3 years”. Officials want to ensure that the capability can be increased or scaled back depending on future demand.

The market engagement phase will explore “the most cost effective way to deliver the requirements, including any alternative or creative solutions”. This will include a virtual supplier event expected in early September 2025, followed by the possibility of questionnaires and one-to-one discussions with selected companies.

Interested suppliers must email the Border Force Maritime procurement team by 18 August 2025 to express interest, then complete NVFi onboarding by 25 August. The Home Office has confirmed that “the Constellia Neutral Vendor Framework for Innovation (NVFi) is the most appropriate route to market”, meaning only registered suppliers will be able to bid if the project goes to tender.

What is OSINT?

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) refers to the collection, analysis and exploitation of information that is publicly available from legally accessible sources. This can include news reports, public records, academic research, satellite imagery, and especially data drawn from the internet, such as social media posts, blogs and online forums. Modern OSINT increasingly relies on advanced digital tools to sift through and analyse large volumes of data, enabling analysts to identify patterns, detect emerging threats and support decision-making in both security and policy contexts.

Unlike classified intelligence gathering, OSINT leverages the sheer volume and immediacy of public information, often providing faster insight into rapidly developing situations. In the context of the Home Office’s planned procurement, OSINT capabilities will be combined with social media analysis and geospatial data analysis to strengthen UK border security.