Procurement
This section of the website contains current information on the Fire Commercial Transformation Programme (FCTP) as well as numerous resources for Fire Procurement/Commercial staff across the sector. Much of this is open for anyone to view, but some areas have been restricted and are only available to the FRS Procurement/Commercial community.
If you have any questions, please contact Tina Butler
Fire Commercial Transformation Programme (FCTP) Programme Documentation
On the 6th July 2017 Ann Millington presented a Fire Commercial Transformation Programme (FCTP) update paper to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The FCTP asked the NFCC to endorse and approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was approved and the FCTP have now asked all CFO’s to sign on behalf of their FRS. The purpose of the MoU is to provide clarity on the roles and responsibilities of both the FCTP and individual FRSs. The MoU states that:
- The FCTP and FRSs are committed to excellence in fire and rescue commercial/procurement activity, increasing collaboration across the emergency services sector and delivering best value
- FRSs will actively engage with the FCTP, and it is envisaged that, subject to any local decisions (on an informed and considered basis) that determines otherwise, will participate in future FCTP collaborative projects.
- FRS will be expected to contribute to projects (leading or supporting) through the virtual teams that will be established within this programme.
Pipelines and Procurement Opportunities
Fire Commercial Transformation Programme Pipeline
The current programme priorities (pipeline) are detailed below. The projects identified in ‘green’ are live. The projects in ‘red’ are the priority projects that support the programme’s objectives and were agreed (subject to consultation with the Sector) at FCTP Strategic Commercial Board in June 2017. The pipeline below is indicative and therefore subject to change.
In addition to this section, further details of planned or live opportunities can be located within the FCTP Categories section above.
EU Supply
A number of UK FRS use EU Supply as their tendering portal. There are other tendering portals used, however, and suppliers will need to obtain details from individual FRS to access those systems.
Bluelight Procurement Database
The Bluelight Procurement Database (BLPD) is an online information hub aimed at improving visibility and access to contract and procurement information for buyers within the Emergency Services in the United Kingdom.
Contracts Finder
Contracts Finder is a Government website where all procurement opportunities must be advertised in line with The Public Contracts Regulations (2015)
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Procurement Pipeline
You can also monitor the Crown Commercial Service procurement pipeline, which is regularly updated with current and forthcoming tender opportunities.
FCTP & FIRESA
The Fire Commercial Transformation Programme (FCTP), Fire and Rescue Suppliers Association (FIRESA) Council of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and UK R&D (Research & Development) meet on a quarterly basis. The aims and objectives are:
Establish how we (FIRESA FIA Members, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) FCTP and NFCC UK R&D) can work more effectively across Procurement/Commercial and Research & Development to our mutual benefit with the aim of improving Public and Firefighter safety.
To provide a forum where Suppliers, Chief Officers, Head’s of Procurement and UK R&D Leads can review options based on fact and evidence and make strategic decisions that lead to efficiencies for the sector.
To review progress across the FCTP and UK R&D programmes of work, providing senior input where required to either unblock an issue or provide influence to others where a unified sector is required.
To identify and encourage commercial best practice with the expectation that FRS and Suppliers will adopt such best practice as the norm in their day to day related work.
To review lessons learned in Procurement/Commercial and R&D activity from Supplier’s perspective, enabling continuous improvement of future work.
It is recognised that both Fire and Rescue Services (and the NFCC) and industry must retain their own decision-making processes. However, this group aims to inform decision-making through open and constructive dialogue. This forum will provide a transparent process whereby decisions made that affect other parties can be shared and explained.
All parties have agreed to the Terms of Reference (ToR)
The Fire Commercial Transformation Programme has identified six key categories of expenditure. Each category has its own section on this website and contains details on key individuals involved, category strategies (including category spend profiles) and relevant case studies where these have been identified.
Clothing (Inc PPE)
Collaborative_PPE_Procurement_Process_Report – A report produced by Hannah Parfitt, Kent FRS, containing a comprehensive summary of the procurement process for the Collaborative PPE Project. The intention of producing this report was to provide Chief Fire Officers, Senior Managers and Procurement Professionals with a view of what is involved and the time it can take to complete a rigorous national procurement process.
Construction & FM
This strategy covers all construction works, utilities, hard and soft facilities’ management services, land disposal and acquisition and those professional services directly related to the category. The Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) operate from buildings, collectively representing the sector’s largest corporate assets (not including staff). The construction, maintenance and running of these buildings is currently the largest category of expenditure for the fire sector. The effective procurement and management of these assets from their construction, throughout their working life to their eventual disposal or replacement is vital to ensure the best value is achieved. The aim of the strategy for Construction & FM is to identify where best value and cost savings can be made across the fire sector through the procurement of construction and facilities management services.
Case Studies
ICT
The ICT category has four key subcategory areas, these being Hardware, Software, Communications and Services. The strategy takes into consideration the ICT requirements covered by the ESMCP. The ICT category excludes ICT consultancy and training unless as part of ICT solutions as these areas are covered by the Professional Services category, Telemetry is covered in the Fleet category and Thermal Imagery, and Body Cameras, are covered by the Operational Equipment category.
Case Study
CLEP_Case_Study_-_ICT_Hardware – Summary of the collaborative procurement process managed by CCS supported by the Home Office Commercial Directorate. 43 organisations participated in this agreement, 7 of which were FRS. The report includes details of the process and the result.
Operational Equipment
The category covers all equipment that is carried on incident response vehicles as well as foam, medical equipment, specialist team equipment (e.g. Technical Rescue/Hazmat), and welfare. It also covers smoke alarms for Safe and Well Checks, training equipment and services such as scientific testing, hose testing, etc.
Case Studies
Gas Detection Monitors Framework Call-off Guidance –Â this user guide has been produced to aid fire and rescue services with call-off orders under this framework
Professional Services
Professional Services are defined as services that are provided by a certified member of a professional body and consultancy services provide expert advice within a particular field which may not be available internally and training defined as teaching, or developing skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies with specific goals of improving one’s capability, capacity, productivity and performance.
Case Study
FRIC Case Study – The Fire and Rescue Indemnity Company (FRIC) was set up to provide an alternative to traditional insurance and give member fire and rescue authorities greater control over the cover provided and the management and settlement of claims.
Fire Services that have signed the Memorandum of Understanding
| Avon Fire & Rescue Service |
| Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service |
| Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Cleveland Fire Brigade |
| Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service |
| County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service |
| Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service |
| Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service |
| Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service |
| East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service |
| Essex County Fire and Rescue Service |
| Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service |
| Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service |
| Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue |
| Humberside Fire and Rescue Service |
| Kent Fire & Rescue Service |
| Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service |
| London Fire Brigade |
| Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service |
| Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service |
| Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service |
| North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service |
| Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service |
| Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service |
| Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| South Wales Fire and Rescue Service |
| South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue |
| Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service |
| Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service |
| Surrey Fire & Rescue Service |
| Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service |
| Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service |
| West Midlands Fire Service |
| West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service |
| West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service |
