UK Public Sector Contracts & Tenders

Waiver for urgent Fire House Maintenance work to be completed

As part of the Fleet Replacement Strategy, 3 x Renault Traffic vans are due for replacement. Contract awarded under direct award using CCS RM6244 framework.

It has been identified that an additional crew carrying vehicle is required for Training Centre. Previously Training Centre had an under utilised minibus, this was disposed of in 2023 due to lack of use, it has since been identified that a small van with the ability to carry crew and equipment would be of use. Contract awarded through Direct Award using CCS RM6244 framework.

The Authority has a requirement for support and maintenance of its current finance system, Sage 1000, for an additional two years to allow enough time to procure and implement a new accounting system. While Sage 1000 will come to its end of life in 2029, Sage will cease to provide updates to the system after December 2024. For this reason, the Authority will shortly go to market to source a new finance system. This contract was awarded under a waiver.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority (BMKFA) collaborated to award a contract to Experian Ltd to acquire six monthly updated demographic and consumer data for all the residential properties within the services areas of the three Thames Valley Fire and Rescue Services. This information will be used across various service areas in assessing risk in the community and will inform prevention, protection, and response activities. This data will also assist in Data Analysis and Performance Team and Risk/CRMP team to assist them in the identification and prioritising fire risk prevention activities to reduce the number of accidental property fires that place through a range of proactive activities. The Authority utilised G-Cloud 13 framework to award the contract to Experian Ltd.

As part of the Fleet Replacement Strategy 2 x hydrant maintenance vans are due for replacement. Direct Award under CCS RM6244 framework.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service has a requirement for Adobe licences. Three quotes process was followed to award contract on price only evaluation.

The Authority has a requirement aimed at equipping employees with the skill and knowledge needed to leverage the platform to create custom business solution, automated workflow and analysing data with easy.

The Authority has a requirement for a demolition contractor as Whitley Wood Fire Training Centre lecture building and portacabin office building are to be demolished as part of the Training Centre Re-development project. The demolition works will be to facilitate the development of new Training Centre as identified under the project. Three quotes price only evaluation used to award the contract.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is providing equality, diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness training for both operation and non-operation staff. The aim of the course is to consolidate learning on equality, diversity, and inclusion, supporting RBFRS' equality objectives and promote cultural awareness across the organisation. Three quotes price only evaluation used to award the contract.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) has made a commitment to be a carbon net zero organisation by 2050 in line with the UK government target. To achieve that target, the service has identified from Decarbonisation feasibility studies and Planet Mark Certification that upgrading our installed electrical lights to Light Emitting Diode (LED) units through out five of its sites. The Authority conducted desktop research to finalise route to market to source LED lights as part of its Sustainability Strategy taking into consideration different approach such as frameworks, Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) and Open Tender. As the Laser framework provided managed LED Lighting Service under its framework, it was decided that the most optimal route to market taking into consideration the complexity, time frames, expertise knowledge and technical know-how as the framework would manage all of this for the service under the Teckal agreement as Laser is wholly owned by Kent County Council (KCC). Under the managed service, LASER looks after all aspects of the project on your behalf, providing a single quotation covering all aspects of the work under a single project sum, along with information regarding funding paybacks periods, and CO2 reduction. The framework is fully public procurement regulation compliant, with suppliers being contracted by LASER through its framework.

Provision of Operational Fire Fighter Apprenticeship Program awarded via the Direct Award Option on the YPO Framework 1086 for Associated Training.

The Authority has a requirement to have a legal firm to provide legal services on a retainer for commercial property matters. The legal firm will provide expert legal advice on matters ranging from tenancy agreements, planning applications, engagement with telecoms operator (in accordance with the Electronic Communication Code), finalising construction contracts, conveyancing and any litigation matters arising. 3 Quotes Price Only Evaluation process for contract award.

The Authority has an ongoing requirement for a licensing partner to support its technological and operational infrastructure. This requirement includes securing essential Microsoft licensing for Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft Server & SQL, which are foundational to the Authority's core IT operations and productivity applications. Additionally, the Authority requires licenses and subscriptions for various third-party applications The Authority is also undertaking a significant Azure migration project and professional services, and ongoing operational Azure costs will be part of this contract The recommended contract will not be limited solely to the licensing and migration elements detailed above. It will also provide the Authority with the flexibility to incorporate additional strategic initiatives as needed, including but not limited to Power BI, Microsoft Co-Pilot, and other emerging Microsoft and third-party technologies. This contract was awarded under Direct Award CCS Framework 6098.

The Authority is awarding the contract to Anglian Water Business (National) T/A Wave Utilities under Kent County Councils Framework. Going forward all three utility services can be contract managed more effectively. With same start and end dates. Laser has the option to select from a plethora of suppliers. They run a mini competition and select the supplier whose rates are preferential for the Authority. Laser has the benefit of bidding for large energy purchase blocks as they aggregate all their clients' requirements. Therefore, can purchase large blocks of energy at discounted rates as opposed to buying energy in smaller blocks. There is an annual charge of £2,000. This will be invoiced once the contract has been signed. Thereafter it will be invoiced on an annual basis.

Currently services are provided under the Kent County Council Framework with Laser Energy. Following research, by Procurement it is felt that best value for the Authority would be achieved by remaining with Kent County Councils Framework with Laser Energy. Laser has the option to select from a plethora of suppliers. Originally, they ran a mini competition for RBFRS services and selected Npower the supplier whose rates where the most preferential to the Authority. The current contract is a flexible pricing contract, which means we can re-negotiate our rates Laser has the benefit of bidding for large energy purchase blocks as they aggregate all their clients' requirements. Therefore, they can purchase large blocks of energy at discounted rates as opposed to buying energy in smaller blocks under Purchase in Advance PIA Basket where all site volume purchased prior to delivery for a 12-month supply period. Pass Through charges will be added to arrive at the delivered price in pence per Kilowatt hour. The delivered price is fixed for the 12 months period. Once we give the go ahead from to Laser, they will start to purchase flexibly for RBFRS which would be at the current market rate which is lower than the rate we are currently paying. The current strategy would be to fix out the whole of year one at the current market rates and also purchase a large proportion of year two and some of the volume for year three at current market rates. This will protect RBFRS from future increases but by leaving volume open in years two and three we can also benefit if the price continues to fall over the next few months. The current flexible contract expires on the 30th September 2024 and rates are negotiated up to this point.

Currently services are provided under the Kent County Council Framework with Laser Energy. Following research, by Procurement it is felt that best value for the Authority would be achieved by remaining with Kent County Councils Framework with Laser Energy. Laser has the option to select from a plethora of suppliers. Originally, they ran a mini competition for RBFRS services and selected Npower the supplier whose rates where the most preferential to the Authority. The current contract is a flexible pricing contract, which means we can re-negotiate our rates Laser has the benefit of bidding for large energy purchase blocks as they aggregate all their clients' requirements. Therefore, they can purchase large blocks of energy at discounted rates as opposed to buying energy in smaller blocks under Purchase in Advance PIA Basket where all site volume purchased prior to delivery for a 12-month supply period. Pass Through charges will be added to arrive at the delivered price in pence per Kilowatt hour. The delivered price is fixed for the 12 months period. Once we give the go ahead from to Laser, they will start to purchase flexibly for RBFRS which would be at the current market rate which is lower than the rate we are currently paying. The current strategy would be to fix out the whole of year one at the current market rates and purchase a large proportion of year two and some of the volume for year three at current market rates. This will protect RBFRS from future increases but by leaving volume open in years two and three we can also benefit if the price continues to fall over the next few months.

The authority has a requirement for CRS (Crash Recovery System) this software package will provide critical vehicle-based risk information to our firefighters. The information it gives us is essential for enhancing Firefighter and casualty safety, it also enhances the speed and efficiency on how we can work on vehicles involved in collisions. The information CRS provides is stored locally on the device so gives us that extra layer of resilience as we are not reliant on a live data connection to use it. It is also a product that can be integrated with our Airbus ScResponse software so works seamlessly on our current MDT devices.The supplier could sell CRS as part of suite of software required for the MDT system such as Officer Radios, ScCapture, Gateway with resilience under the CCS framework RM6259 - Vertical Application Solution - Lot 5 - Blue Light Solutions because the CRS is a third-party software which is not part of the framework provision.

With Sage 1000 at end of life and support ceasing in December 2024, the Finance System Replacement Project will procure and implement a new and modern finance system, to replace Sage 1000 and V1. In addition, the project will review and refresh our processes and procedures, introducing new ways of working in Finance and Procurement, introducing automation where possible. The introduction of a modern cloud solution will enable improved integration, a functionally richer system minimising manual tasks, the introduction of data visualisations and reduction of organisational risk. This will improve productivity and produces cost efficiencies in the longer term. This will lead to effective use of resources, providing taxpayers value for money. In addition, post pandemic accelerated enhanced hybrid working, resulting in the need for flexible authorisation methods. A key requirement of the new system is to accommodate this way of working. As part of the procurement process, the Authority conducted preliminary market engagement in September and October 2023 to refine our requirement and as a fact finding exercise to understand the market, the types of solutions available, compliant route to market to conduct the procurement exercise, costs to procure the systems and cost, time and effort needed in implementing the system and whether our draft specification was clear and concise for the suppliers to bid for the tender. Prior Information Notice (PIN) was published on the Find a Tender portal on 29th August 2023 and a corrigendum changing the modalities of the market engagement exercise was published on 5th September 2023 to invite suppliers for market engagement exercise. The Authority utilised G Cloud 14 Framework under CCS to award the contract.

Gates at Caversham Road need replacing, 3 quotes price only evaluation used to award the contract.