Purpose

West Sussex Fire and Rescue
Service are leading an aggregated procurement to standardise
Breathing Apparatus and ancillary equipment (BA) on behalf of the
4F Group consisting of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, East
Sussex Fire Authority, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and Kent and
Medway Fire and Rescue Authority.   
 
Aside from the collaborative
process and initial financial efficiencies from procurement, the
project outcomes will strongly influence a variety of longer-term
benefits which will include:
 

standardisation of
Breathing Apparatus (BA) equipment across 4F.
enabling the wider
programme of operational alignment (for example BA).
seamless cross-border
mobilisation of FRS assets and firefighters who can work together
using the same operational guidance, training, and
equipment.

 
The procurement will utilise a
National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) endorsed Framework Agreement
with each organisation entering into its own call-off agreement for
the provision of equipment and support services. The estimated
total contract value for West Sussex is £1.7m based on a
10-year contract.
 
Following the completion of the
procurement process, the Chief Fire Officer seeks to award the
Contract for the purchase of this equipment to the bidder
submitting the most economical and technologically suitable tender
and following extensive practical evaluation processes by 4F
leads.
 

Decision

The Chief Fire Officer has approved the award
of the contract for Breathing Apparatus and ancillary equipment to
Interspiro Ltd at a value of
£1.7M on a 10-year Contract from point of delivery.