MARKET ENGAGEMENT - FOR THE PROVISION OF FIRE BEHAVIOUR INSTRUCTOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) AS A MANAGED SERVICE

West Midlands Fire Service is engaging with the market with regards to procuring a managed service contract for the provision of Fire Behaviour Instructor Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The PPE is worn by instructors whilst they are providing training in live fire houses where carbonaceous burns take place. The instructors do already have PPE but with the risk of contaminates and the requirement for new kit to be worn after every wear their allocation of PPE requires increasing.

Currently the instructors PPE is not under a managed service contract, but the service feels that this will be the most cost-effective way forward to manage the allocation of kit. It will also hopefully ensure that the PPE is laundered in a timely manner and checked on a regular basis.

PPE requirements are as follows:

Hooded Tunic and leggings EN469:2020 Level 2 (Male and Female sizing)

Fire Hood EN 13911: 2017

Helmet EN 443:2008

Leather Boots (vegan options as well) EN 15090: 2012

Fire Gloves EN 659:2003+A1 2008

The service has 12 Fire Behaviour Instructors that would require seven sets of the above PPE to be on a managed service for laundry, repair and replacement over a three-year period. It is anticipated that the PPE would be collected on a weekly basis from one location for laundry and returned within seven calendar days. During that period the PPE would be inspected for any repairs and condition coded. All PPE should be barcoded and allocated to individuals, and it would be preferential for the kit to be RFID tagged for tracking.

The purpose of the market engagement process is to enable the Authority to establish the following:

• Is there a sufficient supplier base to ensure robust competition
• What is the appetite in the market for the provision of the contract deliverables
• How attractive to suppliers is the proposed package being procured
• What is the estimated price range