Official UK procurement notice
NFCC National Firefighter PPE - Lot 1 (Managed Service)
Authority: Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority (Police & fire)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis is the Contract Details Notice for Lot 1 Managed Services on the NFCC National Firefighter PPE Framework .
'Lot 1 (Managed Services)' relates to the managed service provision of Fire Structural Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Lightweight PPE (which consists of Wildland Fire PPE and Technical Rescue PPE) and certain associated services. Please note Lot 1 includes a variety of different leasing options that will be available to Participating Authorities to choose from in line with their requirements, such as top to toe Fully Managed Service, Partial Managed Service with and without associated services to aid flexibility and ensure value for money.
Please note that this opportunity was seeking to establish a series of open Framework Agreements. Each successive open framework will be for specific products and/or services that will be awarded to successful suppliers, pursuant to which the Participating Authorities listed in Annex 1 of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire may award a Call-Off Agreement.
It is has been awarded to the 4 successful suppliers, each have now signed a Framework Agreement . Participating Authorities will be able to enter into a Call-Off Agreement under the Framework Agreement following the call-off procedure.
As an open framework it is intended that it will have a maximum term of 8 years. It is anticipated that the successive frameworks will re-open as follows: in (i) July 2029 and (ii) between July 2032 and July 2033. These dates may be subject to change at the discretion of the Contracting Authority. Anyone wishing to take part should look for further notices to be published around these times.
- How the procedure runs: This procurement will start with a participation stage comprising of the completion of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire and the information required to be submitted to the Central Digital Platform by potential bidders. Those successful at the participation stage will progress to the tender stage and will be invited to submit a formal tender in response to the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The evaluation process for the tender stage will include wearer trials and site visits. It is intended that up to 3 successful suppliers will each be awarded a Framework Agreement (subject to the Contracting Authority's discretion to increase the number of successful suppliers beyond 3). Participating Authorities will be able to enter into a Call-Off Agreement under the Framework Agreement following the call-off procedure. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to charge a levy to the successful suppliers as set out within the draft ITT. Where there is more than 1 successful supplier, it is intended that each Framework Agreement will have a maximum term of 8 years. It is anticipated that the successive frameworks will re-open as follows: in (i) March 2029 and (ii) between March 2032 and March 2033. These dates may be subject to change at the discretion of the Contracting Authority.
CPV: Clothing made of coated or impregnated textile fabrics · Fire-brigade uniforms · Firefighting equipment · Firefighting, rescue and safety equipment · Industrial clothing · Laundry bags · Laundry supplies · Laundry-collection services · Laundry-management services · Occupational clothing · Occupational clothing, special workwear and accessories · Protective and safety clothing · +5 more
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
- Call-offs
- every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
- Places
- up to 3 suppliers · 4 bids received (1.3 per place) · 4 appointed (full)
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 1 Apr 2026
- Scheme runs until
- 9 Jul 2034
- Buyer regions
- JE, UKC, UKD, UKF, UKG, UKH, UKJ, UKK, UKL1, UKL14, UKL2, UKM, UKM5, UKM7, UKM8, UKM9
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
n/a no fees apply to Suppliers. There is a levy charge for Participating Authorities which will apply to all items and services procured through the framework, which suppliers will be responsible for paying to the NFCC as set out in the framework agreement.
Participating Authorities can access the documentation via ccaps.bluelightcommercial.police.uk/login/index.php ↗
Who may buy through it
This Framework Agreement is available to the organisations listed below:
•UK Fire and Rescue Services (including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and Joint Authorities established under Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004;
•Fire England;
•Welsh Fire and Rescue;
•Scottish Fire and Rescue;
•Northern Ireland Public Sector Bodies and Local Authorities;
•National Fire Chief’s Council;
•Combined Authorities (established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, amended by the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016), Mayoral Combined Authorities (as defined by the Local Government Devolution Act 2016) and Combined County Authorities (established under section 9 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023) which are responsible for exercising the functions of Police and Crime Commissioner, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, policing and/or fire services;
•Ambulance Services;
•the Maritime and Coastguard Agency;
•UK P
Published description of the framework
Pricing is submitted on a basket of goods basis.
The Contracting Authority will evaluate quality ,technical and pricing responses in order to determine which 3 successful suppliers will be awarded onto the framework .
Following this stage Participating Authorities will award their Call-Off Agreements by carrying out a Supplier Selection as set out in Schedule 6 Annex 1 Call Off Procedure within the Framework Agreement.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedPublished value£529,358,898
- Economic & financial standing
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation: The conditions of participation (and how such conditions will be assessed) relating to legal and financial capacity are included within the Procurement Specific Questionnaire and the draft ITT.
- Technical & professional ability
Technical ability conditions of participation: The conditions of participation (and how such conditions will be assessed) relating to technical ability are included within the Procurement Specific Questionnaire and the draft ITT.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality
- Price
- Economic & financial standing
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation: The conditions of participation (and how such conditions will be assessed) relating to legal and financial capacity are included within the Procurement Specific Questionnaire and the draft ITT.
- Technical & professional ability
Technical ability conditions of participation: The conditions of participation (and how such conditions will be assessed) relating to technical ability are included within the Procurement Specific Questionnaire and the draft ITT.
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “NFCC National Firefighter PPE - Lot 1 (Managed Service)” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 3 suppliers, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Open framework scheme
- Who may use this agreement
- This Framework Agreement is available to the organisations listed below: •UK Fire and Rescue Services (including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and Joint Authorities established under Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004; •Fire England; •Welsh Fire and Rescue; •Scottish Fire and Rescue; •Northern Ireland Public Sector Bodies and Local Authorities; •National Fire Chief’s Council; •Combined Authorities (established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, amended by the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016), Mayoral Combined Authorities (as defined by the Local Government Devolution Act 2016) and Combined County Authorities (established under section 9 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023) which are responsible for exercising the functions of Police and Crime Commissioner, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, policing and/or fire services; •Ambulance Services; •the Maritime and Coastguard Agency; •UK P · open scheme: new suppliers can join during the term
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 17 Jul 2025, 14:05 BST
- Last source update
- 9 Aug 2026, 22:13 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Apr 2026
- Authority reference
C25038- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-040960- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-056149Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
All Participating Authorities must pay suppliers within 30 days of a valid and undisputed invoice being received.
All Bidders must pay their Supply chain and/or Sub-contractors within 30 days payment terms where of a valid and undisputed invoice being received.
- How it runs
This procurement will start with a participation stage comprising of the completion of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire and the information required to be submitted to the Central Digital Platform by potential bidders. Those successful at the participation stage will progress to the tender stage and will be invited to submit a formal tender in response to the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The evaluation process for the tender stage will include wearer trials and site visits.
It is intended that up to 3 successful suppliers will each be awarded a Framework Agreement (subject to the Contracting Authority's discretion to increase the number of successful suppliers beyond 3). Participating Authorities will be able to enter into a Call-Off Agreement under the Framework Agreement following the call-off procedure.
The Contracting Authority reserves the right to charge a levy to the successful suppliers as set out within the draft ITT.
Where there is more than 1 successful supplier, it is intended that each Framework Agreement will have a maximum term of 8 years. It is anticipated that the successive frameworks will re-open as follows: in (i) March 2029 and (ii) between March 2032 and March 2033. These dates may be subject to change at the discretion of the Contracting Authority.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 12 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Appointment period ends
- 12 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 11 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · n/a no fees apply to Suppliers. There is a levy charge for Participating Authorities which will apply to all items and services procured through the framework, which suppliers will be responsible for paying to the NFCC as set out in the framework agreement.
Participating Authorities can access the documentation via ccaps.bluelightcommercial.police.uk/login/index.php ↗
Timeline
17 Jul 2025 → 9 Aug 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published17 Jul 2025, 14:05 BST
- Clarification questions by11 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown12 Aug 2025, 12:00 BST
- Contract starts205 days ago1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by204 days ago1 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent199 days ago7 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends185 days ago20 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published74 days ago9 Aug 2026, 22:13 BST
Notice history
8 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 17 Jul 2025- Tender notice published17 Jul 2025, 14:05 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published30 Jul 2025, 14:05 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published30 Jul 2025, 16:05 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published9 Apr 2026, 11:02 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete9 Apr 2026, 11:02 BST
- Contract award notice published13 Apr 2026, 20:22 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected10 May 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published9 Aug 2026, 22:13 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (6)
- 2025-07: 3 releases · 17 Jul 2025, 30 Jul 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballyclare LimitedSME, Bristol Uniforms Ltd, FlamePro Global Ltd, Hunter Apparel Solutions LimitedSMELot 1 Managed Service11 May 2026 – 29 Mar 2034 | £529,358,898 inc. VAT | 7 Apr 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · Ballyclare LimitedSME, Bristol Uniforms Ltd, FlamePro Global Ltd, Hunter Apparel Solutions LimitedSME
- Signed
- 10 Jul 2026
- Value
- £529,358,898 inc. VAT
- Period
- 11 Jul 2026 – 9 Jul 2034
- Status
- active
3 agreed KPIs: KPI 1 · KPI 2 · KPI 3
- KPI 1, Emergency Replacement of PPE within agreed timescales
- KPI 2, Service Support First time resolution
- KPI 3, Laundry Turnaround time within agreed timescales
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4final-stage tenders | 4 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonHunter Apparel Solutions LtdSME · Northern Ireland
- wonFlamePro Global Ltd · Yorkshire and the Humber
- wonBallyclare LtdSME · North West England
- wonBristol Uniforms Ltd · South West England
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
4 commercial parties on the notice- Ballyclare LtdFramework contractor
- Bristol Uniforms LtdFramework contractor
- FlamePro Global LtdFramework contractor
- Hunter Apparel Solutions LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (10)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender