Purchase of Additional Fire Behaviour Training Instructors (FBTI) Hooded Tunic and Leggings and Structural Level 2 PPE for the Breathing Apparatus (BA) Trainers

Yes, this meets schedule 5, paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act.

'The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract

(a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and

(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.'

And meets schedule 5, paragraph 7 of the Procurement Act.

(a)a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and

(b)the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.

MSA Bristol Uniforms are the current supplier of FBTI PPE, which consists of a hooded tunic and leggings. Currently each BA trainer has three sets but following a regional health and Safety audit during Autumn 2024 significant risks were identified, such as a lack of sufficient PPE, which is contributing to an unsuitable storage and cleaning regime.

Pre -market engagement was undertaken in January - April 2025 with other PPE suppliers as well as MSA Bristol Uniforms to understand what other kit was available on the market for the trainers and if a managed service of the PPE would be feasible. Following discussions, it became apparent suppliers were unable to offer this option as it would be prohibitively expensive due to the need for the supplier to re-coup their costs over a very short contract period.

Other suppliers do not currently offer a hooded tunic, which would be required by the trainers to provide additional thermal protection when in the fire house and specifically the L blocked based at Oldbury Training Centre. The trainers did undertake tests in the fire house with particulate flash hoods and standard structural fire kit but these tests showed that the hooded tunic was also required.

To provide additional resilience for FBTI PPE additional sets of Level 2 structural PPE will be ordered for the trainers as well. This PPE is also already supplied under a fully managed service contract with MSA Bristol Uniforms.

The contract will incorporate the laundry and repair of the PPE over the next three years, which will also be undertaken by MSA Bristol Uniforms.