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Live Fire Training Building

East Sussex Fire Authority

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderCancellation

11 Sep 2026 at 07:57

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Tender

03 Sep 2026 at 11:36

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

11 Nov 2025 at 10:31

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

East Sussex Fire Authority, on behalf of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, sought a replacement live fire training building at its Training Centre in Maresfield, East Sussex. The requirement is works to provide a facility broadly like the existing building, with design changes intended to improve flexibility and reduce environmental impact. Suppliers could offer a complete end-to-end solution covering design, building, training systems and integration. Alternatively, the procurement allowed separate bids for the training systems and smoke-scrubber plant, including ongoing maintenance for an agreed period, or for the structural building units alone. The requirement combines specialist training-facility construction with the supply and integration of fire-training equipment, smoke treatment and associated building components.

The buyer invited offers through an open procedure, but cancelled the procurement on 11 September 2026. It was originally valued at £2,500,000 excluding VAT and £3,000,000 including VAT. The deadline for enquiries was 9 October 2026 at 12:00, and the tender submission deadline was 23 October 2026 at 12:00. The planned contract period was 1 February 2027 to 28 April 2028, with an award decision due by 27 November 2026. Evaluation was split equally between quality and social value (50%) and price (50%). The cancellation reason was that portal constraints blocked newly interested suppliers from accessing the tender documents. The buyer stated that it would abandon this exercise and start afresh under the title Live Fire Burning Unit, using reference ESFA2516.

This requirement suited specialist contractors able to design, supply, build, integrate and commission live fire training facilities, particularly those experienced with container-based or comparable modular structures. It also suited firms focused on fire-training systems and smoke-scrubber plant, including suppliers able to provide maintenance after completion, and structural-unit manufacturers able to supply building units for later integration. The buyer preferred a single supplier responsible for the complete solution because this was intended to reduce system-integration risks and delivery delays, but separate specialist bids were permitted. Suppliers needed to demonstrate the technical capability to deliver a functioning, tested and fit-for-purpose training unit, manage implementation and meet agreed delivery schedules. The cancelled exercise is not an opportunity to bid, but the stated replacement exercise may be relevant to these supplier types.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Live Fire Training Building

Notice Description

East Sussex Fire Authority (ESFA) on behalf of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service require to replace their Live Fire Training Building situated on our Training Centre site in Maresfield East Sussex. Our intention is to replace essentially what we have now on a like for like basis but taking into account some design changes identified that will improve both flexibility in use and reduce the impact we have on the environment. The response to the Preliminary Market Engagement exercise seemed to indicate that we may not be able to achieve our aim of having a single supplier who will work with us to finalise the design then build it from start to finish. This would be our preference to avoid system integration issues and to be working with a single supplier responsible for everything. As a result this tender will allow for tenders from suppliers who can provide the end to end product but if we are correct in this niche market that may not be achievable, we will allow bids from suppliers who can only supply the training systems along with the smoke scrubber plant (with ongoing maintenance for a period to be agreed after completion) and separately will allow bids from suppliers who can only supply the building units in and onto which the plant and systems will be integrated. Whilst we may consider alternative approaches, like a steel framed metal structure, we believe a container-based solution is likely to be all that we can afford and of which, we have a lot of experience being the basis of the current unit and against which our current design is based. This Tender will be managed electronically via the In-Tend Portal. It can be reached via: https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/home. Contractors need to be registered to use the portal and registered against us as a Contracting Entity, but registration is free and further information on how this is achieved, can be found at: https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/register. If you are unsure about your companies registration status, please contact the In-Tend Portals support at: https://in-tend.co.uk/contact-us/. If you have any difficulties with the In-Tend Portal that you are unable to resolve through the Sell2UK helpdesk, please then email procurement@esfrs.org.

Planning Information

Pre-Market Engagement

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05de63
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086169-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

45214800 - Training facilities building

80510000 - Specialist training services

80531200 - Technical training services

80550000 - Safety training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
23 Oct 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
9 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 28 Apr 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Cancelled
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Cancelled
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
East Sussex Fire Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEWES
Postcode
BN7 2DZ
Postcode Area
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Lewes
Electoral Ward
Lewes Bridge
Westminster Constituency
Lewes

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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