Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Provision of the Station End PSTN Upgrade

Cheshire Fire Authority

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

07 Aug 2026 at 15:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

03 Feb 2026 at 15:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

02 Feb 2026 at 18:30

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cheshire Fire Authority procured an upgrade to the station-end public switched telephone network (PSTN) modem system, replacing existing PSTN modems with 4G routers. The requirement covers the station-end equipment and its configuration, with related reconfiguration at the central hub so that fire-control equipment can communicate reliably and fire crews and appliances can be mobilised without interruption. The purchase is classified as goods, with the recorded classification covering software packages and information systems. Delivery is in Cheshire, within the North West of England. The authority’s fire and rescue service environment includes firecoder equipment, Multitone CCPs and North West Fire Control infrastructure, so the requirement concerns an integrated operational communications system rather than a standalone router supply.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded directly to Telent Technology Services Limited on 25 November 2025. The direct award used single-supplier technical reasons: Telent was identified as the existing support provider for the firecoder equipment and North West Fire Control infrastructure, with the access, authority and technical capability needed to modify both ends of the integrated solution. The award and signed contract value is £211,818 gross, including VAT, and is above the relevant threshold. The contract was signed on 7 August 2026 and runs from 7 August 2026 to 6 August 2027. One lot was completed. The routers must undergo acceptance testing before sign-off. A standstill period applied until 12 February 2026, before the contract was signed.

This requirement indicates demand for suppliers able to upgrade and support resilient operational communications systems used by a fire and rescue service. A credible future competitor would need practical expertise in migrating PSTN modem connections to 4G routers, configuring station-end equipment and reconfiguring the associated central hub as one integrated solution. Experience with fire-control or emergency mobilisation systems, including firecoder equipment, Multitone CCPs and North West Fire Control infrastructure, would be particularly relevant. Suppliers would also need the authority and system access required to make changes across both ends of the solution, understand licensing restrictions affecting router management, and provide a controlled acceptance-testing process before operational sign-off. The requirement favours technically specialised providers able to maintain continuity and resilience during the upgrade.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of the Station End PSTN Upgrade

Notice Description

Contract for the Provision of the Station End PSTN Upgrade

Procurement Information

Telent should be appointed to deliver the PSTN modem upgrade to 4G routers due to their unique position as the current support provider for both the CFRS firecoder equipment and NWFC infrastructure. The upgrade requires reconfiguration at both the station end and the central hub, and it is vital that the firecoders are configured correctly to ensure uninterrupted mobilisation of fire crews and appliances. Telent's existing support relationship and technical expertise with the Multitone CCPs and NWFC systems means they are the only supplier capable of making the necessary changes across both ends of the solution. Engaging another supplier would introduce significant risk and complexity, as they would not have access to nor the authority to modify the integrated systems. While an alternative approach was considered-where Telent would carry out configuration under the existing support contract and CFRS would procure routers separately via InSight-CradlePoint confirmed that licensing restrictions prevent Telent from managing routers not purchased through them. Therefore, Telent's involvement is essential to ensure a fully supported, resilient, and compliant solution.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0614c8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075410-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£211,818 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£211,818 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Nov 20259 months ago
Contract Period
7 Aug 2026 - 6 Aug 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cheshire 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
WINSFORD, CHESHIRE
Postcode
CW7 2FQ
Postcode Area
Crewe
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Winsford Over & Verdin
Westminster Constituency
Mid Cheshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

TELENT TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...