Award

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

WEST MIDLANDS FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

17 Apr 2026 at 14:05

Award

18 Mar 2026 at 15:41

Award

18 Mar 2026 at 15:33

Summary of the contracting process

The West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority has awarded a contract on 15 April 2026 for the purchase of additional PPE for Fire Behaviour Training Instructors. The contract involves acquiring 12 sets of hooded tunic and leggings, along with 36 sets of Level 2 Personal Protective Equipment for Breathing Apparatus trainers under a managed service agreement. This procurement is classified within the industry categories of security, firefighting, police, and defence equipment and clothing made of coated or impregnated textile fabrics. Based in Birmingham, the contract focuses on maintaining resilience and safety standards in its operations, with MSA Bristol Uniforms Limited as the current supplier. The procurement stage was in the award phase, completed via a direct award method as outlined in specific clauses of the Procurement Act, considering technical reasons and lack of suitable alternatives. The contract period spans from 15 April 2026 to 14 April 2029.

This tender presents notable growth opportunities for businesses within the PPE manufacturing and service industry. With the direct award to Bristol Uniforms Limited, who currently supply these specialised products, such contracts require innovative PPE solutions and efficient service management to address safety audit findings. Businesses adept in producing specialised thermal protective clothing or managing service contracts, especially those offering resilience-designed PPE, are well-positioned to discuss future engagements or contracts. As such, this procurement supports businesses in strengthening their specialised offerings and operational capabilities within the fire safety and emergency services sectors.

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Notice Title

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

Notice Description

Award of a three year contract to include the purchase of the following PPE for Fire Behaviour Training Instructors 12 sets of FBTI hooded tunic and leggings 36 sets of Level 2 Personal Protective Equipment as supplied on our current managed service contract This contract will include laundry, repair and replacement of the PPE along with the laundry and purchase of the FBTI hooded tunic and leggings for station based instructors.

Procurement Information

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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066df9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035296-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

18224000 - Clothing made of coated or impregnated textile fabrics

18410000 - Special clothing

35000000 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

98311000 - Laundry-collection services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£217,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£217,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Apr 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Nov 20256 months ago
Contract Period
14 Apr 2026 - 14 Apr 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WEST MIDLANDS FIRE AND RESCUE 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
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B7 4HW
Post Town
Birmingham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Nechells
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BRISTOL UNIFORMS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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