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PME for Live Fire Training Facility

DEVON & SOMERSET FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

02 Sep 2026 at 13:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 Apr 2026 at 16:34

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority is preparing to procure construction of a new live fire training facility for its Service. The existing facility will be decommissioned and removed before the replacement is built. The new facility is intended to provide resilient, long-term firefighter training, including realistic compartment fire behaviour in a controlled environment. Requirements are expected to cover a reinforced concrete structure with refractory tile protection, temperature monitoring for burn areas and the main frame, and smoke emission treatment. The work is planned at the Service’s Training Academy within Exeter International Airport, on land with historical military use. Ground conditions, contamination and potential unexploded ordnance will therefore be relevant considerations. This is a construction works project.

This procurement is at the planning stage and currently carries a planned status; the buyer is conducting preliminary market engagement rather than inviting tenders. The project is at RIBA stage 0. The anticipated project value is between £5 million and £10 million, subject to further scope and budget development. The planned contract period is from April 2028 to October 2029, and the completed, commissioned and operational facility is required by April 2030. The buyer expects the next notice to be published in September 2027. Suppliers can contribute to the consultation, with engagement responses requested by 30 September 2026. Feedback will help shape the procurement route, contract strategy, contractor engagement model, pre-construction approach and contract form.

The engagement is likely to suit principal contractors, specialist construction firms, fire training facility designers, engineering consultants and supply-chain partners able to work on complex, safety-critical facilities. Relevant capability includes reinforced concrete construction, refractory and thermal protection, live-fire or compartment-fire training environments, temperature monitoring, smoke emission treatment and commissioning of operational training assets. Experience of designing for maintainability, durability, environmental performance and whole-life value will be important. Suppliers with expertise in contaminated or historically used sites, ground investigation, remediation and unexploded ordnance risk management should also be well placed. The project will require coordinated delivery in an airport setting, so businesses able to manage operational interfaces, safety controls and specialist subcontractors should prepare to engage with the buyer.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

PME for Live Fire Training Facility

Notice Description

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (the Service), welcomes engagement from the market in support of informing the Service's procurement and delivery strategy for the construction of a new Live Fire Training Facility. Our existing structure is approaching the end of its operational life and will require decommissioning and removal prior to the construction of a replacement facility. The replacement facility is intended to provide a long-term, resilient live fire training capability that supports operational firefighter training requirements while reflecting modern expectations relating to safety, durability, environmental performance and whole-life value. The facility will be required to support realistic compartment fire behaviour training within a controlled environment and should balance operational functionality with maintainability and long-term asset performance. The Service anticipates that the new facility is likely to comprise a reinforced concrete structure incorporating refractory tile protection to areas exposed to repeated thermal loading. The design is expected to include temperature monitoring systems for both burn environments and the primary structural frame. A smoke emission treatment system will also form a significant element of the project. The facility is likely to be located at our Training Academy, situated within the perimeter of Exeter International Airport, located on land with a historical military use, therefore considerations relating to ground conditions, contamination and the potential presence of unexploded ordnance is anticipated. The project is currently at RIBA stage 0. The anticipated project value is currently estimated to be between PS5million and PS10million, although further development work is required to establish the final scope and budget. The new facility needs to be completed, commissioned, and operational by April 2030. A preferred procurement route, contract strategy, contractor engagement model, pre-construction approach or form of contract have not been decided upon. The Service is deliberately retaining an open position on these matters and is seeking informed market feedback to help determine the most appropriate delivery strategy.

Planning Information

To participate in the preliminary market engagement, please express an interest via email to PME@dsfire.gov.uk , with the subject 'Live Fire PME - FAO Aimee Lee'. The Authority will respond, providing a copy of its consultation document which contains information regarding the project and a number of questions for interested suppliers to respond to. We ask that participants respond ASAP and not wait until the engagement deadline, to enable the Authority to consider the responses and continue forming its strategy during this period. Engagement responses should be submitted back via email ASAP to PME@dsfire.gov.uk , with the subject 'Live Fire PME response - FAO Aimee Lee' .

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068a08
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083070-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45216121 - Fire station construction work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
22 Sep 202711 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2028 - 31 Oct 2029 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEVON & SOMERSET FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX3 0NW
Postcode Area
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
TLK2 Dorset and Somerset, TLK4 Devon
Local Authority
East Devon
Electoral Ward
Clyst Valley
Westminster Constituency
Exmouth and Exeter East

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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