Tender

Pay structure reform in the UK Fire and Rescue Service

IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IDEA)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

18 May 2026 at 13:33

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA) is seeking services for the reform of the pay structure within the UK Fire and Rescue Service. This procurement, titled "Pay structure reform in the UK Fire and Rescue Service," falls under the service category of fire-brigade and rescue services. The opportunity is within several regions across the United Kingdom, including UKK, UKJ, and others, with a procurement stage currently at tender. Key deadlines include the end of the tender period on 18th June 2026 and the opportunity for electronic submissions is permitted. With a gross value of £30,000 and an open procurement method, this process allows for below-threshold open competition.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in HR consultancy, and job evaluation systems, particularly those with experience in public sector reforms. Ideal participants might include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs). The project entails advising on and assisting in the design of a new pay structure, offering a unique chance for businesses to influence national policy and support sector resilience. As there is potential for project renewal based on associated work outputs, this opportunity also offers long-term business growth prospects. The focus on quality of submission, weighted at 70%, provides an avenue for businesses with robust expertise to excel.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Pay structure reform in the UK Fire and Rescue Service

Notice Description

The National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire & Rescue Services (NJC) has been discussing reform of the Grey Book pay structure for operational firefighters in the UK for several years. We are now at a point where the aims and objectives of the main stakeholders - the government, the employees (represented by the Fire Brigades Union) and the employers (represented by the National Employers) - are aligned in such a way that we now have an opportunity to make significant progress towards a new pay and grading structure that enables the expansion of the role of a Firefighter to support national resilience and allow the sector to respond to new and emerging risks. The current pay structure within the Grey Book over 20 years old, it is a flat structure, with no spinal points or incremental progression and there is no job evaluation process or structure in place to enable the evaluation of knowledge, skills or competency in role. Initial work has begun on what a new pay structure might look like and we are now seeking assistance from an external party to provide assurance to our work programme and project plan, to help create a robust job evaluation system specifically fit for purpose in the operational fire and rescue space, and to draw on good practice from other sectors. Before undertaking the technical design of the job evaluation system, the supplier will work collaboratively with the NJC Joint Secretaries and the LGA's Workforce Team to shape the project through a structured scoping and advisory phase. This will ensure alignment with national priorities and the principles already agreed by both parties (the employers' side and the employees' side of the NJC).

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There may be scope to extend which will primarily be dependent on any associated work that arises as a result of this project

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069b12
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045390-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75250000 - Fire-brigade and rescue services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£25,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£25,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 May 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
18 Jun 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
10 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IDEA)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3HZ
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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