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C26019 - Fire Investigation Training

Kent Fire and Rescue Service

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

13 Aug 2026 at 11:37

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

20 Jul 2026 at 11:04

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

02 Jun 2026 at 10:41

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent Fire and Rescue Service procured specialist fire investigation training for its crews and officers, supporting competence and resident safety across Kent. The service covers three qualifications and training routes: the Level 2 Award in Fire Investigation, Foundation Training for Tier 2 Fire Investigators, and the Level 5 Certificate in Fire Investigation. This is a professional training services requirement for a blue-light emergency service, rather than the provision of firefighting equipment or operational fire investigation services. Delivery is for Kent Fire and Rescue Service and its personnel across Kent. The relevant classifications describe fire-brigade, rescue, fire-service and fire-prevention services, including CPV 75250000, 75251000 and 75251110. The requirement was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and was structured as one lot.

The procurement is complete: Kent Fire and Rescue Service used an open procedure, with quality weighted at 60% through a quality questionnaire and price at 40% through a pricing schedule. The estimated value was £217,000 excluding VAT (£260,400 including VAT). One bid was received. The contract was awarded to Gardiner Associates Training and Research Ltd on 20 July 2026 for £251,700 including VAT, and signed on 30 July 2026. The contract runs from 3 August 2026 to 2 August 2032, with a maximum extent to 2 June 2034. It may be extended by up to two further years, in two one-year periods, if the service remains required. The tender submission deadline was 1 July 2026 at noon; enquiries closed on 19 June 2026 at noon.

This award demonstrates established demand from Kent Fire and Rescue Service for structured fire investigation training across multiple qualification levels. Suppliers competing for a future requirement would need credible capability to deliver Level 2 fire investigation awards, Tier 2 investigator foundation training and Level 5 certificates, with the teaching, assessment and quality assurance arrangements needed for recognised professional development. The evaluation shows that training quality was more important than price, so providers would need strong evidence of course content, trainer competence, learner support, assessment reliability and outcomes, alongside a competitive pricing model. The single-bid outcome indicates a relatively focused supplier market. Organisations with proven emergency-service training experience, relevant fire investigation expertise and capacity to support crews and officers across Kent would be well placed.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

C26019 - Fire Investigation Training

Notice Description

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (the Authority) invites suitably qualified and experienced training providers to submit tenders for the delivery of Fire Investigation Training. As a blue-light emergency service, the Authority requires its crews and officers to maintain high levels of competence to ensure the safety of residents across Kent. The Authority seeks to appoint a provider to deliver the following courses: - Level 2 Award in Fire Investigation - Foundation Training for Tier 2 Fire Investigators - Level 5 Certificate in Fire Investigation Interested providers must register on the Kent Business Portal (https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/) to access full tender documentation, instructions, and submission requirements. All submissions must be completed via the Portal in accordance with the instructions provided. Responses submitted by any other method will not be accepted. Deadline for Submissions is the 1st July 2026 12:00pm (Noon)

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Contract can be extended for a further 2 years if the service is required (1year + 1year).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ab2e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077158-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75250000 - Fire-brigade and rescue services

75251000 - Fire-brigade services

75251110 - Fire-prevention services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£217,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£217,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£251,700 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£251,700 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
1 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
3 Aug 2026 - 2 Aug 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Kent Fire and 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
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME15 6XB
Postcode Area
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Tovil
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

GARDINER ASSOCIATES TRAINING AND RESEARCH LIMITED

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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