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MDT Refresh

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

29 Jul 2026 at 11:12

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority is planning to procure mobile data terminal hardware and associated services for its frontline emergency vehicles across West Yorkshire. The requirement is expected to cover Android tablets, vehicle docking stations and hardwired vehicle power supplies. Existing Sure Sandcastle roof antennas, vehicle mounting brackets and RAM mounts are intended to remain in use. The tablets will replace Panasonic FZ-A3 devices currently used on pumps, special appliances and command vehicles. The equipment supports operational fire and rescue communications for a service covering around 2.2 million people across 800 square miles. The procurement is classified mainly as services, with hardware and IT support also relevant. Suppliers of rugged mobile computing equipment, vehicle integration hardware and related support services should consider this requirement.

This procurement is at the planning and preliminary market engagement stage; it is not yet a call for competition. The buyer has not decided the tender route or procedure. Suppliers are invited to send an expression of interest by 26 August 2026, including comments on delivery risks, available frameworks and whether their solution can meet the core requirements. The buyer expects a further notice around 14 September 2026, followed by an anticipated contract period from 2 November 2026 to 2 November 2027. The planned requirement is one lot and is marked as suitable for SMEs. The intended purchase is approximately 100 tablet devices and 75 vehicle kits, each comprising a dock and vehicle power supply. The tender will require Android 15 or later, with charging compatibility between tablets, docks and vehicle power supplies.

This engagement will suit suppliers with experience supplying rugged Android tablets for emergency services, public safety or other demanding vehicle-based operations. Strong candidates are likely to be able to integrate tablets with vehicle docks, 24VDC hardwired power systems and existing antenna connections, while retaining the buyer’s current vehicle mounting and antenna infrastructure. The proposed solution must provide reliable charging when tablets are docked onboard vehicles, and suppliers should be able to explain compatibility, installation and support arrangements. The buyer is seeking market feedback on supply risks, relevant frameworks and the practical deliverability of proposed solutions, so manufacturers, specialist distributors, vehicle technology integrators and managed support providers should prepare evidence of product capability, resilience of supply and experience supporting operational fleets. SMEs are specifically considered suitable for the planned procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

MDT Refresh

Notice Description

The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is inviting expressions of interest for an upcoming tender for the provision of Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) Hardware, and associated additional services. As the fourth-largest Fire and Rescue Service in the UK, WYFRS serves over 2.2 million people across 800 square miles, providing emergency coverage 24 hours a day, every day of the year. WYFRS employees approx. 1500 staff. At this time, WYFRS is looking to inform the market of this opportunity and assess the market's interest and its appetite to bid for and deliver this upcoming contract. Full details will be provided in the tender opportunity. Overview - WYFRS currently utilise the Panasonic FZ-A3 tablet and corresponding Havis dock onboard all frontline appliances. In total there are around 60 operational MDT's fitted to pumps, specials and command vehicles. WYFRS possess around 90 devices in total including those used for spares, testing, and command and control purposes. The MDT's mounted within vehicles are docked via a compatible FZ-A3 specific Havis dock providing power and antenna connection for Wi-Fi/4G/GPS, maintaining the antenna connections would be beneficial but is not crucial to operation of the tablets, the supply of power is mandatory for the purposes of charging the tablet while onboard the vehicle. The FZ-A3 is compatible with pass through antenna connections (via the Havis dock), which are provided by the roof mounted Sure Sandcastle antenna fitted to all operational vehicles. Power is supplied to the dock by a hardwired Lind adapter (supplied at 24VDC input) at the Panasonic defined output voltage (15VDC) and is believed to be incompatible with other manufacturers equipment. Both the dock and hardwired vehicle power supply will be in scope for replacement along with the MDT tablet. The Sure antenna is not in scope for replacement, nor is the mounting bracket or Ram mount. WYFRS are aiming to procure approx. 100 tablet devices and 75 vehicle kits (dock + vehicle power supply). The tablets must use Android OS with a minimum OS requirement of Android 15. The dock will provide charging power for the tablets and be compatible with the vehicle power supplies. Suppliers interested in participating are invited to email their expression of interest to tenders@westyorksfire.gov.uk by 26/08/2026, and if possible, provide the following information: * Main contact name, email, and phone number for follow-up communication. * Any frameworks you are currently associated with or will be in the near future. * Any risks e.g. in supply * Confirmation if you believe that the core requirements can be delivered through your proposed solution/s. * Any additional comments or feedback based on the information provided. Please note that this request for information (RFI) is not a call for competition. Further details will be made available in the official tender documents upon publication. The tender route is yet to be determined and as such further details will be provided in due course. WYFRS reserve the right to discuss requirements with any supplier beyond this initial notice before any competitive tender process is undertaken. We also recommend that you register with the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's E-Procurement system, 'In-tend,' at the following link https://in-tendhost.co.uk/wyfrs/aspx/Home . This will ensure that if a competitive tender procedure is undertaken, you will already have access to the documentation once live.

Planning Information

As per description (email EOI to tenders@westyorksfire.gov.uk)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d632
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071595-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

44316400 - Hardware

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
14 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 2 Nov 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West Yorkshire 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
BRADFORD
Postcode
BD11 2DY
Postcode Area
Bradford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE44 Calderdale and Kirklees
Delivery Location
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Local Authority
Kirklees
Electoral Ward
Birstall and Birkenshaw
Westminster Constituency
Spen Valley

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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