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One Demountable Water Bowser (Market Engagement)

West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

20 Aug 2026 at 16:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

07 Aug 2026 at 15:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority intends to procure one demountable water bowser that can be mounted on an existing fire-service prime mover. The equipment is intended to diversify firefighting provision and improve operational flexibility and resilience by providing supplementary water where hydrant coverage is limited, compromised or unavailable. Intended use includes rural locations, large industrial sites, wildland environments and major incidents. It should support prolonged firefighting operations and improve water provision without requiring additional fire appliances. This is a goods requirement for delivery in the United Kingdom. The relevant category is specialist firefighting water-bowser equipment, classified under CPV 34223200. The requirement is arranged as a single planned lot and is being developed through market engagement before the Authority selects its procurement route.

This process is at the planning and preliminary market-engagement stage; it is not an invitation to tender. The Authority expects to use the engagement to identify additional potential suppliers, discuss the requirement and inform its choice of procurement route. The engagement deadline is 1 September 2026 at 23:59, following an extension. The planned contract period is from 15 September 2026 to 31 December 2026. The estimated gross value is £36,000. The requirement is below the relevant threshold. The Authority has published statement-of-requirements material and a questionnaire for the engagement. It has identified two suppliers currently able to manufacture demountable water bowsers to fit existing prime movers in the fire sector and is seeking other potential bidders for further discussion.

This will suit manufacturers and specialist suppliers of demountable water bowsers, particularly businesses able to design or adapt equipment for installation on existing fire-service prime movers. Relevant experience is likely to include firefighting equipment, emergency-response vehicles, mobile water storage or water supply systems, with an understanding of operational demands in rural, industrial, wildland and major-incident settings. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate that their equipment can support prolonged firefighting operations, provide resilient supplementary water and work without additional appliances. Businesses with fire-sector manufacturing capability, vehicle integration skills and experience supplying public-sector or emergency-service customers are well placed to contribute. At this stage, the Authority is gathering market intelligence and looking for potential suppliers to engage further, rather than accepting tenders for immediate award.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

One Demountable Water Bowser (Market Engagement)

Notice Description

West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority are looking to procure a demountable water bowser which can be mounted onto an existing prime mover. This would diversify firefighting provision increasing operational flexibility and resilience, providing a supplementary water supply in areas where hydrant coverage is limited, compromised, or unavailable, such as rural locations, large industrial sites, wildland environments, and during major incidents. The provision should support prolonged firefighting operations, reducing reliance on fixed infrastructure, enhancing water provision without the need for additional appliances. The statement of requirements documentation and a questionnaire regarding this pre market engagement can be found here https://in-tendhost.co.uk/wmfs/aspx/ProjectManage/92

Planning Information

The Authority is aware of two suppliers in the market who can manufacture demountable water bowsers to fit existing prime movers in the fire sector. This exercise is designed to find other potential bidders to allow the Authority to engage further and select an appropriate procurement route to market. More information and questions will be available on the Intend Portal via this link....https://in-tendhost.co.uk/wmfs/aspx/ProjectManage/92

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06df64
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079647-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34223200 - Bowsers

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£36,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 20261 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Sep 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 1-6 months
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 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
Postcode Area
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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