Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Provision for DBS Checking Services

Royal Berkshire Fire Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

16 Sep 2026 at 10:42

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Royal Berkshire Fire Authority procured DBS checking services to support recruitment and ongoing safeguarding compliance for its workforce. The service covers vetting employees, particularly people working in regulated or higher-risk roles, through Standard and Enhanced DBS disclosures. The requirement is an ongoing service intended to maintain statutory compliance, operational continuity and a reliable checking process. The buying organisation is Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, based in Reading, and the work supports its workforce and recruitment activity. This is a public-sector safeguarding and employment-screening requirement, relevant to organisations that provide DBS checking or related investigation and security services. The classification used is CPV 79700000, investigation and security services.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following a competitive quotation exercise. Essex County Council was selected as the most economically advantageous supplier, using price-only evaluation, and the contract was signed on 14 September 2026. The stated route is a direct procurement below the applicable threshold, without competition. The contract runs from 14 September 2026 to 31 March 2029. Its value is £27,900 excluding VAT and £33,480 including VAT. The requirement was handled as one completed lot. The expected service profile is approximately 200 checks each year, comprising around 50 Standard disclosures and 150 Enhanced disclosures. The contract is active and the procurement status is complete.

This award indicates recurring demand from a fire authority for a dependable DBS screening service that can support recruitment and continuing safeguarding checks. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to process both Standard and Enhanced disclosures accurately, handle a regular flow of employment-related checks and maintain continuity of service over a multi-year arrangement. Evidence of reliable turnaround, robust compliance controls and secure handling of sensitive applicant information would be commercially important. Suppliers should also be able to demonstrate cost discipline, because the selection was based solely on price among compliant submissions. Organisations experienced in investigation, security or statutory employment screening, with sufficient operational capacity to support a public-sector workforce, would be well placed when this type of requirement returns.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision for DBS Checking Services

Notice Description

The Authority requires DBS checking services to support recruitment activity and the ongoing safeguarding compliance of its workforce. These checks are essential to ensure that all employees, particularly those working in regulated or higher-risk roles, are appropriately vetted in line with statutory requirements. The Authority is seeking approximately 200 DBS checks per annum, consisting of a combination of 25% (approx. 50) Standard and 75% (approx. 150) Enhanced disclosures. Given the ongoing nature of this requirement, a cost-effective and reliable supplier is required to ensure continuity of service and compliance with safeguarding obligations. Following a competitive quotation exercise, Essex County Council has been identified as the most economically advantageous supplier based on a price-only evaluation. Their submission demonstrated the lowest overall cost when compared with other compliant suppliers in the market. The appointment of Essex County Council will ensure the Authority maintains a compliant, cost-effective, and stable DBS checking service, supporting both operational requirements and business continuity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06fae0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087641-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79700000 - Investigation and security services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£27,900 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 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
Royal Berkshire Fire 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
READING
Postcode
RG31 7SD
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
West Berkshire
Electoral Ward
Tilehurst Birch Copse
Westminster Constituency
Reading West and Mid Berkshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Essex County Council

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...