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Operational PPE Pilot and Future PPE Procurement Strategy Development

London Fire Commissioner

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Sep 2026 at 16:54

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The London Fire Commissioner, through the London Fire Brigade, is developing its future approach to operational personal protective equipment (PPE). The work concerns fire-service protective clothing and uniforms, together with the services and arrangements needed to manage them: PPE allocation, stock management, collection and cleaning, logistics, and operational support. A pilot at Stratford Fire Station will test alternative ways of allocating PPE and different collection frequencies. Its purpose is to assess effects on PPE availability, operational resilience, stock control, administrative efficiency and user experience, and to inform future requirements, the operating model and procurement strategy. This is service procurement planning for the Brigade’s PPE provision, rather than a tender for suppliers to provide a defined contract at this stage.

The process is at planning: the buyer has set out its intention to develop future PPE requirements, but has not invited tenders. A three-month operational pilot is expected to begin on 1 October 2026 at Stratford Fire Station and conclude by 31 December 2026. The Brigade’s incumbent PPE provider, MSA Bristol, is to deliver the pilot using its existing PPE assets and service infrastructure. The planned contract period for the future procurement runs from 1 October 2028 to 30 September 2038. The buyer expects any future procurement to comply with the Procurement Act 2023 and its governance arrangements. The pilot is an evidence-gathering exercise to inform the future service model and procurement strategy; it does not represent a supplier preference or commitment to a particular outcome.

The future work is most relevant to suppliers able to support operational fire-service PPE at scale, combining protective clothing with practical management and support services. Useful capabilities include PPE allocation and stock-control arrangements, collection and cleaning, logistics, and systems and operational support that can help maintain availability and resilience. Suppliers with experience improving administrative efficiency and the user experience through different stock-management or collection models may be well placed to respond to the requirements developed from the pilot. MSA Bristol is delivering the pilot, but participation in it is not required for eligibility in a later procurement, and participation will not confer a stated advantage. The Brigade says relevant findings may inform future specifications, service requirements, performance measures and procurement arrangements, with steps to ensure fair treatment and open competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Operational PPE Pilot and Future PPE Procurement Strategy Development

Notice Description

This pre market engagement notice relates to the Operational PPE Pilot and Future PPE Procurement Strategy Development

Planning Information

PRELIMINARY MARKET ENGAGEMENT NOTICE Operational PPE Pilot and Future PPE Procurement Strategy Development The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is undertaking a three-month operational pilot to assess alternative PPE management arrangements and collection frequencies. The pilot will commence on 1 October 2026 and will be undertaken at Stratford Fire Station. The purpose of the pilot is to assess the impact of different PPE allocation models, stock management arrangements and collection frequencies on PPE availability, operational resilience, stock management, administrative efficiency and user experience. The findings will inform the development of the Brigade’s future PPE requirements, operating model and procurement strategy. The pilot will be delivered by MSA Bristol, the Brigade’s incumbent PPE provider. MSA Bristol currently provides the Brigade’s PPE assets, collection and cleaning services, logistics arrangements, stock management systems and operational support infrastructure required to safely undertake the pilot. Participation in the pilot does not indicate any preference for, or commitment to, any supplier, product, service model or future procurement outcome. The pilot is being undertaken solely as an evidence-gathering exercise. Any future procurement will be conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and applicable LFB governance arrangements. Where information arising from the pilot materially informs the future specification, service model, contractual requirements, performance measures or procurement approach, LFB will comply with its duty to ensure that suppliers are treated equally and that no supplier obtains an unfair competitive advantage as a result of participation in the pilot. The purpose of the pilot is to inform LFB’s procurement strategy and requirements. Participation or non-participation in the pilot will not affect eligibility to participate in any future procurement. LFB will maintain appropriate records of pilot activities, findings and decisions. Information relevant to any future procurement may be reflected in future procurement documentation and associated market communications where required to support fair and open competition. This notice is published solely for transparency purposes in relation to the PPE pilot. LFB is not seeking supplier feedback, expressions of interest, applications, proposals or responses in connection with this notice. Any future procurement opportunity will be advertised separately and conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and LFB governance requirements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077e13
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092580-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

35113400 - Protective and safety clothing

35811100 - Fire-brigade uniforms

98311000 - Laundry-collection services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2028 - 30 Sep 2038 Over 5 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
London Fire Commissioner
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
SE1 0LL
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
Borough & Bankside
Westminster Constituency
Bermondsey and Old Southwark

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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