---
title: "HMICFRS Benchmarking Inspection"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-048972"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-048972"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048972.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048972.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SOUTH WALES FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE"
published: "2024-10-15"
---

# HMICFRS Benchmarking Inspection

Buyer: SOUTH WALES FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-048972

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## Summary

The procurement process for the "HMICFRS Benchmarking Inspection" project, managed by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS), has reached the award stage. Under this contract, the inspectors will evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of SWFRS, dovetailing with findings from the Morris Review that highlighted institutional issues. This comprehensive evaluation covers how the service looks after its personnel and benchmarks performance across the English Fire and Rescue Service Sector. The project, classified under the "Performance review services" category, is set in Wales with a focus on delivering independent insights to inform SWFRS's recovery progress. The contract involved limited procurement without a prior call for competition and was awarded to the Home Office, effective from September 2024, with an allocated budget of £322,000.

This tender offers significant opportunities for consultancies and firms specialising in performance reviews and public sector efficiency evaluations. Businesses experienced in handling large-scale inspections and possessing robust methodologies for assessing organisational effectiveness could find this project appealing. The specifics of the engagement demand a deep understanding of fire and rescue services, making it particularly suitable for niche market players who can support SWFRS’s strategic objectives, enhance transparency, and promote accountability within public service sectors. With the focus on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), organisations adept at promoting fairness and embracing diversity will find this project a fitting platform to demonstrate their expertise and contribute substantially to SWFRS’s transformation efforts.

## Notice

Engagement of inspectors to undertake a full inspection of the efficiency and effectiveness of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service including how well the service looks after its people and benchmark across the English Fire and Rescue Service Sector.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

On 3 January 2024, an independent report on the culture of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) was published (Morris Review), which exposed widespread discriminatory and abusive behaviour and serious failings of leadership and management. Considering the report's findings, the Welsh Government used its powers of direction under section 29(5) and (6) of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 to remove the elected members from the governance functions of the fire authority and to replace them by appointing four Commissioners. The Commissioners have been charged with ensuring the full (where possible) and sustainable implementation of recommendations arising from that independent review and three thematic reviews undertaken by the Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor and Inspector (CFRAI). This is the minimum part of the Commissioners' scope, and they are developing a set of milestones and objectives that chart a way forward. It has been agreed with Welsh Government that an independent evaluation of SWFRS will be critical to demonstrating the progress towards recovery that SWFRS makes under their stewardship, and to informing a decision to bring the intervention to an end. The importance of robust regimes for inspections and audit was also raised in the Equality and Social Justice Committee report "Sound the Alarm". While the CFRAI is independent of Welsh Government, it is recognised that they are not resourced to undertake an inspection of the scale. A full inspection of the efficiency and effectiveness of SWFRS, would include how well the Service looks after its people. It would identify any areas of concern and areas for improvement, and where appropriate, make recommendations to address them. It would build on the Morris Review by adding further context and insight into the people elements, as well as contributing to the research arising from the thematic reviews. This richer picture will enable the Service to fully understand its capability, performance, and outcomes in a structured and measured way. This work will give the Commissioners, the Service, and indeed Welsh Government a comprehensive understanding and supporting data about the performance of the organisation. It is on this basis that Welsh Government have expressed support for the proposal. Inspections, on which this review would be modelled, are routine and regularly conducted in FRSs across the UK, and are part of the ongoing context to support performance improvement for the sector and to deliver better outcomes for the public.

### Procurement Information

Following publication of the independent report on South Wales Fire and Rescue Service culture, it has been agreed with Welsh Government (WG) to undertake an independent review of SWFRS to inspect efficiency and effectiveness, providing comprehensive understanding of performance and further context and insight on people elements.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033096-2024 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Oct 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Aug 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £322,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SOUTH WALES FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE |
| Locality | LLANTRISANT |
| Post town | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF72 8LX |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend |
| Local authority | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Electoral ward | Llantrisant and Talbot Green |
| Westminster constituency | Pontypridd |
| Delivery location | TLL Wales |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | HOME OFFICE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79313000 - Performance review services

## Release History

- 15 Oct 2024 at 09:25 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033096-2024
- 9 Aug 2024 at 13:04 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025242-2024

## Notice URLs

- https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0360
- https://www.southwales-fire.gov.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-048972. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-048972.json.