---
title: "PURCHASE & SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF DIGITAL RECORDING EQUIPMENT"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05479b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05479b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05479b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05479b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR CHESHIRE"
published: "2025-07-02"
---

# PURCHASE & SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF DIGITAL RECORDING EQUIPMENT

Buyer: POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR CHESHIRE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05479b

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## Summary

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire has completed the procurement process for the purchase, support, and maintenance of digital recording equipment. The contract, initiated as a direct award on the basis of technical and compatibility requirements, was awarded to David Horn Communications Limited. The procurement focused on sound recorders and maintenance services, placing it within the goods category. The contract commenced on 1st September 2025 and will run until 31st August 2030. The legal framework for this procurement is based on the UK Procurement Act 2023, and the process followed a direct award approach due to the necessity of compatibility with existing equipment.

This tender presents unique business growth opportunities for suppliers dealing with specialised recording equipment, particularly those that can address compatibility and maintenance complexities. Although the tender was awarded directly to David Horn Communications Limited due to specific technical and intellectual property constraints, companies with similar technical capabilities or complementary services could explore avenues for future engagements with public sector buyers experiencing similar challenges. Businesses that specialise in high-tech maintenance services or those that can develop compatible integration solutions could greatly benefit from partnerships or future opportunities within this industry sector.

## Notice

Support and maintenance of existing recorders including purchase and support of new recorders.

### Procurement Information

This is a Contract Details Notice. This notice is presented on the basis of two exemptions permitting direct award without competition under the Procurement Act 2023. These are as follows:- Are required to be compatible with an existing asset. This must be intended as an extension to or partial replacement of existing goods or services where a change would result in goods or services that are different or incompatible with the existing goods and services. The difference or incompatibility must result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. Cheshire Constabulary currently have 42 fixed recorders and 11 portable recorders, which were procured via a Value Added Reseller from David Horn Communications Ltd. DHC are the only Supplier who can provide support and maintenance for their recorders. Where the provider is the sole supplier of the goods, services or works. There are clearly other suppliers of Digital recording equipment out there, however only David Horn Communications Ltd themselves or DHC via a reseller can supply the required models when replacements are needed. This is because Cheshire Constabulary can't procure other makes of recorders from alternative Suppliers because CC need DHC recorders due to compatibility issues because they need to integrate with the existing infrastructure within the Constabulary and the wider West Coast Collaboration Forces. This means there is an absence of competition for technical grounds as only a specific supplier can supply (or a particular supplier holds the intellectual property or other exclusive rights) and there are no reasonable alternatives.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036689-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Jul 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Jun 2025 |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £374,972 |
| Contracts value | £374,972 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR CHESHIRE |
| Locality | WINSFORD, CHESHIRE |
| Post town | Crewe |
| Postcode | CW7 2UA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire |
| ITL 3 | TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester |
| Local authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Electoral ward | Winsford Over & Verdin |
| Westminster constituency | Mid Cheshire |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | DAVID HORN COMMUNICATIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 32332300 - Sound recorders
- 50342000 - Repair and maintenance services of audio equipment

## Release History

- 2 Jul 2025 at 09:59 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036689-2025
- 16 Jun 2025 at 09:01 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032476-2025
- 12 Jun 2025 at 11:44 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031897-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036689-2025
  2nd July 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032476-2025
  16th June 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031897-2025
  12th June 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-2659

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-05479b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05479b.json.