New fire safety framework tender open for expert interest

Fire safety experts are being asked to express their interest in tendering as part of a new framework on fire safety measures for the public sector.

Led by LHC, the not-for-profit public sector construction framework provider, the Fire Safety (FS2) framework includes the provision of new or replacement passive and active fire protection measures for existing and new domestic and non-domestic buildings, as well as consultancy and cladding.

As LHC notes, FS2 will feature a range of fire-safety services that include:

• fire safety consultancy
• fire risk assessments
• fire safety inspections
• passive fire protection installation, servicing, and maintenance
• fire alarm installation testing, servicing, and maintenance
• fire suppression system installation, servicing, and maintenance
• waking watch services
• and cladding remediation and replacement.

Head of Technical Procurement at LHC, Dean Fazackerley, said: “Fire safety has never been higher on the agenda with post-Grenfell regulations recently coming into force. It’s more important than ever for local authorities and social housing providers to carefully consider the preparedness of buildings in the event of a fire.

"We developed the FS2 framework in collaboration with the marketplace to provide more opportunities to work with a wider variety of suppliers, especially SMEs. Our public sector clients told us they want more availability of regional suppliers – and FS2 directly answers that demand.

“It’s also important we provide a comprehensive range of fire safety services for the public sector to access, especially as many fire safety suppliers offer both passive and active services from detection to spread prevention. It was a logical step to include both under one framework, because these work hand-in-hand in buildings to prevent, detect, alert, and even suppress a fire that has already started.”

The framework will also “include provision to replace, repair and maintain fire doors, shutters, and associated equipment, install signage to meet the building’s fire strategy, and maintain and install carbon monoxide, heat, and smoke detectors. Suppliers can also act as principal contractor for active fire protection and passive prevention”.

The framework will be open for registration until the summer of 2023. It sees an expansion of the FS1 framework and will be available to use by all public sector bodies across England, Scotland, and Wales. It is also in line with the new Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which came into force in January, and the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 and Fire Safety Act 202.

For more information, or to register your interest, visit the LHC’s eTendering Portal here.