Airwave hardware procurement consortium framework

Report: 19
Date: 13 February 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This paper seeks authority to award a number of contracts under a framework arrangement for the supply of hardware and managed services to support the Airwave radio communications system. Adoption of the Airwave system by the Receiver in 2000 led to an approach to the former Finance, Planning & Best Value Committee to proceed with tender action for the above requirements. The tender would include the requirements of other police forces in England, Wales and Scotland maximising procurement leverage and economies of scale for all participants in the consortium. The consortium consists of 26 police forces with the MPS acting as the lead procurement body but with the MPA indemnified against current and future liabilities. Responses to the tenders have been evaluated and a recommendation is presented for approval in this and the linked exempt paper.

A. Recommendation

That approval be given to the award of contracts for the supply of Airwave hardware and services under a framework arrangement for a period of 5 years renewable for further periods up to a maximum of a further 10 years.

B. Supporting information

1. The Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District contracted in March 2000 to take delivery of the core service of the Airwave radio communications system as supplied by British Telecommunications PLC (who have now transferred the business to Airwave mmO2 Ltd., a subsidiary of mmO2 plc). This contract and its associated liabilities were transferred to the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) in May 2000, via the Greater London Authority Act 1999. In order to support the introduction of Airwave, which replaces the current METRADIO system, hardware will be required from October 2003 onwards. This will comprise both the handheld and vehicle mounted radio terminal equipment.

2. Approval was sought from the MPA’s Finance and Best Value Committee on 19 July 2001 (Items 23 and 30) to proceed with tender action for this requirement. In that paper the Committee were also made aware that the MPS was in discussion with other police forces with a view to forming a consortium with the aim of maximising both procurement leverage and economies of scale. This would benefit both the MPS and the other forces involved.

3. As a result of these discussions, a consortium has been established comprising of 26 police forces in England, Wales and Scotland (Central Scotland, City of London, Cumbria, Dumfries & Galloway, Dyfed Powys, Fife, Grampian, Hampshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Lothian & Borders, Merseyside, Metropolitan, Norfolk, North Wales, Northamptonshire, Northern, Nottinghamshire, South Wales, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Strathclyde, Surrey, Tayside, Warwickshire and West Yorkshire).

4. The Metropolitan Police Service is the lead procurement body. Subject to the Committee’s approval, a framework arrangement will be set up within which a number of Airwave terminal manufacturers and service providers would be appointed. The framework arrangement would be in the name of the MPA, but include other forces in the consortium and any other UK force wishing to join. Each force would then use the framework to individually contract with the companies for their own specific requirements. Metropolitan Police Service commercial solicitors (Bircham Dyson Bell) have ensured that the MPA is indemnified against all actions, claims, demands, costs, charges and expenses from other current and future members of the consortium.

5. Seven tenders were received in October 2002 from companies wishing to go onto the framework. All seven tenders were fully evaluated during October and November. The evaluation is now complete, and the Authority is invited to authorise the award of the framework contracts as detailed in the linked exempt paper to be considered at this meeting.

C. Equality and diversity implications

There are no equality or diversity issues with this framework.

D. Financial implications

Financial details of the contract and the recommendation to award are contained in the separate linked exempt report to be considered at this meeting (agenda item 23).

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: Andy Kinch, Procurement Services, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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