Operational PPE Pilot and Future PPE Procurement Strategy Development

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.