Firebuy

we do the procurement…you do the buying

With the budget cuts looming in the public sector there may never be a better time to take advantage of the saving opportunities offered by Government Professional Buying Organisations (PBO) like Firebuy. Professional Buying Organisations set up the framework agreements for public sector organisations to call off and the savings can be substantial. The added bonus is that public sector organisations get what they need without having to go through a time consuming, costly and sometimes legally fraught procurement process.

Firebuy – the National Procurement Agency for the English Fire and Rescue Service – has many call-off contracts that could save public sector bodies time and, more importantly, money.

Elaine Hughes, Director Procurement Delivery at Firebuy says: “We do the technical investigations and the standard setting, develop the output-based specifications and set up the framework agreements. Many of our framework agreements are OGC accredited. Our smoke alarms and CO detector framework agreement has proved very successful and savings of between 15% and 24% have been.

As part of the Government’s Operational Efficiencies Programme, Firebuy and other PBOs should prove a major weapon in helping public sector organisations achieve their budget cuts.”

Developing Firebuy’s Framework Agreements

When Firebuy was founded in 2006 many of these framework agreements were novated from the Office of Government Commerce. As these Framework Agreements reached their renewal dates, Firebuy has developed them to deliver a greater standardisation of product range based upon operational risk profiling, interoperability and user needs.

Smoke Alarms and CO (Carbon Monoxide) Detectors

A wide range of smoke alarms and CO detectors are available from this framework. Smoke alarms include those suitable for the deaf and hard of hearing and the visually and/or physically impaired and the latest thermal optic versions.

Fire Extinguishers

Firebuy’s fire extinguisher framework includes the supply, service and maintenance, refurbishment and disposal. It also includes signage, hose reels, trolley extinguishers, fire blankets and other accessories. There are more than 50 training courses ranging from how to use a fire extinguisher to how to complete a fire risk assessment.

Specialist or Bespoke Vehicles

Firebuy has also recently completed an OGC pan government collaborative framework agreement for specialist vehicles for a wide range of public sector organisations. So if any public sector body has a requirement for a specialist vehicle – refuse collection vehicle, sweeper, mobile library, welfare vehicle –Firebuy’s framework agreement can help you get what you need.

Firebuy is particularly experienced in dealing with specialist vehicles and can offer a full and comprehensive contract management support throughout the process including an independent Mini-Competition service that at present nobody else offers.

The Manual Handling Operations Legislation 1992 is an essential part of the framework agreement. All of the vehicles sold on the contract will be tested to monitor the weight of equipment and the access to equipment, so that it will always comply with regulations, and so people can always operate, lift and use the equipment safely.

In addition, Firebuy is requiring Whole Type Vehicle approval from its suppliers. Over the next few years EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval will be extended to cover all new road vehicles and trailers. The new Directive will also cover national schemes for small series vehicles and individual approval.

Future Procurements

Firebuy is also working in partnership with Buying Solutions to provide a framework agreement for use by the public sector for Insurance which is due to be let in Spring 2011. Firebuy is also looking at procurements on Fire Risk assessments and Fire Safety systems.

Further information about Firebuy and its framework agreements can be found at www.firebuy.gov.uk.