TVFCS Command & Control
Estimated value
£11.0m
Awarded value
—
Suppliers
0
Lots
1
Published
13 Mar 2026
Description
Thames Valley Fire Control Service (TVFCS) is initiating a Competitive Flexible Procedure procurement for the replacement of its Command & Control (C&C) system. TVFCS is a tri-service collaboration between Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, and Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service. Oxfordshire County Council are undertaking this procurement on behalf of the other Fires Services. Since becoming operational in 2015, TVFCS has provided a critical shared emergency control room service, handling 999 calls and mobilising resources across the Thames Valley region, serving a population of approximately 2.5 million residents. The current C&C system (NEC Vision Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and DS3000 Integrated Communication Control System (ICCS)) is approaching end-of-life, with key infrastructure components due to become unsupported by 2029. The replacement project seeks to ensure continuity of statutory emergency response services, enhance operational resilience, and support future innovation through a modern, modular solution. Contract start date is targeted to be 19th October 2026 followed by a period of transition with a Service Commencement Date of no-later than 1/4/28 Pricing submitted must be for a 10year period commencing from a targeted contract start date of 19/10/26 and include the initial period of 7years + 3 optional extensions. All Stage 2 questions shall be evaluated using a Price per Quality Point PQP methodology which is further described in the ITT. For avoidance of doubt, Submitted Price means the total whole‑life price for the full Contract Term, including any optional extensions, implementation, licences/subscriptions, support, hosting and dual running as specified in the pricing template. PQP shall be calculated to two decimal places using standard rounding. In the event of a tie, ranking will be determined by: (1) higher Total Quality Score; then (2) higher Core Quality score; then (3) lower Submitted Price. The Price per Quality Point (PQP) is calculated as: Submitted Price ÷ Total Quality Score (TQS) = PQP
Scope
- Reference
- DN808581 / I-4133
- Total value
- £11,000,000 excluding VAT£13,200,000 including VATAbove the relevant threshold
- Commercial tool
- Standalone contract
- Contract dates
- 18 Oct 2026 to 18 Oct 2033Possible extension to 18 Oct 2036
The new TVFCS Command & Control contract will include optional extension periods to ensure long term service continuity and alignment with the operational requirements of the three Fire & Rescue Services. The initial contract term 7 years will be followed by 1+1+1 years extension options, enabling TVFCS to retain the supplier's solution beyond the core term where performance, value for money, and operational stability justify continuation. These extensions provide flexibility while ensuring the Authority retains full commercial control throughout the contract lifecycle.
- Main category
- services
- CPV classifications
- 72000000
- Contract locations
- South East England, United Kingdom
Award criteria
Criteria the buyer will use to evaluate bids.
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| price | Given the mission critical nature of an emergency control room C&C system, TVFCS has adopted a Price per Quality Point approach to ensure quality is not diluted by low price alone. PQP provides a transparent, auditable ratio that compares total whole life price to the overall assessed quality (TQS), enabling TVFCS to identify the Most Advantageous Tender where resilience, security, and operational performance are paramount. Price is evaluated via PQP ratio (not separately scored); For avoidance of doubt: Price whilst price is not separately scored; it directly affects the ranking through the Price per Quality Point (PQP) calculation. TVFCS will calculate PQP consistently for all Tenderers as Submitted Price ÷ Total Quality Score (TQS). The Tender with the lowest PQP will be ranked highest for value for money, subject to meeting all minimum thresholds and compliance requirements. Submitted Price means the total whole‑life price for the full Contract Term, including any optional extensions, implementation, licences/subscriptions, support, hosting and dual running as specified in the pricing template. PQP shall be calculated to two decimal places using standard rounding. In the event of a tie, ranking will be determined by: (1) higher Total Quality Score; then (2) higher Core Quality score; then (3) lower Submitted Price. The Price per Quality Point (PQP) is calculated as: Submitted Price ÷ Total Quality Score (TQS) = PQP | price | — |
| Quality | There are 13 specific requirements and 7 operational scenario which will be assessed at Stage 2.using the scoring methodology defined in the ITT pack. A minimum score is defined Tenderers identified as being successful at Stage 2 will be invited to demonstrate/present their solution at Stage 3. This activity will also be scored using the methodology in the ITT. pack and minimum scoring will apply | quality | — |
| Social Value | The ITT includes a set of questions pertaining to Social Value. This will be evaluated by reference to the scoring methodology in the ITT pack. A minimum scoring threshold applies | quality | — |
Participation
Conditions suppliers must meet to bid.
Tenderers must at Stage 1 - participation complete Appendix 4 - Procurement Specific questionnaire and provide responses to the questions, including those that will provide details of Legal Capacity Appendix 7 - Financial Capacity contains details of the Financial Capacity tests that TVFCS will undertake at Stage 1 - participation,
Tenderers must demonstrate proven technical competence in delivering mission critical Command & Control (C&C) solutions for emergency services. TVFCS requires evidence that Tenderers have successfully deployed critical control systems using IT products and services suitable for blue light operations. Stage 1 includes (a) conditions of participation checks (PSQ Parts 1-3) and (b) a separate minimum technical compliance gate (PSQ Section 4 / Appendix 1), assessed pass/fail. Tenderers must demonstrate capability to deliver an output based, operationally critical solution that aligns with TVFCS's requirements gathering process. The solution must be technically robust, resilient, and capable of supporting operational scenarios that will be assessed in later evaluation stages Tenderers must also demonstrate their ability to support blue light technical standards, including resilience, security, interoperability, and performance requirements essential to emergency control room environments. These capabilities must be evidenced through their technical submission and responses to the ITT. Finally, Tenderers must comply with all technical submission instructions. Any alteration to technical documents or failure to follow ITT requirements may render a submission non compliant.
There are no limits for compliant Tenderers at Stage 1 A maximum of 3 Tenders will be selected from Stage 2 to participate in Stage3 based on their respective PQP scores. (Lowest is best) If Stage 4 is operated than only 2 Tenderers will proceed to Stage 4 from Stage 3 based on their PQP scores (Lowest is best)
Submission & procedure
- Enquiry deadline
- 25 Mar 2026, 10:00 pm
- Submission address
- The initiating authority uses an e-tendering portal called Proactis which is hosted on the South east business portal. The ITT documentation will be published on this platform See https://sebp.due-north.com/ and associated reference DN808581 The ITT which can be downloaded from the above url provides instructions regarding the documentation that is to be returned with the Tenderers submission at Stage 1 of this Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP).Tenderers must complete Appendix 4- Procurement Specific Question; at Stage 1 of this tender. , Non-adherence with all ITT instructions and conditions. may deem a tender non compliant if instructions are not followed or documents are altered.. Tenderers may also complete Question 1 of Appendix 5 - Response Pack to offer updated an/or financial capacity data should they wish to do so.Appendix 2 - Information Management and Appendix - Conflict of interest should also be returned at Stage 1.The ITT document set will be updated and further instructions given to those Tenderers successful at Stage 1. Such instructions and updates will be issued via TVFCS e-tendering portalPrevious notices UK1 and UK2 related to this procurement can be found on the Central Digital Platform at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/procurement/ocds-h6vhtk-058ae5
- Electronic submission
- Yes
- Procedure
- Competitive flexible procedure